HEADLINES
Proposed Mary Arches “co-living” blocks condemned as “slums of the future”
Eutopia Homes seeks full planning permission for 300-bed seven storey development at quadruple recommended local plan density without providing promised “research-based evidence for the need for co-living” on city centre car parks site. Read more.
Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell receives 18-month misconduct warning
Outcome of Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation delivered day before retirement of suspended chief constable Will Kerr announced, with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez unwilling to say whether “golden handshake” agreed. Read more.
Newtown active travel scheme approved after four years of public consultations
Joint Devon County Council and Exeter City Council project includes road closure, car parking changes and contraflow Clifton Hill cycle lane. Read more.
Royal Devon NHS Trust resident doctors stage five-day strike from 7am Friday
Twelfth round of industrial action in long-running dispute over pay and employment conditions to go ahead following failed talks between British Medical Association and health secretary Wes Streeting. Read more.
ON OUR RADAR
Summer at the Quayside // Exeter Quay
A month of free family activities including weaving, felting, doodling and drumming. More details.
Theatre in the Park // Rougemont Gardens
Exeter Phoenix hosts an al fresco summer theatre season featuring Shakespeare, spoken-word poetry, puppetry and physical comedy. More details.
Three Acres And A Cow // Sidwell Street Methodist Church
A history of land rights and protest in England told in folk song, story and poetry. More details.
BELOW THE FOLD
Dawlish rail resilience, Exeter A379 bridge renewal and Cullompton M5 J28 schemes all shelved after spending review
Government road and rail funding announcement billed as “the biggest boost to England’s transport infrastructure in a generation” largely passes Devon and Cornwall by while leaving final phase of South West Rail Resilience Programme undelivered. Read more.
New Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” complex proposals submitted to Exeter City council
Application for full planning permission for 813-room scheme in seven blocks follows decision to reject previously-proposed 955-room scheme in two blocks which was subsequently upheld at appeal. Read more.
National Audit Office finds decline in Devon bus passenger journey numbers among largest in country
Devon journeys down 28% – seventh from bottom across 85 areas – while journeys in Cornwall increased by more than 40%. Read more.
Danny Barnes received full £15,000 Devon County Council allowance during 2024-25
Heavitree & Whipton Barton councillor failed to sign off £14,600 community grants after attending only two of fifteen public meetings and is alleged to have worked for Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker since shortly after last year’s general elections. Read more.
Wonford Road modal filter bus gate to be first of five Exeter ANPR camera sites
Devon County Council will use new moving traffic offence enforcement powers to issue penalty charge notices to motorists contravening active travel, bus lane and one-way street restrictions. Read more.
Exeter residents eat lowest proportion of 5-a-day fruit and vegetables in Devon with only South Hams above England average
Public health report also finds three in ten Devon residents are physically inactive and nearly two-thirds overweight with new countywide health and well-being strategy due in autumn. Read more.
