Headlines
Existing Exeter area parliamentary and district council boundaries map

Will Devon’s eleven councils find common ground as local authority reorganisation deadline looms?

A county-wide consensus is gaining traction with most Devon councils already on board and only Exeter City Council standing in its way while County Hall has yet to make up its mind.

Aerial view of Wonford community learning centre and sports centre

Plans for unfunded £7 million Wonford community hub redevelopment approved

Exeter City Council approves own planning application to demolish, rebuild and part-refurbish existing community and sports facilities beside Ludwell Valley Park.

Devon County Council plans more bus priority schemes aimed at improving journey times in Exeter arterial roads

Devon County Council plans more bus priority schemes aimed at improving journey times in Exeter arterial roads

Schemes in Alphington Road, Barrack Road, Cowley Bridge Road, Honiton Road, Topsham Road and at Exe Bridges gyratory to follow Cowick Street, Heavitree Road, Pinhoe Road and New North Road changes.

On Our Radar
Breathe seedling puppet sitting in a shell

FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2025

Breathe

Half a String uses puppetry, music and live camera work to tell a family-friendly tale from the perspective of a tiny acorn.

EMMANUEL HALL

Joukhainen's revenge by Akseli Gallen-Kallelan

FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Kalevala

Katy Cawkwell and fellow storytellers present tales from Finland’s national epic poem in Exeter’s oldest building.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

Exeter Bach Choir

SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025

Exeter Bach Choir

A performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor to celebrate the choir’s 30th anniversary.

EXETER CATHEDRAL

Spotlight
Grace Road Fields Exeter Energy plant main building indicative render

Exeter Energy plant replaces rationale for Grace Road Fields location near River Exe with reliance on air source heat pumps

Developer nevertheless seeks planning permission to build in Riverside Valley Park, claiming public open space “not bound” by local plan policy, as scheme ambition and city council environmental leadership claims begin to drain away.

Below the fold
Devon County Council admits Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets trial led to “lack of trust” in County Hall decision-making

Devon County Council admits Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets trial led to “lack of trust” in County Hall decision-making

Focus groups held following termination of controversial trial find broad support for safer travel but also reveal perception of “downward spiral” in Exeter highways management while county council confirms it has no plans for new schemes in area.

Devon County Council plan to postpone local elections fails as government rejects devolution fast-track application

Devon County Council plan to postpone local elections fails as government rejects devolution fast-track application

County council leader James McInnes sought ministerial approval for proposals despite Devon falling short of devolution white paper eligibility criteria.

University study finds decarbonisation slowing as city council continues to pursue failing Net Zero Exeter 2030 plan

University study finds decarbonisation slowing as city council continues to pursue failing Net Zero Exeter 2030 plan

Exeter also set to miss national 2050 target on current trajectory while aviation, shipping and other excluded scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions mean annual city carbon footprint likely to be triple territorial total.

Spotlight
English Devolution White Paper cover

South West peninsula devolution in disarray as Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay & Cornwall seek conflicting goals and seven Devon districts left out in cold

Contempt for local democracy laid bare by unlawful County Hall failure to publish plan to postpone local elections while Westminster looks set to back local Labour bids for disproportionate influence in regional governance reorganisation.