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.
Martin Redfern
Former Exeter City Council CEO Karime Hassan has been appointed as Interim Strategic Director for Growth by Plymouth City Council, just over eighteen months after Exeter city councillors voted to “terminate” his employment in December 2022.
Plymouth City Council changed the job title for the role, which was held by his predecessor Anthony Payne as Strategic Director for Place, at a meeting in August. Its salary is within the band two range of £136,920-£163,904 pending a 2024-25 pay review.
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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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McCarthy Stone set to build 36 retirement flats on Heavitree school playing field
Proposals prompting concerns about loss of green space and adverse impact on historic character of conservation area follow redevelopment of former Bramdean School in Homefield Road.
On Our Radar
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
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
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025
Nature’s Resources
A programme of six short animated films explores the relationship between humans and non-human species.
