Developers’ cash of around £10million will boost healthcare, sports, education and green areas in East Devon.
The district council has announced cash developers must pay the authority to build new homes will go to ‘several community projects’, set to start in the coming months.
The £11million Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding pot will pay for a new school, extending a doctors’ surgery, new sports pitches and changing rooms, a country park, and paths for cycling and walking.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) said £1million has been set aside from the funding for future projects.
Councillor Todd Olive, EDDC portfolio holder for strategic planning, said: “This funding ensures our infrastructure keeps pace with East Devon’s growth. These projects will deliver real benefits—better schools, healthcare, transport, and community facilities for residents.”
He added: “While this is a crucial step in dealing with some of the infrastructure constraints arising from growth in our area, we know there is more to do.
“We will continue to exercise our limited planning powers to secure local infrastructure alongside development wherever possible, and are working to produce a comprehensive masterplan and infrastructure delivery strategy for the second new community proposed in our emerging Local Plan.”
The funding was given to:
- Tithebarn/Mosshayne Primary School (£4.5m)
A new primary school. Funding is conditional on detailed costings from Devon County Council. - Pinhoe Surgery Extension (£800k)
An extension to Pinhoe Surgery for six additional clinical rooms to accommodate rising patient numbers from new housing developments. - Honiton Sports Provision Enhancements (£601k)
New football and rugby facilities, including youth football pitches, a floodlit 3G pitch, and rugby club upgrades. - Exmouth Rugby Club Changing Room Extension (£100k)
Two RFU-compliant changing rooms in a bid to support women’s and girls’ rugby teams, and female participation in the sport. - Clyst Meadows Country Park, Broadclyst (£1.383m)
A new 10-hectare country park for ‘much-needed green space and wildlife protection’ to mitigate impacts on the protected habitats of the Exe Estuary and Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve. - Mosshayne Lane to Station Road multi-use path (£1.8m)
A 1.5km off-road walking, wheeling, and cycling route to improve active travel links between Cranbrook and Exeter. - London Road footpath and cycle enhancements (£750k)
To fill gaps in the Cranbrook footpath and cycle network.
Cllr Olive said: “The Strategic Planning Committee carefully assessed each bid based on need, deliverability, and value for money, leading to the approval of seven impactful projects.
“Residents will be informed, and all bidders—successful or not—will receive feedback on their proposals.”
EDDC said several community projects submitted bids for money from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), with a total funding ask of £17million. The council said the bids ‘significantly’ exceeded the £11million available, resulting in ‘a heavily oversubscribed fund’.
Some seven of the 12 bids, with a combined funding request of £9.934million, were on Monday, May 19 approved by the district council’s strategic planning committee.
