InformationNew Community Name consultation

The new community name consultation was recently held from the 15 to the 26 of August

As part of this process, residents, stakeholders and local businesses were invited to rank a shortlist of four potential names in order of preference. This naming consultation followed earlier engagement on the masterplan, including the location and design of the settlement, and formed part of the wider effort to establish a strong and locally informed identity for the new town.

The shortlisted names were:

Newton Clyst – The Local Option
Marlcombe – The Historic Option
Willowcrest – The Nature Option
Clysthope – The Future-Focused Option

Marlcombe chosen as name for East Devon’s new town

Over the summer, East Devon District Council (EDDC) asked residents, community groups and businesses to have their say on four potential names for the new town, planned near Westpoint. More than 1700 people took part in the consultation, with Marlcombe emerging as the clear favourite, winning 54.5% of first-choice votes.

The name was formally approved by EDDC’s Cabinet on 3 September 2025.

Why Marlcombe?

The name Marlcombe appeared on 17th-century tithe maps describing part of this exact site. Restoring it brings back an authentic local place name, giving the town a strong identity rooted in its history while looking to the future.

Other shortlisted names were Newton Clyst, Willowcrest, and Clysthope, each reflecting different aspects of the area’s story.

Building a new community together

The new town is a vital part of East Devon’s ambitious plans to create a self-sufficient community, complete with new homes, schools, green spaces, sports facilities, and job opportunities.

Agreeing Marlcombe as the name for this new community is the first in a number of important steps to be taken in the next few months, all as part of EDDC’s approach to ensuring we learn the lessons of Cranbrook. These include up-front infrastructure alongside new homes, which will be considered by Cabinet in October 2025. This will be followed by a public consultation on the masterplan as a critical part of our new Local Plan to help ensure the vision for Marlcombe as an exemplar new community for East Devon is achieved.

A full consultation summary report can be accessed below. 

New Community Name Consultation summary report pdf