HOPES have been expressed that a decision on funding major developments to the east of Exeter could be made before the autumn.

Derek Phillips, chairman of Exeter Chamber of Commerce, is convinced that the coalition Government may be prepared to fund projects such as the major improvements to junction 29 of the M5, which will pave the way for further investment in projects like Exeter Science Park and Skypark.

As the Echo has reported, concerns over whether the Government will pay £12million towards projects in the east of Exeter, including improvements to junction 29, led Devon County Council to voice concerns that the Science Park scheme could face delays, although the partner involved in the scheme insisted that phase one was still on track.

The science park is a 25-acre research and innovation park proposed for a site east of the M5 near junction 29 at Redhayes.

The Science Park Partnership includes the county council, Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council, the Met Office and the University of Exeter.

The detailed consent for the highway and utility infrastructure site was granted in June this year.

Phase one is due to include a hotel and conference facility, and work had been scheduled to start this summer.

Skypark is a 100-acre business park planned for a site north of Exeter Airport.

Regeneration specialist St Modwen has signed a partnership agreement with Devon County Council to develop the £210million Skypark. Work on this is due to start in 2011.

Devon County Council has said it expects the Government to make a decision on whether it will fund road infrastructure work around the M5 — crucial for the delivery of the projects — following a spending review in the autumn.

But Mr Phillips said: "The partners remain totally committed to these projects and it is my belief that we can convince the Government to release the funding ahead of its spending review.

"There is such a strong case for the developments, and this includes Sky Park and Science Park, and the prosperity they will bring to the region means that we are in a good position.

"I know that Hugo Swire, the MP for East Devon, has been meeting with colleagues in the Ministry of Transport to press these issues, and that Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, who was at a chamber meeting yesterday, is also lobbying hard.

"And I have to say we are pleased with the way in which the Government has been responding so far.

"You have to remember that a lot of the investment will be recouped through legal agreements, Section 106, with the developers who are building the project.

"So, to some extent, the money being put in could be considered to be a loan."

Richard Ball, head of economy and tourism at Exeter City Council, said: "We are actively developing the science park, and are confident that work will begin on the site soon."