Democracy doesn't work when people don't know  Upgrade to paid

NEWS

Progressive Group planning enforcement proposal adopted despite public Labour rejection

Newly-published register also reveals council has issued as many planning enforcement notices in the past three months as it has in the past three years.

Martin Redfern

Exeter City Council has adopted a Progressive Group proposal to employ a planning enforcement officer after the ruling Labour group twice publicly rejected the idea.

The Progressive Group of Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent councillors put forward a proposal to employ a dedicated council officer to investigate and remedy planning breaches in February 2020 and again in February this year during annual budget decision-making.

Councillors Kevin Mitchell and Diana Moore, group co-leaders, initially suggested that the post should be funded from underspending in other areas.

The group then proposed the creation of a charging scheme for the free pre-application advice service the council provides to developers in order to cover the costs of employing the officer.

The council is among the few local planning authorities which give free advice to support large development applications, and has also been employing expensive temporary agency staff to clear a backlog of around 160 planning enforcement cases.

Despite Labour’s public rejection of the proposals it has since emerged that the council has created the new role.

Monkerton masterplan map Monkerton masterplan map. Image: Exeter City Council.

A newly-published register has also revealed that Exeter City Council has issued as many planning enforcement notices in the past three months as it has in the past three years.

These have included addressing non-compliance with planning conditions at the Glenthorne Road student accommodation development site and the unlawful conversion of a garage into a residential studio flat on Northernhay Street.

At this year’s budget meeting the ruling Labour group also rejected Progressive Group proposals to improve council decision-making scrutiny and Conservative group proposals to address student council tax exemption, city-wide food waste recycling and Wonford Community Centre refurbishment.

The council continues not to charge developers for pre-application advice.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know

Public interest news that holds power and influence to account is more important now than it has ever been.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer was created to deliver the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs.

It exists because people who think what we do matters are willing to chip in each month to help cover our costs.

We need more of our readers to contribute like this so we can keep producing and publishing our essential reporting.

137 of the 300 paying subscribers we need have signed up so far. Join them today to help us reach our goal.

If you value the work we do please support our work from less than £2/week. It's a small investment for a very big return.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Illustrative view of proposed co-living blocks from Heavitree Road

Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” scheme consultation extended

Developers revise application for full planning permission for 813-bed seven-block complex submitted in May as similar proposals proliferate across city centre.

Boneyard arcade games

Unique retro games arcade to create new Sidwell Street venue after long search

Boneyard arcade seeking permission to change use of empty Brighthouse retail unit after making way for “co-living” block at previous Red Lion Lane location.

Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.

, updated

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.

On Our Radar
Jo Eades

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2025

Spork! Dead Poets Slam 2025

Halloween spoken-word special featuring Jo Eades and Samuel L. Cohen with a £100 cash prize poetry slam.

EXETER PHOENIX

Carmen with rose graphic

SATURDAY 8 & SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025

Carmen

Exeter Opera Group performs Bizet’s tale of a free-spirited woman and her passionate and destructive love affair with a soldier.

EXETER CASTLE

Exeter Philharmonic Choir

SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2025

The Weather Book

Exeter Philharmonic Choir performs a new weather-inspired work plus pieces by Brahms, Poulenc and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

EXETER CATHEDRAL