Marlcombe chosen as the name of East Devon's newest community
More than 1700 people took part in the consultation
Local people have helped make history by choosing Marlcombe as the name for East Devon’s newest community.
Over the summer, East Devon District Council 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.
Cllr Todd Olive, Portfolio Holder for Place, Infrastructure and Strategic Planning, East Devon District Council, said:
We are thrilled that local people have played such an important role in naming this new community. Marlcombe connects us to the history of the site while giving the town a distinctive identity of its own. This is an exciting milestone and a big step forward in creating a place we can all be proud of.”
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.
For more information, visit the East Devon Council website.