Planning Decisions

Stories about Planning Decisions

Former Topsham golf academy driving range

Exeter City Council approves 54 more dwellings in Topsham gap on former golf driving range

Greenfield development follows council approval of plans enabling driving range relocation to privately-owned land in Ludwell Valley Park.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

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 Energy heat plant indicative render north elevation

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.

Aerial view of Wonford community learning centre and sports centre

Plans for unfunded £7 million Wonford community hub redevelopment approved

Exeter City Council approves own planning application to demolish, rebuild and part-refurbish existing community and sports facilities beside Ludwell Valley Park.

Victoria Street co-living revised scheme aerial view

Victoria Street “co-living” complex refused as “substandard level of accommodation”

Council confirms scheme would constitute “overdevelopment” but persists in promoting co-living as local housing solution, claiming lack of demand means “no evidence to demonstrate that it is not a suitable model” for Exeter.

Rydon Lane McDonald’s drive-through approved

Exeter City Council planning committee has approved the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant on a section of unused car park beside Rydon Lane Tesco in Russell Way.

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