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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #43: Electric vehicle charging strategy - Liveable Exeter garden city branding

Our first edition of 2024 also includes a selection of community and culture events.

TOP STORIES

Devon County Council adopts charging strategy that provides for only 20% of EVs it expects by 2030

Local ULEV ownership has risen rapidly in recent years but many more vehicles have joined county’s roads as local transport area ULEV growth lags behind rest of country and Exeter motor vehicle numbers alone top 87,000. Full story here.

Liveable Exeter ‘garden city’ branding is about government funding, not green space

New Exeter Local Plan policy ‘principles’ have little in common with historic vision revitalised for 21st century by TCPA for government programme, while consented Haven Banks scheme and proposed new town near Exeter Airport have even less. Full story here.

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ON OUR RADAR

The Sidwell Street wassail // St Sidwell’s Community Centre

An evening wassail with music, singing and free hot soup. Friday 19 January. More details here.

Igloo by Travelling Light // Emmanuel Hall

Interactive and non-verbal performances for children aged 0-3 years. Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 January. More details here.

George Oliver, forgotten Exeter humanitarian // St Nicholas Priory

A fundraising talk about the priest, historian and author who lived in the priory in the 19th century. Tuesday 13 February. More details here.

Isca Ensemble chamber orchestral concert // St David’s Church

An evening of Hadyn, Bach and Mozart with violin, viola and oboe soloists. Saturday 24 February. More details here.

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More stories
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.

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.

Exeter College and Petroc campuses map

Exeter College and Petroc merger set to create largest college group in South West

Colleges hold public consultation on creation of new organisation which they say would educate 16,000 students at Exeter and North Devon campuses and employ 2,000 staff with £100 million turnover.

Proposed Clarendon House student block aerial view

Proposals to replace Clarendon House with 297-bed student accommodation complex submitted for approval

Developer Zinc Real Estate arrives at final proposal for up to ten storey Paris Street roundabout redevelopment after nearly two years of informal public consultations and meetings with city councillors and officers.

Nadder Park Road application site location map

Barley Lane greenfield plans place persistent threat to Exeter’s north and north-west hills in spotlight

Council inability to identify sufficient land to meet government housing delivery targets leaves residents with faint hope of local plan policies preventing Nadder Park Road ridgeline development despite 175 public objections to scheme.

On Our Radar
Two Moors Festival musicians performing

WEDNESDAY 1 TO SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025

Two Moors Festival

Chamber music festival celebrates 25th anniversary with performances, talks and workshops across fifteen venues.

DARTMOOR, EXMOOR & SURROUNDS

Play Interact Explore installation

SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025

Play Interact Explore

Theatre Alibi hosts an interactive exhibition suitable for all ages created by artists Leap then Look.

EMMANUEL HALL

Still from How the Little Mole Got His Trousers

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025

Nature’s Resources

A programme of six short animated films explores the relationship between humans and non-human species.

EXETER PHOENIX