Massive Exeter housing extension as seen from the air

Spectacular aerial footage shows how massive housing development is changing the face of the Exeter. Thousands of new homes are currently being built on former farmland between Alphington and Exminster.

Drone images taken by Steve Shorland show how the new “urban extension” around Matford is altering the approach to the city from the south.

This week work is due to start putting a new bridge over the A379 between Chudleigh Road and Exeter’s Devon Hotel. Drivers will have to endure a 12-mile diversion for five days whilst it is installed.

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These images centre on the Bovis development called Haldon Reach. It includes a new all-through school – Matford Brook Academy – that is planned to open in September.

The scale of the building is so vast that even these images only capture part of it. Many more new homes are planned or being built on the Alphington side of the A379. The new footbridge will connect the two.

Developers say new housing is needed in the area to meet demand and for Exeter to fulfil its potential for economic growth. Diggers moved into the area about three years ago and many of the new estates are now substantially occupied.

The images give a good view of the new Matford Brook Academy, which is tucked away behind housing from the A379 but fleetingly visible to traffic on the A30. The images show the position of playing fields in relation to the main structure which appears largely ready for occupation. According to the school’s website June 16 is earmarked for the building handover.

The new houses effectively form an extension to the fringes of Exeter – though 2,000 actually fall within the boundary of Teignbridge District Council.

The sheer scale of the construction work by different housebuilders on connected pockets of land has bewildered people already living in the area. Many locals feel they had no say in whether Alphington should be extended or not. There has been anger over claims of unnecessary tree-felling, displaced wildlife, the loss of village character, lack of new shops and services, and roads being unable to cope with the thousands of extra vehicles.

Diggers are due to remain in the area for much of the next decade as more development is planned. One controversial plan is for Markham village – about 900 homes which will be created as a small new village on the country lane between the villages of Ide and Shillingford Abbot.

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