Family appeals for sensitivity as homes plan back for site of notorious Exeter killings
They are hoping to build two new detached houses - but plans submitted last year were met with a negative reaction from locals
The family of two brothers who were killed in their Exeter home have appealed for sensitivity after resubmitting plans for the redevelopment of the house.
Plans were submitted in July 2020 to turn the spacious and leafy site at 109 Cowick Lane into two detached properties, but were withdrawn in February 2021 following what was an overwhelmingly negative reaction from locals.
Brothers Dick and Roger Carter were killed by Alexander Lewis-Ranwell in the St Thomas home, and the large walled house has been deserted since.
But now, a revised scheme for the site has been submitted by the family who say they need to sell off part of 109 Cowick Lane after the tragic circumstances of the loss of their uncles.
And they have appealed to those who complained so harshly last time that some sensitivity should be shown after such a tragic event, that some of the issues raised were wild speculation, and arose from a lack of understanding and appreciation of the situation and the applicants’ motives.
The plans submitted this week to Exeter City Council would see an area of the former vegetable garden, which was used for their former horticultural business, for the location of the houses and drives, and would be sited next to the existing property.
A statement with the application says:
"The point of the outline application is to establish the principle of creating a pair of semi-detached plots so that the plots can be marketed and give them some confidence in what could be achieved, while giving them freedom to exercise their creative flair to give each dwelling its individuality.
"There can be no argument that proposed residential use of the site is inappropriate as it is within an area zoned for housing and surrounded by housing, and surely one should be fully utilising appropriate sites within areas zoned and appropriate for residential purposes and previously developed land, before imposing on valuable green field sites.
"By no stretch of the imagination is this a green field site and the presence of the outbuilding once used for business purposes would establish it as previously developed land if any stronger case were needed. Surrounded by dense housing and a wide main road junction, the site is clearly in an established built environment."
And appealing to those who objected to the previous scheme, the statement calls on them to show more sensitivity this time around. It says:
"We stress this is simply an outline application by the family who need to sell off part of 109 Cowick Lane after the tragic circumstances of the loss of their uncles. The main house has fallen into disrepair which they would like to see restored. The walled garden and outbuildings are now sadly an underutilised space -once a thriving market garden business set up by the brothers.
"I would appeal to a few of those who complained so harshly that some sensitivity be shown after such a tragic event. Some issues raised are wild speculation unfounded in fact. Many arising from a lack of understanding and appreciation of the situation and the applicants’ motives, while other comments that were not legitimate planning reasons at this stage.
"The Family also cares about their environment and the local ecology – but the place to address many of these aspects would be at the detailed application stage, and they would appreciate more supportive comments rather than the negative."
The outline application for the two homes will be determined by Exeter City Council planners at a later date, with a further reserved matters application for the detail needed to be submitted and approved before work can begin.
Lewis-Ranwell, who also killed 80-year-old Anthony Payne near St Davids Station, was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in December 2019 after a trial, but was sentenced to being held at Broadmoor High Security Hospital until doctors decide it is safe for him to be released.