Headlines
Serious pollution incidents per 10,000km of sewer 2023-24 bar chart

South West Water ordered to repay £17.4 million to customers as poor performance penalty

Ofwat annual regulatory report finds company sewer collapse and serious pollution incident rates are worst in England and Wales, with customer satisfaction decline among largest in industry.

Harlequins revised redevelopment scheme illustrative elevation

Developer says Harlequins “co-living” scheme viability requires on-site key worker accommodation removal

Proposal to shift financial risks on to city council comes four years after initial approval, citing falling property values and higher finance and construction costs.

Victoria Street “co-living” complex refused as “substandard level of accommodation”

Victoria Street “co-living” complex refused as “substandard level of accommodation”

Council confirms scheme would constitute “overdevelopment” but persists in promoting co-living as local housing solution, claiming lack of demand means “no evidence to demonstrate that it is not a suitable model” for Exeter.

Frasers buys Princesshay shopping centre as part of wider retail space acquisition

Frasers buys Princesshay shopping centre as part of wider retail space acquisition

Mike Ashley-owned sports goods and retail group buys 400,000 square feet centre outright from The Crown Estate and Nuveen for a reported £80 million.

On Our Radar
Folk instrument

FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER 2024

Folk music night

Live music, food and drinks at regular Friday night event.

DAILY BOWL

Kacper Nowak

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2024

Isca Ensemble 2024 celebration concert

An evening of classical music celebrating the life of Joanna Leach with soloist Kacper Nowak in aid of local charity Hospicare.

EXETER CATHEDRAL

An Audience with a Ghost Hunter by Wandering Tiger

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER

Audience with a Ghost Hunter

An immersive after dark theatre experience in Exeter’s oldest building.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

Spotlight
Paternoster House scaffolding

Paternoster House flats described as “blueprint for Exeter’s future” marketed for rent at up to £3,500 per month

Standard minimum earnings eligibility threshold to rent each of four city centre flats so far completed ranges from £71,500 to £104,000 per annum, three times Exeter median wages, while best-paid 10% in Devon earn £52,400.

Below the fold
Water Lane micro-brewery “boxpark” bar and rental units proposed

Water Lane micro-brewery “boxpark” bar and rental units proposed

Application to install fifteen shipping containers in car park beside Vulcan Estate warehouse submitted to Exeter City Council for approval.

Inspectorate closes one of three “causes of concern” raised for enhanced Devon & Cornwall Police performance monitoring

Inspectorate closes one of three “causes of concern” raised for enhanced Devon & Cornwall Police performance monitoring

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services says Devon & Cornwall Police has improved its 101 call response but crime recording and investigations standards both still require improvement.

Dartmoor landowner seeks Supreme Court ruling to prevent wild camping

Dartmoor landowner seeks Supreme Court ruling to prevent wild camping

Alexander and Diana Darwell, owners of 4,000 acre Blachford Estate, aim to overturn appeal court ruling restoring access rights championed by Dartmoor National Park Authority and campaign group Open Spaces Society.

Exeter College seeks to replace planned Flowerpot Fields sports pavilion with dedicated teaching facility

Exeter College seeks to replace planned Flowerpot Fields sports pavilion with dedicated teaching facility

Revisions to consented scheme that includes fencing, floodlighting and replacement of publicly-accessible playing fields with artificial turf no longer reinstate demolished changing rooms or provide equipment storage or pitch viewing facilities.

Government approves new Devon local government layer but says it still wants elected mayor

Government approves new Devon local government layer but says it still wants elected mayor

Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority expected to be first step towards regional governance structure as Institute for Government recommends absorption of Plymouth – and even Cornwall – into South West peninsula devolution deal.

Developer appeals St Bridget Nurseries non-determination following High Court rejection of previous planning approval

Developer appeals St Bridget Nurseries non-determination following High Court rejection of previous planning approval

Second Waddeton Park application for controversial site remains undecided after city and county councils both criticised by judge for failing to discharge duties.

£7.3 million RAMM and Riverside Leisure Centre decarbonisation scheme to be scrapped

£7.3 million RAMM and Riverside Leisure Centre decarbonisation scheme to be scrapped

City council says neither project deliverable within required timeframe or budget and that it hopes to recover £550,000 so far spent.

Devon County Council holds second consultation on Heavitree Road, Honiton Road and Pinhoe Road bus lane changes

Devon County Council holds second consultation on Heavitree Road, Honiton Road and Pinhoe Road bus lane changes

Statutory consultation on proposed changes including bus lane operation times and removal of parking spaces follows informal consultation earlier this year.

New Heavitree Road police station site student accommodation and “co-living” redevelopment plans published

New Heavitree Road police station site student accommodation and “co-living” redevelopment plans published

Public comment sought on pre-application proposals for 738 rooms in eight blocks with ground floor commercial space following February appeal dismissal of previous 955-room scheme.

, updated

New community energy advice centre to open in Queen Street

Climate Action Hub Exeter to take on Exeter Community Energy advice work and offer drop-in sessions and workshops, talks, screenings and events in former Whitton & Laing premises.

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County council projects £38.5m SEND overspend, £7.4m more than agreed with government under “safety valve” deal

Failure to meet agreement, which requires break-even on SEND spending within two years despite persistent overspends, would put government bail-out at risk.

Former Exeter City Council CEO appointed as Plymouth City Council growth director

New job title created for ex-CEO Karime Hassan eighteen months after Exeter councillors voted to terminate his employment.

Great Western Hotel conversion proposed

An application for permission to convert the Great Western Hotel beside Exeter St David’s station for mainly residential use has been submitted to Exeter City Council for approval.

How did Devon MPs vote on the winter fuel payment motion?

Nine of Devon’s thirteen MPs voted in favour of a motion, moved in the House of Commons on Tuesday by Conservative Central Devon MP Mel Stride, to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024.

Council cuts and post-pandemic working prompt downsizing plan as small offices replace Paris Street Citypoint vision

Proposed move to Guildhall shopping centre, Phoenix arts venue and Oakwood House intended to enable Civic Centre site redevelopment as council claims £100,000 costings report and capital spending to come at “no cost to council taxpayers”.

Spotlight
Citizens Advice Exeter 2023-24 impact report keyframe

Citizens Advice Exeter at risk of closure after city council cuts core funding

Charity hopes to continue providing free advice to local residents in need with help of crowdfunding campaign but cuts mean imminent service reductions and future in doubt unless new sources of funding found.