The proposed new settlement of Marlcombe in East Devon has been named in the recently published New Towns Taskforce Report to Government (September 2025) as one of twelve locations identified for potential new towns. The New Towns Taskforce is an independent expert advisory panel established in September 2024 to support the government to deliver the next generation of new towns. The government have stated they will now commence a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to understand the environmental implications of new towns development, which will support final decisions on precisely which locations are taken forward.
Marlcombe would be located only a few miles from the centre of Exeter on a standalone greenfield site in the heart of the Clyst Valley, to the south of the A30 and Exeter Airport. The emerging East Devon Local Plan allocates land at the Marlcombe site for least 8,000 homes, with around 3,330 delivered in the plan period up to 2042, and there is a stated aspiration to allocate further land to accommodate at least 10,000 homes.
As one of the majority landholders of the Marlcombe new community site, LVA look forward to continuing to work closely and collaboratively with East Devon District Council, Devon County Council, Homes England, and the other joint landholders to realise the potential of this area for significant new housing delivery.
It is anticipated that further consultation and engagement with the community and stakeholders over Marlcombe is planned by East Devon District Council for later this year.
29.9.2025
