Matford Lane DCC sale - land between The Coaver Club & Matford Lane
Update 8/10/26 - GOOD NEWS
On the 8th October 2026 we heard that one of our two 'Representations' to the National Planning Inspectorate had been considered and upheld. We had told them that we thought that Exeter City Council's designation of the old Matford Huts site as 'suitable for the development of 27 dwellings' in the Local Plan was wrong as it would mean breaking up a part of the parkland that is County Hall grounds. Those grounds are the curtilage of two listed buildings and technically Greenfield. The land would now be classed as Open Space in line with the rest of the green spaces in County Hall grounds. Our 'Heartshaped' demonstration had a large part to play in impressing the inspector that the community was firmly behind this representation.
The second 'representation' was regarding our complaint that ECC did not consider and just seemed to ignore our application to have the grounds listed as Local Green Space. We have not heard the result of that yet.
9/10/26
At last!! Devon County Council have acted on the planning condition that the area should be grassed over and returned to green space.
After the drought of the 2026 summer the grass is growing well
Background to the story:-
Devon County Council have decided to sell a part of the historic, and therefore protected, grounds of their County Hall premises.
Local authorities (LAs) across the UK are selling off public assets – such as schools and care homes – to try and reduce a collective debt of £122bn. (August 2025 figures). LAs have a duty to manage their assets on behalf of the taxpayer - us. It would seem sensible to consider selling off underused assets which do not have any protection, community benefit, or which are costing the taxpayer to run when providing little or no benefit.
The piece land in question is a 1.5 acre part of the historic grounds of County Hall as shown in the illustration. DCC was given temporary permission to construct some offices on the site, but that time has come to and end. Part of the conditions of that permission was that, when the time period ended, the site would be grassed over.
Being in the grounds of several listed buildings it is protected. It is not an ‘underused asset’ in that it is part of the grounds where the public can enjoy sport, community activities and fresh air.
In mid June a group of residents joined together at the Coaver Club to celebrate a minor victory on this matter. Devon County Council have decided to comply with the condition attached to their planning permission for temporary huts in Matford Lane, that when the huts are demolished the site will be grassed over as though they have never been there. Work will start on the 22nd June 2026 to grass it over.
But that is not an end to the danger the ‘parkland’ that is County Hall grounds is under. It doesn’t ensure that DCC will not sell the land at some stage. It does not wipe out ECC’s statement in the Local Plan which says that the site is suitable for 27 dwellings. When the National Planning Inspectorate report comes back in a month or two (possibly) we will know more. Let’s hope we can have another party!!
18/6/26