THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #35: The Gorge co-living rent levels - Exeland House flood risks revision - Wellbeing Exeter funding cut

Our top stories plus local news that matters with planning updates, public consultations and curated community and culture events.

TOP STORIES

First Exeter ‘co-living’ rooms advertised to let from £1,045-£1,360 per month plus council tax

£40,800 minimum salary to rent 26.5 square metre room in six storey 133-unit block, promoted as two minutes’ walk from university St Luke’s campus, requiring tenants among top 20% of Exeter earners – or with wealthy guarantors. Full story here.

Exeland House ‘co-living’ proposals revised to address ‘extreme increase in flood risks’

Environment Agency says most new residential development in River Exe floodplain ‘will be required to be at first floor or higher’ to deal with ‘future flood risks exacerbated by climate change’. Full story here.

Devon County Council cuts £270,000 Wellbeing Exeter partnership funding

Decision made in parallel with homelessness prevention funding cut decisions following January announcement of £50 million of unspecified 2023-24 budget cuts. Full story here.

EXETER IN BRIEF

Nearly 60,000 patients on Devon NHS dental services waiting list

Report says number of adults able to access NHS dentist in Devon has fallen to less than 40% as practices hand back contracts and commissioners struggle to procure replacement providers. Read more here.

County council forecasts £9.3 million overspend on top of £36.6 million SEND services deficit

Additional £10 million service delivery cuts, mostly from adult social care and children’s services, to be allocated to government ‘safety valve’ deficit programme. Read more here.

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ON OUR RADAR

CROW Show: Light // Maketank

Paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramic and textile works by members of the Creative Older Women art collective. Until Friday 15 September. More details here.

Salmon Run 2023 // River Exe

Three runs along the River Exe to highlight the significance of salmon and the species’ relationship with the waterway. Sunday 24 September. More details here.

Kidical Mass returns // Southernhay

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its fifth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families. Sunday 24 September. More details here.

ON THE AGENDA

St Petrock’s shortlisted for National Lottery project of the year award

Mobile rough sleeper service among seventeen finalists shortlisted from nearly 4,000 applicants to reach public vote stage of national award. More details here.

City council seeks feedback on council housing strategy

Exeter City Council is seeking feedback on a draft 2023-27 council housing strategy that will guide the way it manages its stock of 4,800 rented homes and 1,000 leasehold properties over the next five years. More details here.

Annual inspection period begins as unaudited 2022-23 city council accounts published

Special information access rights enabling local residents to examine records and ask council and external auditor related questions apply until 12 October. More details here.

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More stories
Northbrook swimming pool

City council holds sham Northbrook swimming pool closure consultation

£600,000 Exeter Leisure services budget cut signed off two weeks before pool consultation opened as St Sidwell’s Point drains other council leisure sites.

Met Office building at Exeter Science Park

Met Office to sell Exeter Science Park supercomputer and office buildings

Disposal motivated by replacement of nine year-old supercomputer with £1.2 billion government-funded off-site Microsoft facility.

St Petrock's outreach workers with a rough sleeper

Annual city council rough sleeper count “consistently underestimates” extent of Exeter rough sleeping

Homelessness charity St Petrock’s calls on council to change count methodology which identifies fewer rough sleepers than those known by outreach workers and reflected in government figures.

Devon County Council budget meeting 20 February 2025

Devon County Council reveals perilous financial state with SEND spending having “significant impact” on cash balances

5.9% budget increase for 2025-26 conceals £22 million cuts and £66 million cost increases with “inevitable” impact on “vital” services.

Grace Road Fields March 2025

Exeter Energy insists Riverside Valley Park only viable heat plant site but fails to explain Marsh Barton brownfield rejection

Company admits River Exe water source connection merely “potential” after 2036, incinerator connection only “possible” after 2030 and solar array “will not” meet plant electricity demand while statutory objections challenge Grace Road Fields plans.

Exeter Community Lottery revenue distribution FAQ

Exeter Community Lottery income spent on gambling licence fees and costs despite council marketing and point of sale claims

Materially misleading claims that 60% of ticket sales revenue goes to good causes repeatedly made on lottery website and in official council communications as Australian multinational profits from local voluntary and community sector support.

On Our Radar
Titus Andronicus by Nicholas Rowe

THURSDAY 3 APRIL 2025

Titus Andronicus

Lightbear Lane hosts a reading of Shakespeare’s bloody revenge tale.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY

Jess Hughes Cameron and Chin See at 2024 Topsham Music Festival

FRIDAY 25 TO SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

2025 Topsham Music Festival

Three day event features jazz, percussion and classical music played by young professional musicians from across the country.

TOPSHAM

Edward Tripp

TUESDAY 29 APRIL 2025

City Slam 2025

Exeter City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! co-host a third city-wide spoken-word poetry competition.

EXETER PHOENIX