THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #63: South West Water performance - Harlequins viability - Victoria Street refusal - Princesshay sale

Plus community and culture for the coming week and a special Halloween events selection.

HEADLINES

South West Water ordered to repay £17.4 million to customers as poor performance penalty

Ofwat annual regulatory report finds company sewer collapse and serious pollution incident rates are worst in England and Wales, with customer satisfaction decline among largest in industry. Read more.

Developer says Harlequins “co-living” scheme viability requires on-site key worker accommodation removal

Proposal to shift financial risks on to city council comes four years after initial approval, citing falling property values and higher finance and construction costs. Read more.

Victoria Street “co-living” complex refused as “substandard level of accommodation”

Council confirms scheme would constitute “overdevelopment” but persists in promoting co-living as local housing solution, claiming lack of demand means “no evidence to demonstrate that it is not a suitable model” for Exeter. Read more.

Frasers buys Princesshay shopping centre as part of wider retail space acquisition

Mike Ashley-owned sports goods and retail group buys 400,000 square feet centre outright from The Crown Estate and Nuveen for a reported £80 million. Read more.

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ON OUR RADAR ~ COMING UP

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.

Folk music night // Daily Bowl

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

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.

ON OUR RADAR ~ HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Audience with a Ghost Hunter // St Nicholas Priory

An immersive after dark theatre experience in Exeter’s oldest building. More details.

Spork! Dead Poets Slam 2024 // Exeter Phoenix

A Halloween spoken-word poetry special featuring poet and artist Ella Frears. More details.

Día de Muertos // Daily Bowl

Live music, food and drinks in celebration of the Day of the Dead. More details.

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More stories
Clarendon House, Exeter

Clarendon House developer submits plan to convert office block to 32 residential flats alongside 310-bed PBSA proposals

Application for change of use of existing building to be followed by application for demolition and replacement with much taller student accommodation complex following two rounds of informal public consultation on scheme.

Bar chart of Devon County Council cumulative SEND deficit 2019-20 to 2031-32 at March 2024 with 2024-25 £14.7 million month eight excess overspend added

Devon County Council “safety valve” deal target breach rises by 40% to £20.4m as SEND overspend reaches £51.6m

Cumulative SEND deficit now expected to peak at £227m while deal targets set to be missed every year to 2032, risking County Hall bankruptcy if government withdraws support.

Devon County Council 2025-26 budget press release image

Devon County Council 2025-26 budget to bring more service delivery cuts

£22 million cuts concealed by £60 million costs increases as council misrepresents financial position and fails to answer questions about where cuts will fall.

Mark Kingscote and Alison Hernandez

Deputy police and crime commissioner Mark Kingscote resigns five months after defiant appointment by Alison Hernandez

Resignation follows appointment of third Devon & Cornwall Police chief constable in eighteen months after suspensions of Jim Colwell in November and Will Kerr in July 2023.

Royal Clarence Hotel in September 2024

Paternoster House developer takes on Royal Clarence Hotel rebuild after sale agreement reached with previous owners

Completion of restoration plans for five floors of luxury flats above ground floor and basement commercial units scheduled for April 2027, more than decade after historic Cathedral Yard building burnt down.

Interim Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan

James Vaughan appointed as interim Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable

Appointment follows suspension of acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell, recruited following suspension of Chief Constable Will Kerr, as force pays salaries of all three.

On Our Radar
Digital Media Literacy seminars graphic

MONDAY 27 JANUARY TO MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2025

Let’s Talk About: Digital Media Literacy

A series of free seminars aimed at tackling misinformation and information overload in the digital world.

EXETER LIBRARY

Woodcut illustrating an execution by burning at the stake

SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2025

Exeter History Book Festival

One-day event with talks from four Devon historians and stalls from local heritage organisations.

MINT METHODIST CHURCH CENTRE

Iryna Ilnytska in Exeter Cathedral

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Aspects of Love

A lunchtime concert with mezzo-soprano Iryna Ilnytska to raise funds for Ukraine.

EXETER CATHEDRAL