Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid

THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #53: Water Lane revisions - City council accounts - Exeter St Thomas access - Howell Road flip

With community and culture highlights for this weekend and later this month plus an invitation to an Exeter Observer event.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Revised Water Lane redevelopment plans submitted for outline approval

Application for up to 980 dwellings and up to 320 student bedspaces with 40,000m2 of other uses on ex-industrial site between railway embankment and Exeter Ship Canal obfuscates numerous key issues. Full story here.

Annual inspection period begins as unaudited 2023-24 city council accounts published

Special information access rights enabling residents to examine records apply until 12 July as two preceding years’ accounts still not signed off and auditor’s inquiry into council governance and financial and performance management continues. Full story here.

Exeter St Thomas improvement bid rejected as Devon denied step-free access funding for five years

Two-thirds of Access for All money to go to Conservative seats as low-key Department for Transport announcement finds its way into constituency-level news stories and political PR across the country. Full story here.

Howell Road garage for sale a week after student block redevelopment plans granted at appeal

Developer denied he would ‘spin in and spin out and take my profit’ at planning committee that approved ‘backstop’ plans for nine flats on site, saying student block was ‘what we want to build’. Full story here.

THE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM OUR CITY NEEDS

We’re hosting an informal event next 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 ~ THIS WEEKEND

Exeter Comedy Festival // City centre venues

Locally Sourced presents a festival featuring Mike Wozniak, Josie Long, John Hegley and many more. 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. 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. 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. More details here.

ON OUR RADAR ~ LATER THIS MONTH

Solstice celebration // Shillingford Organics

A seasonal celebration with farm tour, seasonal food, crafts, cakes and drinks. More details here.

Co-op Fortnight fair & fundraiser // Cowick Street

Stalls, activities, giveaways, cake and a fundraiser for children’s charity Barnardo’s. More details here.

Library Lates Windrush celebration // Exeter Library

A family-friendly Windrush Day celebration with music, poetry, dance, exhibitions and crafts. More details here.

MISSED EXETER DIGEST #52?

Read it on our website where you can catch up with all our recent stories and explore our archives.

Good journalism costs money

The only way to cover the cost of producing and publishing independent public interest journalism is by readers helping to pay for it.

Each of Exeter Observer's paying subscribers keeps us up and running for one day each year by chipping in less than £2/week.

Our members contribute more towards our running costs and get more in return.

129 of the 300 readers we need as paying subscribers have signed up so far, which keeps us going until the middle of May each year.

If you think Exeter needs this kind of journalism then help us cover our costs all year round by joining them today.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
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.

Illustrative elevation of proposed student block in Summerland Street, Exeter

Pre-application feedback sought on proposals for six storey Summerland Street student accommodation block

Redevelopment of Unit 1 nightclub and Best Tyre Auto Centre in Verney Street would add 180 beds to 1,575 student bedspaces in immediate area on top of 145 studios in consented but unbuilt Summerland Street “co-living” block.

, updated

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