Exeter City Council

26-bed Howell Road garage site student accommodation block allowed at appeal
St James Neighbourhood Plan community balance aims discounted and council policy and evidence deemed insufficient in inspector’s decision to overturn planning committee refusal.

Plan to convert language school to nursery tests credibility of city council active travel policy
Exeter Academy sits near top of steep hill 250 feet above city, far from accessible bus and rail routes, but developer claims local plan compliance in ‘demonstrably sustainable location’ which is ‘conducive to sustainable modes of travel’.

Developers claim council planning committee refusal was “if not malevolent, certainly misguided”
Appeal against decision to deny fifth additional storey in build-to-rent scheme above Crankhouse Coffee accuses councillors of seeking to “appease the weight of objectors’ orchestrated opinion” against amendments to eleven year-old consent.

Exeter bucks national trend as Labour support falls 6% and party loses vote share in all but one ward
Independent group, Greens and LibDems all take seats and Conservatives increase share in four wards as Labour stays in control of council after close call in Mincinglake & Whipton, holds in key battlegrounds and third Topsham win.
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