THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #65: Vaughan Road flats vs Buddle Lane Easiforms - Pennsylvania Road PBSA appeal - Hotel Indigo sale

With our pick of local community and culture events and a recap of our top stories from the previous edition.

TOP STORIES

Council to mothball Exeter City Living Vaughan Road flats after first phase leaving £2.75m groundworks fenced off

Twelve year-old plan to rebuild remaining pre-war Laing’s Easiform council houses in Buddle Lane estate to be seen through to completion instead, as undelivered local housing promises finally collide with reality. Read more.

Plan for student accommodation block in back garden of 17-bed Pennsylvania Road HMO dismissed at appeal

City council planning consent refusal upheld by inspector in decision citing existing community balance policy that is not retained in proposed new Exeter Local Plan. Read more.

Singapore hospitality group buys Hotel Indigo Exeter for £19.4 million

Sale of converted House of Fraser department store announced one week after Frasers Group purchase of adjacent Princesshay shopping centre. Read more.

ON OUR RADAR

The Four Seasons & The Lark Ascending // Exeter Cathedral

An evening of classical music by candlelight performed by London Concertante. More details.

Poltimore Christmas markets // Poltimore House and Grounds

Four weekend festive markets with stalls selling local arts and crafts. More details.

War Horse concert // Exeter Cathedral

Michael Morpurgo reading an abridged version of his best-known work, accompanied by musician Ben Murray. More details.

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

EXETER DIGEST #64 RECAP

Exeter College ploughs on with Flowerpot Fields classrooms construction amid mounting public anger

Exeter Civic Society cites Court of Appeal judgements to challenge legality of unapproved River Valley Park scheme revisions as protestors disrupt Exeter City Council Guildhall meeting. Read more.

Topsham gap greenfield development application submitted for approval

Proposals for 54 dwellings on Exeter Golf and Country Club Topsham Golf Academy driving range enabled by city council approval of replacement driving range in Ludwell Valley Park. Read more.

Exeter Business Improvement District seeks third five-year term to April 2030

Eligible city centre businesses to decide by ballot whether InExeter should continue providing services and support in return for 1.25% levy charged against premises with £7,500+ rateable value. Read more.

New rules compel Stagecoach South West to introduce real-time onboard bus journey information

Around 40% of company’s Exeter fleet requires accessibility improvements including automated screens and announcements by next October, with remainder due in following twelve months. Read more.

More stories
English Devolution White Paper cover

South West peninsula devolution in disarray as Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay & Cornwall seek conflicting goals and seven Devon districts left out in cold

Contempt for local democracy laid bare by unlawful County Hall failure to publish plan to postpone local elections while Westminster looks set to back local Labour bids for disproportionate influence in regional governance reorganisation.

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.

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

Our World from Space events collage

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Our World from Space

Exeter Science Centre hosts a day of hands-on satellite science at Emmanuel Hall.

EMMANUEL HALL

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