Exeter’s Labour Executive has agreed to unlock the site off Pendragon Road to enable the delivery of a development comprising of 100% affordable housing, helping to tackle the housing crisis and delivering on Labour’s pledge to build homes local people can actually afford.

The 12 acre site is privately owned and already has outline planning permission for residential development. This decision now allows social housing provider LiveWest to move forward with up to 100 new affordable homes; half for social rent, half for shared ownership. The Planning Inspector had overruled the Council’s planning decision and had granted planning permission, to a scheme which offered 50% affordable housing this scheme offers 100%. The council will retain ownership of surrounding land, preventing future development and protecting valued green space. Labour’s intervention ensures the development now meets real community need.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk said:

“Labour is taking real action to address Exeter’s housing shortage. With families priced out of the market, we must use every tool available to deliver genuinely affordable homes.

 

This decision means social rent, shared ownership, and a secure future for local people, not speculation or profit. We’re also safeguarding green space for future generations.”

Cllr Ruth Williams said:

“This new proposal really tipped the balance for us. Moving to 100% affordable housing within the development is a major step forward, especially when nearly 2,000 people are on Exeter’s social housing waiting list.

 

We were also reassured that only a small section of the Pendragon hedgebank would be affected, with the vast majority left intact — preserving the habitat, biodiversity, and natural screening.

 

On top of that, the development secures a significant stretch of public open space that links the Mincinglake and Savoy Hill valley parks, creating a vital northern green corridor. And thanks to section 106 contributions, we’ll see direct investment into the Pendragon play area and the creation of a brand new multi-use games area for the community.

 

It’s a package that balances the urgent need for housing with lasting benefits for local residents and nature.”

Cllr Liz Pole said:

“Thankfully, the landscape will continue to be protected by the mature trees in our treasured Pendragon hedge bank, and a windfall for nature-lovers will be linkage via new and existing public open spaces from the Exeter Green Circle towards the East Devon countryside.

 

Planning Inspectors overturned Exeter City Council’s original planning refusal and granted planning permission on the fields, judging that the provision of affordable housing outweighed the protection of the landscape setting. This proposal goes further, guaranteeing 100% affordable housing on site.

 

This decision was undoubtedly a difficult one for the council’s Executive to make, balancing the need for affordable homes within the city and the need to develop a strategy to protect and preserve the remaining green space.

 

I have been, and am actively, pushing for this walking route to form longer distance onward connections to Pinhoe via Church Hill, Poltimore via the ancient Pinwood Lane right of way to Dandy Lane, and to the proposed Clyst Valley Trail.”

Labour councillors unanimously backed the move, a clear example of Labour values in action: delivering homes, protecting nature, and standing up for Exeter’s communities.