Marlcombe

Marlcombe was a proposed new town in Devon, England.

Toponymy

The name was chosen through a public consultation because it was an archaic name for the area, dating back to the 17th century. Alternative proposals included Newton Clyst, Willowcrest, and Clysthope.

History

Background

There has been a housing crisis in Devon for many years due to a lack of affordable housing. In 2010, planning permission was granted for the construction of the new eco-community of Cranbrook, which saw thousands of homes built throughout the 2010s. More development has occurred in East Devon throughout the 2020s.

Initial proposals

In 2021, the leader of East Devon District Council, Paul Arnott, said the council was looking to avoid creating new towns in East Devon. The proposal for the new town properly emerged in 2023. It was described as the new Cranbrook, another nearby new town. The name was decided by public vote. A community consultation on the proposed new town was carried out beforehand. The initial consultation saw 65% of respondents oppose the new town. East Devon District Council described it as "a self-sufficient and dynamic community with a distinctive character". The proposed site covered 500 hectares. In September 2024, two concept masterplans were made public.

Development

In September 2025, Marlcombe was named on a shortlist of 12 locations by the Labour government's New Towns Taskforce. In March 2026 the Housing minister did not include it in the final list of seven planned new towns.

The town would reportedly have been a standalone community rather than a commuter suburb of Exeter. This new town in East Devon, along with the new developments in Plymouth, would have accommodated up to 20,000 homes. Local authorities proposed a target of 40% affordable housing. The settlement would have reportedly include new community facilities and employment opportunities. The town would have been built along the banks of the River Clyst. Construction of the first homes was expected by the early 2030s. The new town would have had green spaces, health facilities, schools, and cycle routes with links to the nearby Clyst Valley Regional Park. The towns infrastructure may not have been provided by South West Water and would reportedly have needed multiple treatment plants. It would have had a new town centre, shops, leisure facilities, a cemetery, a park and ride, and gypsy pitches. Around 2,500 new homes had been expected by 2040. In March 2026, Marlcombe was not on a list of confirmed locations for new towns meaning the future of the project is uncertain.

Geography

The proposed town would be constructed between the A30 and A3052 roads, immediately south of Exeter Airport. It would border the Devon County Showground at Westpoint. Much of the land between the dual carriageways is currently used as farmland, while some parts of the site include ancient woodland. The town was to be located on land between the Crealy Theme Park & Resort and the nearby Hill Barton business park. Marlcombe was to be close to the villages of Clyst Honiton, Clyst St Mary, Farringdon, Sowton, and Westcott.