Media made in Exeter  Upgrade to paid

THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #52: Active travel test - Howell Road PBSA - Crankhouse Coffee scheme

Upcoming community and culture highlights include four festivals and a book market plus an invitation to hear more about our plans to expand our team.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Plan to convert language school to nursery to test credibility of city council active travel policy

Exeter Academy sits near top of steep hill 250 feet above city, far from accessible bus and rail routes, but developer claims local plan compliance in ‘demonstrably sustainable location’ which is ‘conducive to sustainable modes of travel’. Full story here.

26-bed Howell Road garage site student accommodation block allowed at appeal

St James Neighbourhood Plan community balance aims discounted and council policy and evidence deemed insufficient in inspector’s decision to overturn planning committee refusal. Full story here.

Developers claim council planning committee refusal was ‘if not malevolent, certainly misguided’

Appeal against decision to deny fifth additional storey in build-to-rent scheme above Crankhouse Coffee accuses councillors of seeking to ‘appease the weight of objectors’ orchestrated opinion’ against amendments to eleven year-old consent. Full story here.

INVITATION

The independent journalism our city needs

We’re hosting an informal event on Wednesday 12 June to share our plans to deliver all the local news that matters.

It includes a short presentation followed by a Q&A in the round with time for ad hoc discussion afterwards.

We will outline Exeter Observer’s development over the past twelve months, explain why what we’re doing is needed more than ever and explore how we might grow with the help of our spring 2024 community share offer.

Places are limited so please register to secure a spot.

ON OUR RADAR

Poltimore Festival 2024 // Poltimore House

A two-day outdoor festival featuring live music, workshops, food stalls, secret cinema and a craft market. Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 May. More details here.

Exeter Comedy Festival // Exeter city centre venues

Locally Sourced presents a two-day festival featuring Mike Wozniak, Josie Long, John Hegley and many more. Friday 7 & Saturday 8 June. More details here.

Exeter Respect Festival // Belmont Park

The annual celebration of Exeter diversity returns for its 27th year with live music and performance, food stalls, community and campaign groups. Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 June. More details here.

Heritage Harbour Festival // Exeter Quay

The maritime-themed festival returns for a second year with tours, boat trips, films, workshops, music and more. Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 June. More details here.

The Book Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter City of Literature event features independent booksellers from across the county plus literary activities, food and drink and more. Sunday 9 June. More details here.

MISSED EXETER DIGEST #51?

Read it on our website for in-depth analysis of Exeter’s local elections plus full details of the results.

Media made in Exeter

Exeter Observer is produced by a non-profit newsroom with two part-time staff: Leigh Curtis and Martin Redfern.

Since we launched from our kitchen table in April 2019 we have published more than 1,000 news stories, features, investigations, community and culture previews, galleries, newsletters and special reports.

We work half of the week as volunteers and keep overheads low, serving 1.5 million page views a year to 50,000 regular readers on a tiny budget.

If you think what we do is good for our city please upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription from less than £2/week.

137 of the 300 paying subscribers we need to break even have signed up to support the independent journalism our city needs.

We can get there with your support. We hope you'll join us today.

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