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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #61: Devolution deal approved - Decarbonisation plan dumped - Heavitree Road student/co-living redux

NEWS & COMMENT

Government approves new Devon local government layer but says it still wants elected mayor

Devon & Torbay Combined County Authority expected to be first step towards regional governance structure as Institute for Government recommends absorption of Plymouth – and even Cornwall – into South West peninsula devolution deal. Read more here.

Developer appeals St Bridget Nurseries non-determination following High Court rejection of previous planning approval

Second Waddeton Park application for controversial site remains undecided after city and county councils both criticised by judge for failing to discharge duties. Read more here.

£7.3 million RAMM and Riverside Leisure Centre decarbonisation scheme to be scrapped

City council says neither project deliverable within required timeframe or budget and that it hopes to recover £550,000 so far spent. Read more here.

Devon County Council holds second consultation on Heavitree Road, Honiton Road and Pinhoe Road bus lane changes

Statutory consultation on proposed changes including bus lane operation times and removal of parking spaces follows informal consultation earlier this year. Read more here.

New Heavitree Road police station site student accommodation and “co-living” redevelopment plans published

Public comment sought on pre-application proposals for 738 rooms in eight blocks with ground floor commercial space following February appeal dismissal of previous 955-room scheme. Read more here.

ON OUR RADAR

Exeter Contemporary Open 2024 // Exeter Phoenix

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

Salmon Run 2024 // River Exe

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

An Evening with Guy Shrubsole // Waterstones

Local writer and campaigner discusses his new book about landownership in Britain. 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. More details here.

Folk music night // Daily Bowl

Live music, food and drinks at regular Friday night event. More details here.

Isca Ensemble 2024 celebration concert // Exeter Cathedral

An evening of classical music celebrating the life of Joanna Leach with soloist Kacper Nowak in aid of local charity Hospicare. More details here.

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Spotlight

Dawlish Warren and Exe Estuary mouth sandbanks

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.

Sunday 30 November 2025, updated 5 December 2025

Exeter In Brief

Exeter City Council has approved the replacement of CLARENDON HOUSE on the corner of Western Way and Heavitree Road with a ten-storey 297-bed student accommodation block. Developer Zinc Real Estate first sought public feedback on a sixteen-storey scheme in December 2023 before returning for further consultation twelve months later having removed six storeys from one of the proposed towers. The council planning committee approved the student block despite attempts by one of its members to defer the decision to review final scheme proposals which were submitted recently alongside alternative plans to instead convert the office block to 32 residential flats. Thursday 12 February 2026

The government has said it will write off 90% of the SEND services deficit accumulated by DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL to the end of March this year. The Devon deficit reached £171 million last October, among the largest in the country and £62.9 million more than the limit agreed with the government as part of its “safety valve” deal, according to a county cabinet report published last month. Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil said it had since risen to around £200 million. The council welcomed the announcement, although it will have to agree to change the way it offers SEND services under as-yet unpublished government plans, adding that it would need to “work through the detail” as part of its budget-setting process. The government also has yet to explain how it will pay for £6 billion of annual SEND spending from April onwards. Thursday 12 February 2026

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. Thursday 5 February 2026

1,250 people have signed a petition to save Guildhall Shopping Centre children’s play space LITTLE EXETER from closure. The petition calls on Exeter City Council, which owns the shopping centre freehold and borrowed £55 million to buy back its leasehold and redevelop the building in October 2021, to “intervene, support and advocate” to preserve the play space. Former Guildhall Shopping Centre marketing manager Nikki Fairclough, who founded the non-profit play space three years ago, announced its closure in November last year. It is due to open for the last time on Saturday 21 February. Wednesday 4 February 2026

Network Rail and Great Western Railway have confirmed that 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. Tuesday 3 February 2026

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. Friday 30 January 2026

Exeter local elections to go ahead in May after government cancellation U-turn

Secretary of State Steve Reed withdraws decision following legal advice in face of Reform UK High Court challenge, leaving city council leader Phil Bialyk facing electoral oblivion.

Monday 16 February 2026

Phil Bialyk speaking at Exeter City Council 13 January 2026 Guildhall meeting

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation

Labour councillors plumb new depths to cling to power – and personal financial gain – as government-backed contempt for democracy enables seven of eight executive members to avoid ballots in their wards until council abolition in 2028.

Saturday 31 January 2026

Exeter Rugby Group reports £10.3 million losses as Exeter Chiefs seeks new investor

Losses include £6.2 million loan write-off associated with Sandy Park Hotel owned by club chairman Tony Rowe.

Saturday 24 January 2026

Illustrative view of proposed student block entrance at junction of Verney Street and Summerland Street

Plans for six-storey Summerland Street student block submitted for approval

Spinnaker Estates application for full planning permission for 180-bed redevelopment would increase number of student beds in immediate area to 1,754.

Friday 16 January 2026

Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%

Public consultation on changes explores possibility of closing some branches altogether despite claims to the contrary while Libraries Unlimited contract extension decision scheduled for six weeks before consultation ends.

Saturday 20 December 2025

On Our Radar

SUNDAY 1 MARCH 2026

Exeter Seed Swap 2026

Fourth annual event includes hands-on activities, soil testing and over 5,000 packets of seeds to share.

POSITIVE LIGHT PROJECTS

Tuesday 3 February 2026, updated 16 February 2026

THURSDAY 5 & FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2026

Two Short Nights

Short film festival returns with awards ceremony and more.

EXETER PHOENIX

Tuesday 10 February 2026

SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2026

From Haydn to The Highlands

The Orchard Cafe Quartet plays folk and classical music from Scandinavia and Scotland.

ST NICHOLAS PRIORY