Musbury has about 274 dwellings housing over 500 residents. The village also has two residential care homes for adults with learning difficulties. In contrast to many other villages in the area Musbury has relatively few holiday homes. Although Musbury has young families with children the majority of residents are retired and while many have lived here all their lives, the village continues to attract those moving in from other parts of the country.
Planning
Any developments are of course subject to planning approval by East Devon District Council – further information is available at East Devon District Council Planning.
While permitted development rights have been recently extended, those living in Musbury’s Conservation Area or in Listed Buildings are subject to tighter controls for both building and tree works. You can find out more on controlled planning and tree works via the link above.
You can also view recent applications in Musbury.
Planning applications are discussed at Musbury Parish Council Meetings.
Objections to a planning application need to be made on the basis of material planning considerations. You can see guidelines here: Criteria for objection to a planning application.
Affordable Housing
Social housing accounts for about 15% of Musbury’s housing stock. Most is owned by EDDC but the village has 12 starter homes administered by a Housing Association.
Council and housing association homes available to let in Devon are advertised through Devon Home Choice each week. You need to register on their website in order to bid for homes that meet your needs. Homes will be offered to those assessed as being in the most need.
New Housing
EDDC has adopted a new Local Plan for the development of land in East Devon. Covering 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2031 strategic policies include:
- A revised target of 17,100 new homes over the 18 years
- Most new homes to be built in the West End of East Devon, close to jobs, services and public transport.
- No additional residential development for the seven main towns of East Devon (Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth) – already the focus of some growth
- No proposals to allocate sites for development in the villages or countryside (with the exception of a brownfield allocation site at Clyst St Mary)
A new development plan for villages has been published. You can also see the Heritage Impact Review for Musbury via this link. There is a separate site by site assessment for Musbury.
The East Devon Villages Plan is specifically concerned with development boundaries around villages, the allocations of land for development at these villages and other policies that may be applicable at or for villages.
A Small Town and Village Assessment identified two categories of village for further growth. Because Musbury has facilities (a pub, shop, Church, primary school, village hall and place of employment) and because of its ease of access, quality of public transport and walking distances it has been considered a ‘sustainable’ village with a Built-up Area Boundary. This means it is one of 15 villages* in the category judged to be best- suited to accommodate new housing. Musbury’s current Built-up Area Boundary (BUAB) will be reviewed as part of the Village Development Plan with involvement from the community.
All other villages will not have a BUAB but will be defined as part of the countryside in planning policy.
* The villages with a BUAB: Beer; Broadclyst; Clyst St Mary; Colyton; East Budleigh; Feniton; Kilmington; Lympstone; Musbury; Newton Poppleford; Sidbury ; Uplyme ; West Hill; Whimple; Woodbury.