The site has been identified as a preferred option for future residential development as part of the draft East Devon Local Plan 2020-2042, which is currently being prepared by the Council.

The draft policies map, as shown to the left, includes the site under reference ‘Wood_28 - Land north and east of Exton Farm’ with the potential to deliver approximately 39 new homes.

It is important to note that the draft Local Plan also defines Exton as a 'service village', identified as offering specific scope for development and capable of accommodating in excess of 50 new homes over the plan period.

The Woodbury Neighbourhood Plan is not yet made but is scheduled for referendum in July 2026, at which point, subject to support through the referendum, it will become part of the Development Plan. Our proposals are considered to be consistent with Policy 1 of the emerging Neighbourhood Plan, which supports new housing in sustainable and accessible locations.

The proposals for the site will help to contribute to the delivery of new homes (including affordable) at Exton, in a sustainably located village identified by the Council for growth.

Housing and Affordable Housing Need

East Devon District Council is currently unable to demonstrate a five year housing land supply. The latest published position by the Council confirms only 3.5 years of supply, with recent appeal decisions suggesting this could be as low as 2.97 years.

On 15 July 2024 East Devon District Council Strategic Planning Committee resolved that significant weight should be given to housing applications that would deliver homes within the next 5 years in a sustainable way, in order to bolster the Council's housing land supply position.

Given East Devon District Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and given there continues to be a significant ongoing affordable housing shortfall, sustainable and well-connected sites are required now to help reduce this shortfall.

In this respect, the site is sustainably located and is capable of delivering a high quality development as well as delivering a policy compliant level of affordable housing.