We look forward to meeting you at an event soon. If you are interested in getting more involved with event planning and representing the needs of Young Planners in the area then please complete a registration form.

Recent events

South West Exeter talk and site visit, 20 October 2025

October saw the RTPI Young Planners host a walking tour at South West Exeter, a new development of 2,500 homes on the edge of Exeter.

The afternoon started with a tour of the infrastructure being delivered by Devon County Council through the Housing Infrastructure Fund, administered by Homes England. This included new signalised junctions, a road realignment, pedestrian/cycle bridge, a new community building and GP surgery and roundabout and public realm improvements.

Sarah Ratnage, Planning Manager at Devon County Council discussed her involvement in the project from the very beginning including collaboration with the district council, multiple landowners and developers. Sarah also highlighted the progress of the project so far and the success of early infrastructure in facilitating housing and community facilities amongst commercial challenges.

Estelle Skinner, Green Infrastructure Officer at Teignbridge District Council then guided us around the spectacular Ridgetop Park. This is an amazing 52 acres of greenspace being delivered as Sustainable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS). The park is split into different themed sections with lots to discover and explore. This access to green space from the early stages of the development has seen a great response and uptake from residents.

The last stop on our tour was Elm Park. Mike Smith, Senior Development Manager at Cavanna Homes talked us through the stages of design behind this parcel with a real focus and enthusiasm for inclusive spaces. The design of Elm Park has paid particular attention to providing key focal points and wayfinding signals to provide a dementia friendly development. The site is also establishing a sensory garden containing five pods designed to stimulate each sense; an asset for all of the community.

The group finished back at the Devon Hotel for a cream tea, albeit a bit damp from the autumnal weather.

Regeneration in Ilfracombe, 20 June 2025

20 June 2025 saw the RTPI Young Planners Event on regeneration in Ilfracombe take place with over 35 planners at the Landmark Theatre on a glorious summers day.

A range of insightful and inspiring speakers highlighted what could be done with collaboration between different organisations to assist in the regeneration of the coastal town, which includes some of the most deprived areas in the country. 

Steve Seatherton, Programme Manager, One Ilfracombe used multi-media to highlight the key issues facing Ilfracombe and how an inter-agency approach has helped to deliver improvements in housing, skills and the health of its population.

Georgina Carlo-Paat, Ilfracombe Harbourmaster explained the aims, challenges and opportunities in the delivery of the Watersports Hub at Larkstone Cove, Ilfracombe to provide a new home for the Ilfracombe Gig Club, Youth-sailing club and canoe club. It has also successfully  delivered a programme of water based activities for 10 and 11 year olds from the local primary schools as well as being available to the wider community providing a safe area for non-powered craft away from the hazards of the harbour.  All of these deliverables have the potential to improve the quality of life of the residents of Ilfracombe.

Mark Reed, Chair of Ilfracombe Community Land Trust (CLT) outlined the difference that CLTs can make to delivering high quality developments where the project is led by the community and the housing is to be retained in perpetuity for local people. Local people had the opportunity to articulate their requirements for high quality housing which the architect was able to convert into the design of a site at Bicclescombe Nursery. The development of a steep, brownfield site with poor access and drainage issues has enabled the provision of 16 units of social housing which may have not been viable to be delivered in the traditional developer led scheme. This has the potential to assist in increased opportunities for local people to obtain high quality housing and improve their quality of life.

Jon Triggs, Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive from North Devon District Council (NDC) spoke about the Healthy Homes Initiative and how the local authority is intervening in the local housing market to improve the health of residents.  Through £2m of funding from the County Combined Authority NDC was able to improve housing by the purchasing of three empty buildings in the centre of town and refurbishing them to provide 14 units of accommodation. The floorspace of existing bedsits was increased and sustainable features were included to improve living standards and reduce energy costs working with the Poverty Truth Commission. They have now become a registered housing provider and can administer their own social housing stock with capital housing costs from Homes England to implement the schemes. This is hoped to improve the healthy life expectancy of 59 years old in some of the areas of central Ilfracombe, which is the lowest in Devon. In the future the council is planning to expand its housing stock and improve the availability of affordable and high quality housing.

Matt Brown, Lead Planning Officer from North Devon District Council (NDC) led an afternoon walk around 8 different sites where the council have used a range of enforcement and planning powers in an attempt to promote regeneration.  He highlighted the multiple developments that have been proposed in various locations but that the problem of stalled sites affected by the prevailing economic conditions still prevail around the town.  We finished off at the Watersports Hub where we enjoyed a drink in the sunshine at the Lime Kiln café developed as the commercial element of the hub.

RTPI APC Seminar – Achieving Success in your Submission, 12 May 2025

RTPI Devon, Cornwall and Somerset Young Planners recently hosted an event to help planners with their RTPI APC submission. Two fantastic presentations were given by Bill Richardson of Strongvox Homes Ltd. and Clodagh Macken of CarneySweeney. Bill gave an insightful overview of the APC process, covering the L-APC route, touching upon the three parts of the written submission, assessment outcomes and levels of support the RTPI provide. Clodagh gave a fantastic insight into her own experience on her APC submission in 2023 and provided some helpful tips.

We hope everyone that attended found the session useful. Good luck on your submissions!