Water Lane Supplementary Planning Document adopted
Leigh Curtis
Exeter City Council has adopted a supplementary planning policy document intended to govern development at the Water Lane brownfield redevelopment site.
At 36 hectares, the Water Lane redevelopment site is the largest in the council’s Liveable Exeter property development scheme.
Most of the Water Lane site was allocated for development in the Exeter Local Plan First Review, which was adopted in 2005. It was followed by the 2012 Exeter Core Strategy, which proposed the production of a Water Lane development masterplan.
The Water Lane Supplementary Planning Document is expected to become a material consideration in local planning decisions well before the adoption of the new Exeter Local Plan, work on which is still underway.
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Exeter City Council is about to seize the helm of Exe estuary maritime life: will it steer it onto the rocks?
Charges for waterways access are set to be imposed from the quay and canal basin to the coast under proposed Harbour Revision Order powers after six years of rising costs propelled by pursuit of Port Marine Safety Code compliance. They risk driving away craft of all sizes, from kayaks to yachts, while redevelopment threatens canalside land – but it’s not too late to change course.
, updated
Exeter In Brief
EXETER SCIENCE PARK has appointed a new chief executive to take over from Sally Basker, who will retire in June this year after more than nine years in the post. Appointee Lindsay Lucas will leave her role as Head of Training and Consultancy at social enterprise Cosmic.
Network Rail and GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY say the lines running from Exeter St David’s to Barnstaple and Okehampton will remain closed until further notice for safety checks following last week’s storms. Dive teams will inspect submerged structures such as bridges and viaducts to check for damage. Limited rail replacement bus services are in place.
Two ex-Reform UK Devon county councillors have joined ADVANCE UK, a far-right party launched in 2025 and led by former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib. Edward Hill and Angela Nash won seats as Reform UK candidates in last year’s Devon County Council elections. Two months later Edward Hill was expelled from the party then Angela Nash left in September. Advance UK counts far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – known as Tommy Robinson – as a member.
The POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR DEVON, CORNWALL & THE ISLES OF SCILLY Alison Hernandez says that a 2026-27 government funding shortfall has left her with “no choice” but to propose increasing the Devon & Cornwall Police council tax precept by 5.2% – the maximum permitted – equating to a £15 increase per annum for council tax band D properties across the peninsula.
A BARNFIELD ROADcycling and walking scheme has been rejected by the Exeter Highways and Traffic Order committee. The proposals included widening a footpath, raising road crossings to give pedestrians priority at junctions, widening cycle lanes and re-routing motor traffic to prevent traffic exiting Southernhay at the junction of Barnfield Road and Western Way.
DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL has confirmed it intends to dispose of a 1.5 acre plot in the grounds of County Hall despite the submission of 180 objections in two rounds of public consultation. The sale was proposed by the county cabinet in October 2023 after buildings known as the “Matford offices” which occupied part of the plot were demolished, leaving their foundations intact. The county council says that selling the site of the buildings alone would not yield the optimal financial return required by its best value duty and that the inclusion of 0.91 acres of public open space in the sale – which amounts to 7.4% of the green space at County Hall – provides curtilage that is necessary to the site’s redevelopment viability. It also says that Exeter City Council, which has earmarked the site for residential housing in the new Exeter Local Plan, is responsible for many of the issues raised by objectors as local planning authority.
Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation
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Exeter Rugby Group reports £10.3 million losses as Exeter Chiefs seeks new investor
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Exeter is for Everyone event attendees outnumber anti-migrant marchers 14:1
Around 850 people took part in city centre event held under “Unite Against the Far Right” banner while “Unity March Exeter” attendees numbered around 60.
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Spinnaker Estates application for full planning permission for 180-bed redevelopment would increase number of student beds in immediate area to 1,754.
Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%
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Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living” beds to city “housing” supply with Heavitree Road approval
Complex of seven blocks up to six storeys tall on site of police station and magistrates court to bring purpose-built temporary accommodation tally to 3,250 beds in Newtown alone – while failing to meet local plan minimum building separation policy.
On Our Radar
THURSDAY 5 & SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2026
Sherlock Jr. & The Balloonatic
Buster Keaton silent comedy screenings with music by R.E.M. and Amon Tobin.
EXETER PHOENIX
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026
Fundraiser for Sudan
Dance, drumming and mask-making workshop to raise funds for charities working in Sudan.
EXWICK COMMUNITY CENTRE
SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026
Exeter History Book Festival
One-day event with talks from four Devon historians and stalls from local heritage organisations.
MINT METHODIST CHURCH CENTRE
Spotlight
Labour and Conservative councillors join forces to block Exeter city centre antisocial behaviour initiative
Rejection of voluntary and community sector calls for more inclusive response follows thirteen-year council failure to comply with legal duties under crime and disorder legislation in relation to Exeter Community Safety Partnership.
