Energy centre at Land Adjacent Marsh Barton Train Station, Clapperbrook Lane East

The site and surroundings

The 3.6-hectare site is informal recreation land between Marsh Barton station and the Exeter Ship Canal, enclosed by mature trees and near industrial uses.

“The site red line comprises 3.6 hectares and makes up just under two thirds of the open level ground between the new Marsh Barton Rail Station and the Exeter Ship Canal at Grace Road Field on Clapperbrook Lane East. The site is bounded to the north and east by an established belt of mature trees and opens onto the remaining part of the field to the south, which itself is enclosed by mature trees along its southern edge.”

“To the east, immediately beyond the tree belt, is the Exeter Ship canal, and beyond that the Riverside Valley Park. To the south, beyond the remaining open space and trees to the south the areas is contained by the Alphinbrook flood relief channel. To the north the Clapperbrook Lane East rail bridge embankment encloses the site and provides access to the site, rail station and the green waste processing site.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered that no lower-risk alternative site was available and that the scheme’s economic, biodiversity, open-space and carbon benefits outweighed its residual harms.

“The first part of the exception test requires that the development would provide wider sustainability benefits to the community that outweigh the flood risk; it is a matter of planning judgement whether the wider sustainability benefits outweigh the flood risk.”

“The principal sustainability benefits include increased biodiversity of the wider site, improvements to air quality in the city, economic and employment benefits that would be delivered and the carbon savings achieved.”

Officer report

What consultees said

Most technical consultees raised no objection subject to conditions, while Sport England and community groups objected over playing fields, biodiversity, open space, flooding and location.

“Sport England raise a non-statutory objection to the application because it is not considered to accord with any of the exceptions to our Playing Fields Policy or paragraph 104 of the NPPF. Sport England would however be willing to reconsider its position should an appropriate form of mitigation be offered to compensate for the loss of playing field here, either with a view to bringing this site back into use, or investing in nearby sites.”

“Further to submission of revised plans Exeter Civic Society advises that while they prefer the new, decluttered design of the plant, they strongly object to its positioning on the east side of the site. They consider the Sequential Test flawed given use of air source heat. They suggest that the current positioning of the plant could worsen flooding. They recommend positioning the plant closer to the railway and implementing flood mitigation measures.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A civic society representative opposed the application, while the energy company’s representative supported it as essential climate infrastructure with economic and low-carbon benefits.

What members debated

Members weighed the loss of green space, flooding and site choice against carbon savings, biodiversity, improved recreation, energy resilience and the claimed lack of alternatives.

“Councillor Harding – • 13 thousand tonnes of carbon could be saved a year and a 75% reduction in gas; • the air quality across the city would improve; • the biodiversity gains were significant; and • there was a 95% chance that in three years the river and the incinerator would be used as a heat source.”

“The Strategic Director for Place made the following concluding points: • this was a strategic piece of infrastructure and would strengthen Exeter’s role in climate action; • no one was arguing against the public benefit of the scheme; • the Energy Centre was a critical component, the heat network would supply heat to the hospital, and educational campuses, decarbonising their heat; • 1Energy have chosen this site, not Exeter City Council; • over 20 sites had been considered,…”

Minutes

The vote

The Chair moved the recommendation, Councillor Atkinson seconded it, and the motion was carried.

“The Chair moved, and Councillor Atkinson seconded the recommendation, which was voted upon and CARRIED.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Permission was delegated to officers subject to a Section 106 agreement and conditions, with a secondary refusal recommendation if the agreement was not completed in time.

“RESOLVED to DELEGATE to officers to GRANT permission subject to completion of a S106 Agreement relating to the matters identified and subject to conditions as set out in report, but with secondary recommendation to REFUSE permission in the event the S106 Agreement is not completed within the requisite timeframe.”

Minutes

What the agreement secures

The proposed agreement would secure landscaping and its management, 57% biodiversity net gain for 30 years, carbon reduction and local employment measures.

“A) DELEGATE TO THE HEAD OF CITY DEVELOPMENT TO GRANT PERMISSION SUBJECT TO THE COMPLETION OF A LEGAL AGREEMENT UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) TO SECURE THE FOLLOWING:”

“Laying out of landscaping of Grace Road Fields, • Ongoing management of Grace Road Fields • Securing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of 57%, and management for 30 years • A carbon descent plan to secure ongoing reduction of fossil fuel use, and decrease in carbon intensity of supplied heat, and monitoring thereof • Employment and skills plan to secure benefits locally…”

Officer report