A woman battling to prevent a 65-home development that she says will harm an important bird habitat near the city is awaiting the outcome of her High Court challenge in London against the scheme.
Dianne Smyth is seeking a court order to quash a Government decision granting planning permission to developer Bellway Homes at Exminster Marshes.
One of the country's top judges, Mrs Justice Paterson, has reserved judgment in the case for the greenfield agricultural site at Sentrys Farm, Exminster.
Ms Smyth, chairman of campaign group Get Involved Exminster that objected to the development, is hoping the judge will order the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, to have the planning application reconsidered.
But lawyers for the Secretary of State and for landowners Elizabeth Arthur, Angela Baker-Mercadal and Carol Land have argued that the challenge should be dismissed and the permission allowed to stand.
James Maurici QC, representing the Secretary of State, said that the inspector had been entitled to conclude that the development is in a sustainable location and will not be significantly harmful to the character and appearance of the area.
He concluded that it will not be likely to harm the nearby Exe Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, or the Dawlish Warren Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
An inspector apparently decided that a substantial need exists for additional housing within the district to meet its requirements over the next five years.
Mr Maurici argued that Ms Smyth raised a series of technical complaints that lacked any real merit.
He said that there was no purpose in quashing the decision and ordering a reconsideration because the environmental effects have been "considered at length".
