Climate & Environment
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Exeter Energy plant replaces rationale for Grace Road Fields location near River Exe with reliance on air source heat pumps
Developer nevertheless seeks planning permission to build in Riverside Valley Park, claiming public open space “not bound” by local plan policy, as scheme ambition and city council environmental leadership claims begin to drain away.
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University study finds decarbonisation slowing as city council continues to pursue failing Net Zero Exeter 2030 plan
Exeter also set to miss national 2050 target on current trajectory while aviation, shipping and other excluded scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions mean annual city carbon footprint likely to be triple territorial total.
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Council consults on Riverside Valley Park land sale without admitting heat plant proposals contravene local plan policy
4.5 acre Grace Road Fields plot “most suitable” for development despite Belle Isle Depot brownfield site location beside river on heat network distribution route.
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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.