Small-scale developments infilling current towns and villages, more home working, support for entrepreneurs and jobs in town centres are among residents’ top priorities for the future development of East Devon.

They dominate the responses so far in a consultation on the new local plan which concludes on March 15.


East Devon District Council is urging residents to share their views on new developments, where they think new jobs should be located and what those jobs should be.

So far, hundreds of people have had their say, although there have been few comments from young people.

When asked about sites for housing developments, 25 per cent favoured 10 per cent of houses being built on small sites, in line with a government minimum standard.

A further 16 per cent of respondents thought between 11 to 25 per cent of new houses should be built on small sites and 29 per cent favoured options of more than a quarter of new houses being on small sites.

So far residents have said it is important not to swamp smaller communities, especially without providing the necessary infrastructure.

Other suggestions included building on small sites near towns and villages on brownfield sites – in the hope it would be better for town centre regeneration, with less car use.

As part of the consultation, residents were asked how many new homes East Devon should plan for. Overall, 29 per cent favoured an annual average of 928 – this is a government ‘minimum’ level.

A total of 33 per cent of respondents also selected the ‘none of these options’ tick box. There seemed to be a trend that favoured a lower target than 928.

Residents also suggested that affordable housing should be ring-fenced for local families and not be allowed as second homes. And there should be a tax on existing second homes and holiday lets so the demand for these is reduced.

People were also asked where they thought future jobs should be.

The highest ranking answer was for ‘more home working’.

In order, thereafter were ‘more jobs in towns’ and jobs ‘close to Exeter’.

Other respondents said attention was needed to look at trying to optimise town centres and working in the towns where people lived to encourage greener living.

Other views included support for home working now Covid had shown it was possible for a large proportion of people to do so and should be actively encouraged.

Residents said that home working encouraged local community development as people see each other when going for their daily walk, and this ‘post-Covid spirit should be strengthened’.