Judge rejects Home Farm challenge

Exeter City Council has said it is disappointed with a High Court decision to allow a housing development to go ahead at Home Farm in Pinhoe.

Following a hearing on 8 June, a High Court judge dismissed the City Council's application to overturn a planning inspector's decision to allow an outline planning application for 120 homes at Home Farm on Church Hill, Pinhoe.

The City Council refused the application in January 2014 but following an appeal from the developer the case went to a public inquiry in September the same year, which ruled that the development could go ahead.

Council Leader Pete Edwards said today's ruling was a blow. "We're disappointed as the consequences are that the original inspector's decision stands and this development can now go ahead. The inspector ruled that no harm would be caused by this development."

“We build more houses than any council in Devon to meet the government’s targets and we still get penalised for trying to protect our green areas.

He added: "It is worrying to us, as clearly some will read more into this inspector's decision that we have a housing shortfall in Exeter.

"On the Home Farm case the Judge decided not to consider new evidence that we put before him on housing numbers. We will now have to see what happens in the future.”