A PLAN to build 85 homes in the Northern Hills area of Pinhoe in Exeter has been unanimously thrown out by the city council’s planning committee.

“There is much not to like about this application,” said Cllr Susannah Patrick (Lab, Exwick).

The committee was considering a proposal to build on land off Stoke Hill, near Mincinglake Valley Park. 

Applicant John Drake said around 30 of the homes would be “affordable”, with an existing barn turned into a farm shop, cafe and office space.

However, council planning officers recommended refusal, saying the development would harm the character of the area and create a piecemeal urban development on a greenfield site.

The location meant residents would have to rely on cars, and important wildlife habitat including a “veteran” oak tree would be lost.

There were 303 responses to the planning application, the meeting heard, of which 302 objected.

One of those people, Francis Hallam, said this was the latest in a number of plans for the site, and “public patience is exhausted”.

And Cllr Andrew Ketchin (Green, Newton and St Leonards) added: “It says a lot that the developer hasn’t bothered to turn up and make their case tonight.”

Committee chairman Cllr Paul Knott (Lab, Exwick) said: “We are not in a ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ scenario of conducting a vendetta against someone wishing to create a viable business.

“We simply need to consider the recommendation of our officers.”

Guy Henderson