SPECIAL REPORT
Exeter City Council disregards national planning policy and Environment Agency criticism to approve Riverside Valley Park flood zone heat plant plans
Five gas boilers to provide 80% of “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields plant generation capacity for distribution to institutional consumers through privately-run 13-mile underground network expected to take ten years to complete.
25 STORIES FOR THE 2025 SUMMER RECESS
The Exeter Observer team is taking a short break from publishing during the summer recess to carry out essential maintenance and development work.
We’ve picked 25 stories from the past twelve months to keep you ticking over until our return in September.
ON OUR RADAR
Summer at the Quayside // Exeter Quay
A month of free family activities including weaving, felting, doodling and drumming. More details.
Exeter Street Arts Festival 2025 // Exeter city centre
The annual festival returns with street art, drumming, dance, workshops, walkabouts and live music. More details.
Heritage Open Days 2025 // Exeter city centre & elsewhere
Annual festival returns with free talks, tours and exhibitions at heritage sites in and around Exeter. More details.
Exeter Contemporary Open 2025 // Phoenix Gallery
Annual exhibition featuring fifteen contemporary visual artists from across the UK. More details.
BELOW THE FOLD
West Park redevelopment demolitions to proceed to enable intrusive unexploded ordnance surveys before works can begin
Five year-old University of Exeter plans to provide 2,000 new student bedspaces in blocks up to nine storeys tall by demolishing up to 30 buildings on fifteen acre Streatham campus site about to take seismic step towards delivery. Read more.
HMICFRS identifies sufficient Devon & Cornwall Police improvements to return force to routine monitoring
Inspectorate decision follows nearly three years of enhanced monitoring after force found inadequate in three of nine areas and requiring improvement in two more, but says “still work to do” in crime recording standards and investigations management. Read more.
