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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #56: Grace Road Fields - Public health report

Upcoming community and culture highlights include Theatre in the Park and two independent markets.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Council to sell part of Grace Road Fields for heating plant and annexe rest for Water Lane redevelopment

New Exeter Local Plan “strategic mixed use” housing policy allocation to supersede planned campsite and outdoor event space, woodland planting and new canal basin at fifteen acre ex-playing field in Riverside Valley Park. Full story here.

Number of over-65s in Devon expected to increase by a third in next twenty years

Public health report says proportion of working age adults in county will fall alongside rise in long-term health issues in older people with likely impacts on local health and social care. Full story here.

ON OUR RADAR ~ THEATRE IN THE PARK

Love Riot // Rougemont Gardens

Miracle Theatre presents an open air reimagining of a Georgian-era romantic comedy. Wednesday 31 July. More details here.

Spork! Summer Special 2024 // Rougemont Gardens

An evening of al fresco spoken-word comedy and poetry with Antosh Wojcik, Stewart Taylor and Micha Colombo. Thursday 1 August. More details here.

The Winter’s Tale // Rougemont Gardens

Sun & Moon Theatre stages four al fresco performances of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 August. More details here.

ON OUR RADAR ~ SUMMER MARKETS

Exeter Independent Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter Cathedral market returns with handmade crafts, clothing and accessories, local food and drink and live music. Saturday 27 July. More details here.

Brillsville Market // St Thomas

Regular community-run market that offers goods from local growers, makers and traders with a repair cafe and more. Saturday 10 August. More details here.

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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