In July 2022, Emery Planning presented evidence in relation to housing land supply on behalf of Salter Property Investments Ltd at a public inquiry concerning an appeal for up to 93 dwellings at land off Spruce Close, Exeter. In allowing the appeal, the Inspector concluded that a deliverable five year housing land supply could not be demonstrated and the position was materially worse than that claimed by the Council. The Inspector found that the Council had not provided the clear evidence required for the inclusion of several sites which did not have detailed planning permission. In the tilted balance to the presumption in favour of sustainable development, the Inspector gave significant weight to the delivery of market homes in the context of a national policy objective to significantly boost the supply of homes and a less-than-modest housing land supply shortfall in Exeter, even if it is capable of being rectified in the short term.

Link to Appeal Decision is here