Plans have been submitted to Exeter City Council to demolish a locally significant house named Silverlands and build 67 new homes on the adjoining agricultural land off Chudleigh Road in Alphington. The site represents the last remaining green field next to a listed property in the area, and the application has prompted questions about loss of local character and how the development would fit into wider plans for new housing south of the city.
What is being proposed
The application, lodged by Wales-based housebuilder Edenstone Homes, would see Silverlands removed to make way for a mixed housing scheme. The company says the development could deliver a minimum of 35% affordable housing, but is seeking flexibility to allow the scheme to be brought forward as 100% affordable housing with the homes transferred to a registered provider.
- Proposed new homes: 67
- Affordable housing: at least 35%, with potential for 100%
- Location: Silverlands, off Chudleigh Road, Alphington — last green field beside The Gables (listed)
- Policy context: site lies within an area identified for 500 new homes to the south of Exeter
In supporting documents accompanying the planning application, Edenstone accepts Silverlands is a "heritage asset of local significance" and says it will acknowledge the house in the naming of the development and its roads. The firm also states it believes the benefits of delivering the housing outweigh the harm from losing the building.
"The proposal will deliver 67 high-quality homes. The scheme will provide a minimum of 35 per cent affordable housing, with flexibility sought to allow the scheme to come forward as 100 per cent affordable housing."
Local context and consequences
Alphington has seen steady development pressure in recent years, and this site has not previously been the subject of a planning application. Nevertheless, neighbouring developments have already changed the patchwork of fields and older houses on the southern edge of the city. For residents, the plans raise familiar tensions: the need for more homes and affordable accommodation versus the desire to protect green spaces, local heritage and the setting of listed buildings.
Because the site sits adjacent to The Gables, a listed building, heritage officers and conservation groups are likely to examine the application closely. The developer argues the proposed layout and naming would retain a degree of local memory of Silverlands, but the physical loss of the building would be permanent.
From a housing-policy perspective, the application sits inside a broader strategy for up to 500 homes to the south of Exeter. If approved, the Silverlands scheme would constitute a notable proportion of that total. The potential for the development to be wholly affordable may be attractive to council officers seeking genuinely affordable homes, but that outcome would depend on negotiations, funding and transfer arrangements with a registered provider.
Next steps and what residents should expect
The application will be considered by planning officers at Exeter City Council. Local people and statutory consultees will have the opportunity to comment during the consultation period. Officers will weigh the claimed public benefits against the local harm identified by heritage and landscape assessments.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Edenstone Homes |
| Units proposed | 67 homes |
| Affordable housing | Minimum 35%, potential for 100% |
| Location | Silverlands, off Chudleigh Road, Alphington |
| Context | Part of area earmarked for 500 homes south of Exeter |
For those who care about local character, the proposal will test how the city balances housing need with conservation. For others seeking affordable homes, the prospect of a significant number of new dwellings — possibly entirely affordable — could be welcome. The planning case will hinge on whether officers and councillors accept the developer's assessment that the public benefits outweigh the loss of a heritage asset and the last remaining green field in that immediate area.
Residents can view the planning application and submit comments via the Exeter City Council planning portal while the statutory consultation remains open.
