Cllr Matt Hall – where they stand

Where they stand

Position not clear

Told SPC on 3 September 2024 that the St John's site was not sustainable as it stood and urged members not to support Exmo_20b, while saying he was not 'totally against the proposal' and that a wider area could suit Exmouth's growth; in July 2025 he wrote that EXMO20 was too small to fund Exmouth's infrastructure.

I don't believe that currently as it stands as an area, is sustainable.Strategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 (afternoon) · 00:04:26 ▶ · meeting page · Raised sustainability concerns before the allocation vote.

at no point was I suggesting that I supported 20AStrategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 (afternoon) · 00:19:27 ▶ · meeting page · Corrected the record: he had not supported Exmo_20a.

That is not to say that I'm totally against the proposalStrategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 (afternoon) · 00:05:47 ▶ · meeting page · Same speech: said he was not wholly against it; mixed signals.

Everything they said about EXMO20 at the meetings

7 passages from the council recordings, in date order. Each time stamp plays the recording at that moment.

Strategic Planning Committee, 3 September 2024 – afternoon session (6)

As the ward member for the largest allocation site today I would like to thank the committee for standing currently at minus 318. I do feel somewhat slightly hoodwinked here. There are a number of issues with the proposed St John's site, namely ecology, heritage, possible access to the site considering the number of proposed dwellings. And I don't believe that currently as it stands as an area, is sustainable.00:04:26 ▶ · 4. Councillors admitting EXMO20 should not have been allocated, or that allocating it was a mistake (30)

It is important to highlight that this site proposes to accommodate approximately 1,000 homes, which will bring to Exmouth between, in my calculations, 3,000 to 4,000 extra people. Exmouth is currently in the middle of an infrastructure crisis, which is considerably more than just sewerage. It is about schools, places, it's about meeting doctors, it's about the myth of an NHS dentist.00:05:10 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

However, speaking as a qualified planning officer, unless East Devon District Council is seriously saying that there will be no more development in Exmouth after this Local Plan … The, as I call it, golden triangle of land which runs from St John's through Ting Tong and down to Sautertum Road offer the expansion of Exmouth in one central location for now and for future local plans. The current proposal before us, I believe at the moment, is too small to provide the necessary 106 and necessary other funding to provide the infrastructure. That is not to say that I'm totally against the proposal,00:05:47 ▶ · I. Admissions (24)

The current proposal before us, I believe at the moment, is too small to provide the necessary 106 and necessary other funding to provide the infrastructure.00:06:33 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

If I could just be clear about one previous point, at no point was I suggesting that I supported 20A. It's just a question that if Exmouth is forced to expand, that this is the area that it should look to.00:19:27 ▶ · B. Site selection: HELAA, officer advice and why EXMO20 was included (“justified”) (93)

This site, although many positives have already been explained, would not provide the level of housing that provides the money that provides the infrastructure. It just won't happen. Therefore, all it would do is add to and compound the issues that the town faces at the moment. And I would urge you not to support such a development.00:20:08 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

About this meeting · full transcript

Strategic Planning Committee, 8 July 2025 (1)

This is true of many places including the site EXMO20 where it would appear to be a large amount of housing to most residents but not large enough to address financially the issues facing Eczema. So instead of helping better people's lives, there is a fair chance of this plan exacerbating already known infrastructure problems02:23:03 ▶ · D. Deliverability: access, sewage, water, infrastructure, viability (“effective”) (125)

About this meeting · full transcript

How we decide where someone stands: our method. Anything wrong? Tell us and we'll correct it.