News
The independent public interest journalism Exeter needs
£19.6 million Exeter Chiefs takeover deal complete
Subsidiary of US-based Cannae Holdings buys Sandy Park stadium club from Exeter Rugby Group following vote in favour of proposed takeover by club members.
Police and crime commissioner seeks views on Devon & Cornwall Police south west regional policing reforms merger
Government white paper proposes England and Wales National Police Service and creation of as few as ten “super-forces” overseeing newly-defined local policing areas.
Features
Stories that explore key issues behind the headlines
St Petrock’s homelessness survey finds increase in women sleeping rough in Exeter
Charity says women’s homelessness often hidden from view because of “fears around safety, harassment, and gender-based violence” in report following publication of city council snapshot count which recorded five-fold rise in rough sleeper numbers.
First phase capital cost of legacy Exeter City Living Whipton Gardens project to exceed £12.5 million – £364,000 per flat
Financing for second phase yet to be found as adjacent Rennes House demolition costs rise to £1 million and Exeter City Living reports year-end loss in residual Guildhall flats management role.
South West Water fined £1.85 million over Brixham drinking water offences
Sentencing in second case awaited, scope of third legal action expanded and Devon County Council announces desire to pursue company through courts on same day Pennon Group reports £135 million underlying pre-tax profits in 2025-26.
Comment
Analysis and opinion that cuts through the noise
Exeter city centre strategy evasions and expediencies echo cultural strategy failings
Just 85 invitation-only workshop attendees consulted during development of yet another city council strategy without a delivery plan.
Clueless Exeter cultural strategy fails to address challenges facing city’s “increasingly untenable” creative sector
Survey inviting feedback on city council word salad arrives two years late, following second UK City of Culture bid failure, with delivery plan outsourced to secretive, unelected sub-committee.
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Phil Bialyk clings to Exeter City Council leadership with too few Labour councillors to fill executive seats
Green Party call for “co-operative council” to “put people before politics” ignored despite opposition councillors holding balance of power.
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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.
Special Reports
In-depth insight about what's going on in Exeter that you won't find anywhere else
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.
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Labour and Conservative councillors join forces to block Exeter city centre antisocial behaviour initiative
Rejection of voluntary and community sector calls for more inclusive response follows thirteen-year council failure to comply with legal duties under crime and disorder legislation in relation to Exeter Community Safety Partnership.
Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval
Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.
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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.
Exeter In Brief
Exeter Observer's regular round-up of local news that matters
On Our Radar
Community and culture highlights curated by the Exeter Observer team
THURSDAY 23 JULY 2026
Seasonal meals and nature talks
A series of talks covering companion planting, butterflies, Ukrainian cooking, seed saving and fungi with shared seasonal meals.
ST SIDWELL'S COMMUNITY CENTRE
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THURSDAY 9 TO SATURDAY 11 JULY 2026
Exeter Craft Festival
Hand-made ceramics, textiles, jewellery, artworks, toiletries and more by makers from across the South West.
CATHEDRAL GREEN
