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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #59: SEND overspend - Devon MP winter fuel votes - Great Western Hotel conversion

With a double helping of the best of Exeter’s community and culture events for the weekend and beyond.

NEWS

County council projects £38.5m SEND overspend, £7.4m more than agreed with government under “safety valve” deal

Failure to meet agreement, which requires break-even on SEND spending within two years despite persistent overspends, would put government bail-out at risk. Full story.

How did Devon MPs vote on the winter fuel payment motion?

Nine of Devon’s thirteen MPs voted in favour of a motion, moved in the House of Commons on Tuesday by Conservative Central Devon MP Mel Stride, to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024. Full story.

Great Western Hotel conversion proposed

An application for permission to convert the Great Western Hotel beside Exeter St David’s station for mainly residential use has been submitted to Exeter City Council for approval. Full story.

Former Exeter City Council CEO appointed as Plymouth City Council growth director

New job title created for ex-CEO Karime Hassan eighteen months after Exeter councillors voted to terminate his employment. Read more.

ON OUR RADAR ~ THIS WEEKEND

Brillsville Market // St Thomas

Regular community-run market that offers goods from local growers, makers and traders with a repair cafe and more. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Exeter Independent Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter Cathedral market returns with handmade crafts, clothing and accessories, local food and drink and live music. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Quayside Shanty Festival // Exeter Quay

Free one-day festival features shanties from Boscastle Buoys, Mariners Away, The Rusty Tubs and more. Saturday 14 September. More details.

Autumn Fore Street Flea // Exeter city centre

Market with stalls selling vintage items, handmade craft, food and drink. More details.

365 Years of Purcell // Exeter Library

A free lunchtime concert to celebrate the composer’s work. Sunday 15 September. More details.

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ON OUR RADAR ~ THIS MONTH

Exeter Contemporary Open 2024 // Exeter Phoenix

Annual exhibition featuring fifteen contemporary visual artists from across the UK. More details.

Bonanza! Exeter Phoenix 25th birthday party // Exeter Phoenix

Exeter arts venue celebrates 25th year with live music, DJs, silent disco and more. More details.

Kidical Mass rides again // Belmont Park

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its eighth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families. Sunday 22 September. More details.

September walk and cook // St Thomas

Love Food leads a short walk to forage ingredients for a shared meal. More details.

Salmon Run 2024 // River Exe

Community runs along the River Exe highlighting the significance of salmon and the species’ relationship with the waterway. Sunday 29 September. More details.

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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