New local plan outlines potential sites for up to 1,050 new homes in Axminster

East Devon District Council's draft local plan outlines potential sites for up to 1,050 new houses in Axminster, plus 7.2 hectares of employment land.

The council has launched a ten-week consultation for the public to share their views on its new draft local plan.

The plan will determine how many homes need to be built and where in East Devon. It will also address other concerns such as creating new jobs and climate change, covering up until the year 2040.

It establishes Axminster as a Tier 2 settlement and as such as an appropriate location for future growth and development.

'Preferred' sites for development in Axminster are outlined as follows:

• Land east of Lyme Road and Pestaller Farm, Beavor Lane, for 293 dwellings and one hectare of employment land.
• Land east of Chard Road for two hectares of employment land.
• Land west of Chard Road for 250 dwellings and 0.6 hectares of employment land.
• Land west of Musbury Road, the southern part of which that lies outside of the floodplain for two hectares of employment land.
• Land east of Musbury Road for 168 dwellings and 0.6 hectares of employment land.
• Land at Axminster Carpets is allocated for mixed-use redevelopment to retain the existing employment use and accommodate 50 dwellings plus additional employment uses. This allocation will need to be supported by further flood risk assessment and a comprehensive masterplan to secure pedestrian, environmental and other improvements.
• Land at Lea Combe, Field End, for 9 dwellings.
• The Scott Rowe Building at Axminster Hospital, Chard Road, for 10 dwellings

'Second choice' sites include Great Jackleigh Farm for 270 dwellings and 1 hectare of employment land, and land east of Lyme Close for 100 dwellings and 0.4 hectares of employment land.

In the event that all preferred allocations and second choice sites being consulted on were allocated, this would lead to 1,050 new homes in Axminster and 7.2 hectares of employment land.

While Axminster is considered a good location for future development, the draft plan highlights several constraints, including the issue of high phosphate levels in the River Axe which has already put a halt to some development.

The plan says that "further housing development could exacerbate" this issue and development in Axminster will need to be able to mitigate any detrimental impact on nutrient levels in the River Axe.

It also lists floodplains and sites of potentially historic importance as considerations going forward.

East Devon's previous local plan allocated a strategic site to the east of the town as an urban extension and included provision for an Axminster relief road.

A masterplan envisaged the delivery of up to 850 houses, a school, employment land and a distributor road. However, the new draft plan said there are "significant viability issues" in delivering a relief road, which would cost in the region of £15million – funding which is unlikely to become available – so it is no longer recommending a relief road.

Details of the preferred development options are available here.

The district council has described its new local plan as "vital" and "the key document used in making planning decisions".

It also said that waiting for a planning application to be submitted near your home "could mean that it is too late for your views to change things".

The local authority hopes that the final version of the plan will be ready in "just over a year's time".

Public exhibitions (see below) will be held across East Devon from the end of November into December for people to find out more and ask questions.

The consultation will close on January 15 2023.

Click here to take part in the consultation.

Public exhibitions: Where and when?

• Tuesday 29 November, Whimple, Victory Hall, 4.30pm - 8.30pm
• Wednesday 30 November, Ottery St Mary, The Institute, 3pm - 7pm
• Thursday 1 December, Axminster, Guildhall, 3pm - 7pm
• Friday 2 December TBC, Clyst St Mary, Village Hall, 2pm - 6pm
• Tuesday 6 December, Sidmouth, Kennaway House, 3pm - 7pm
• Wednesday 7 December, Honiton, Beehive, 3pm - 7pm
• Thursday 8 December, Exmouth, Ocean, 3pm - 7pm
• Tuesday 13 December, Feniton, Youth Centre, 3pm - 7pm
• Thursday 15 December, Seaton, Gateway, 3pm - 7pm