Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

The Chair invited Mr Keith Lewis, Exeter Civic Society, to speak for five minutes. Mr Lewis spoke against the application, making the following points:

• he was addressing the committee on behalf of Exeter Civic Society, and had worked together with Mr Chris Pope;
• he was opposed to the location, and that the site would occupy half of Grace Road Field;
• he highlighted the submission of Councillor Diana Moore, who was unable to attend the meeting;
• there were to be 1800 new homes built at Water lane, with an expected 20,000 more people living in Exeter by 2040;
• he believed that the electrical grid lacked capacity, and that 25% of the energy produced would be powered by gas;
• the applicant, 1Energy, had carried out sequential tests for water, but it was important for them to revisit this and carry out testing for air and gas;
• the site would be large, 118 meters long and 19 meters high;
• he asked if the benefit of this would truly outweigh the harm caused;
• an alternative site would be better, such as a traffic free area of the canal;
• would trees be planted to hide this from the Valley Park; and
• he encouraged Members of the Committee to refuse this application, and urged to defer the matter for a full disclosure of the Carbon Descent plan, mandatory reporting of carbon savings, flood mitigation measures, and missing views of the plant from Clapperbrook Lane.

Mr Lewis responded to questions from Members as follows:

• the 25% for gas was an average across the year and was due to lack of electrical supply;
• the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) suggested that the electrical grid was not sufficient;
• he had not been able to identify an alternative suitable plot of land available for sale and technically appropriate;
• this combined with the energy from waste plant (EFWP) was the first impression that people got when visiting the Valley Park; and
• there were no short-term issues and once built this would be around for 50 to 70 years which was a huge investment. The screen between the canal and the building would be lost and it would not be possible to hide it with a few trees.

The Chair invited Mr Paul Barker of 1Energy, to speak for five minutes. Mr Barker spoke for the application, making the following points:

• Mr Barker thanked the Chair and the Committee for allowing him to speak;
• this development was a response to the climate crisis, and Exeter’s aim of being carbon neutral by 2030;
• this development was for both public sector and non-public sector buildings;
• it would reduce gas use, and improve air quality;
• this was future proofed to add further low carbon heat sources;
• 1Energy were contractually committed to provide low carbon heat for the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, the University of Exeter, and Exeter College;
• there were 15 potential sites across Exeter, but this site was the most appropriate due to its proximity to low carbon heat sources, such as the EFWP  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26