Architecture and Masterplanning in Exmouth

Planning and building around Exmouth

In Devon, Exmouth lies about 37 miles north-east of Plymouth; its central postcode district is EX8. Nearby, we also cover Exeter, Newton Abbot and Torquay, all within 12 miles. Exmouth is in the South West region of England.

Near Exmouth, we look at sites where the layout needs to change, plots where access or drainage is the sticking point and land where self-build plots could suit the market. In England, where Exmouth sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

Send us the site address near Exmouth and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.

What you get in Exmouth

Design codes followed

Where a council has adopted a design code or design guide, we design to it and explain in the design statement how the scheme responds.

Drainage and ecology built in

Sustainable drainage, biodiversity and tree retention shape the layout from the first sketch, rather than being squeezed in after the homes are placed.

House types that suit the place

Homes designed to reflect local materials, scale and character, with layouts people want to live in, rather than a standard pattern book dropped onto the site.

Buildability checked

We test every scheme for construction cost and practicality, so the consent we seek is for homes that can actually be built and then sold or let.

Rules that apply in Exmouth

Whether a field or large garden could take homes depends mostly on the council's Local Plan and national policy. Under the National Planning Policy Framework, plans define settlement boundaries, and land just outside Exmouth may still come forward if it is allocated, previously developed or meets evidenced unmet housing need. Smaller housing schemes can also use Permission in Principle, an England-only route that settles location, use and amount first. Our free appraisal explains which route suits your land.

In England, the National Planning Policy Framework places strong weight on well-designed places, and the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code shape what councils expect. Many councils have adopted local design codes. Most applications must also deliver biodiversity net gain, which affects how much of a site is set aside for habitat.

Key rules in Exmouth
Local planning document	Local Plan
Who decides applications	The local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority)
In-principle consent	Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Developer contributions	Section 106 planning obligations, plus the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) where the council charges it

Architecture and Masterplanning in Exmouth: questions

How do you make new homes fit in with existing streets?

We study the scale, materials, building lines and spaces of the surrounding area and design homes and streets that respond to them. On a village edge that might mean lower density and more landscaping; in a town, homes that follow the existing street pattern. Early talks with planning officers and neighbours help shape the design.

How many homes could my land take?

It depends on the size and shape of the site, the access, the character of the area, the open space and drainage the scheme needs, and local planning policy on density. Sites of the same size can have very different capacities. A capacity study is the reliable way to answer the question, and our free site appraisal gives an indicative figure.

Can a layout keep part of my land free from development?

Yes. A layout can be drawn to leave a paddock, a garden or a buffer next to your own home outside the development, and the boundary can be fixed in any agreement. We will explain how that choice affects the number of homes, the access and the value of the land being sold.

Do new housing schemes need sustainable drainage?

In most cases, yes. National and local policy usually expects new developments to manage rainwater sustainably, for example with swales, ponds and permeable paving. In Wales, most new developments need separate approval from the local SuDS approving body. We design drainage into the layout from the start, because it can take up a real share of the site.

Do you take on planning and building work in Exmouth?

Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership in Exmouth and elsewhere in Devon, including Newton Abbot, Exeter and Paignton. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.