On the 24th September 2026, I held a public meeting at Exmouth Town Hall to give local people the opportunity to raise their questions, concerns and views about the proposed EXMO_20 development.
The meeting was intended to be open and cross-party, with a focus on understanding the evidence, the potential impact of the development and whether the infrastructure needed to support around 700 additional homes is in place.
A significant part of the discussion focused on local infrastructure. Concerns were raised about the capacity of the road network, sewage and drainage systems, GP services, schools and other local services, as well as the cumulative impact of further development across the wider area. Environmental issues were also discussed, including the possible impact on local wildlife, nearby heathland, agricultural land and watercourses.
The meeting also came at an important point in the Local Plan process. Earlier that week, East Devon District Council had concluded that further work was required before the emerging Local Plan could be submitted, including additional work on the Water Cycle Study, air quality and transport assessments.
Seeking answers on local infrastructure
One of the clearest messages from the meeting was that people want to understand whether Exmouth’s existing infrastructure can realistically support development on this scale.
Before the meeting, I wrote to the relevant utility companies, public bodies and service providers to seek clear information about current capacity and any additional infrastructure that could be required.
This includes questions around:
- roads and transport capacity;
- water, sewage and drainage infrastructure;
- electricity and gas network capacity;
- public transport;
- healthcare and education provision; and
- the environmental impact of development.
I believe people should be able to see the answers directly rather than simply receiving a summary from me. I will therefore publish the responses I receive in full on this page as they become available.
Full meeting recording
The full audio recording of the meeting is available above, with subtitles added to make it easier to follow.
The discussion included questions from those attending on infrastructure funding, affordable housing, public transport, environmental concerns, the Local Plan process and how local people can continue to engage with the decisions being made.
What happens next
My office is continuing to collate the questions and concerns raised at the meeting and will pursue these with the relevant organisations and, where appropriate, Government ministers.
Further information, correspondence and responses from utility companies and public bodies will be added to this page as they are received.
