Exeter & East Devon News

Concerns about whether Exmouth’s sewer system could cope with a possible 75-home development on the edge of the town have emerged.

A project to create rugby-themed crochet pieces for an exhibition ahead of this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is gathering pace.

A new way of contacting Exeter City council has been launched to make services more accessible, responsive, and convenient for residents in Exeter.

Exeter City Council’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) has acquired an Anglo-Saxon silver penny; an incredibly important object which marks the beginning of modern Exeter.  The rare coin is the earliest known use of the name 'Exeter'

Residents are being asked to give their views on life in Exeter as part the council’s ongoing commitment to improving engagement and insight.

Eight of Exeter’s most impressive rugby players will be contributing to their national teams in major tournaments in 2025.

People living near a busy waterside footpath in Exeter say lives are being put at risk by a collapsing culvert.

Pioneering projects to cut Exeter’s carbon footprint will cost the city council more than £55million over the next five years.

People in Exeter have been reassured about an algal bloom spotted in the flood relief channel in the city.

Residents from part of a seaside Devon town have hit back over proposals that could prevent any building work on their homes.

People power has forced a reassessment of a range of possible housing development sites that had been selected in a major draft planning strategy.

South West Water has completed work to reduce storm overflow spills from one of its top 10 spilling sites after relining over 500 metres of sewer.

The first adult in the UK to trial a ground-breaking drug for type 1 diabetes has started treatment at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, with support from the University of Exeter and the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a single vehicle road traffic collision near Honiton.

More housing plans for two more stages of the massive Matford development on the outskirts of Exeter have been filed.

Major changes to the way traffic moves around Exeter are being proposed as the city tries to encourage more walking, cycling and wheeling.

Yesterday afternoon, 7 July 2025, was a busy one for the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI with two shouts coming just a few hours apart.

Isca Academy students have been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for their blossoming gardening efforts, proudly achieving their Level 1 Gardening Award.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a report of threats and abuse in Ottery St Mary.

A 15-year-old student from St Luke’s Church of England School has made history as the youngest ever recipient of the prestigious St Boniface Medal, awarded by the Bishop of Exeter during a special service at Exeter Cathedral.

Stephen Huxtable, 59, from Exmouth, has pleaded guilty to producing more than 100,000 child abuse images over a 15-year period and distributing more than 12,000.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has launched a comprehensive Tree, Hedge, and Woodland Strategy (THAWS), setting bold targets to expand tree cover, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen the district’s natural landscape

The EX5-Alive Community Hub, based at Cranbrook Education Campus (CEC), has marked a transformational year with over 13,000 support interactions delivered for local families and individuals across the EX5 area.

Complaints by social housing tenants of a Devon council have jumped by a third with residents most angered about repairs.

A fresh round of funding, with grants between £3,000 and £30,000, is now available to support East Devon’s small and micro businesses.

Roman settlements are among the potential discoveries that could frustrate plans for new homes on a host of sites in East Devon.

Detectives investigating a serious assault in Exwick on 12 June are continuing to appeal for witnesses to report information.

East Devon residents are being encouraged to have their say on the future of local government as part of nationwide Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

There’s only 50 days to go until the biggest women's sport event of the summer happens here on our doorstep.

Residents are being reminded that vapes must be properly disposed of after a vape battery exploded in the back of a council bin lorry.

On Saturday 28 June, officers from the Exeter Neighbourhood Policing team worked with the Roads Policing Unit, Immigration Officers, the Police Drone team and were supported by Police Dogs team to target illegally modified e-bikes in Exeter.

East Devon District Council has used AI to analyse over 1.1 million words of public feedback on plans for nearly 21,000 new homes. The comments, twice the length of War and Peace, will help shape where homes are built in East Devon through to 2042.

More than a third of homes planned for a greenfield site near Exeter could be affordable. Waddeton Park Ltd has revealed plans for 65 ‘high quality’ homes off Nadder Park Road, with around 20 expected to be in the lower-priced, affordable bracket.

Following a talk given by Exmouth RNLI last year to Exmouth Art Group, members of the group spent a month producing a collection of art to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the RNLI. The artists presented these to RNLI Exmouth. 

Two teams from the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust were finalists at the HSJ Digital Awards for their innovative use of digital tech to improve patient care. Finalists were celebrated at a ceremony in London on Thursday 26 June 2025.

Following an extensive refurbishment project and an upgrade to the latest radiology equipment, X-ray services are returning to Honiton Hospital on Monday 7 July, with the MIU (minor injuries unit) reopening on Saturday 5 July.

With just 50 days to go, excitement is building for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. Exeter, a host city, will stage seven games at Sandy Park. To celebrate, a rugby-themed activity day is set for Princesshay on Saturday 5 July, from 11am to 3pm.

Exeter’s Big White Glove returns on Thursday, 3 July, hoisted above the High Street to mark the Lammas Fair. The quirky tradition, held before the Exeter Craft Festival, was online last year due to the General Election but now returns in full.

Two shops in Exmouth have been ordered to close for three months after illicit tobacco and vape products were seized from the premises.

Exeter’s much-loved Summer at the Quayside programme is back — and this year promises the most exciting line-up yet. Running from 29 July to 29 August, the waterfront will once again come alive every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with free, drop-in activities for all ages.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a serious road traffic collision that occurred on the A30 eastbound carriageway at Clyst Honiton at 11am on Sunday 29 June.

Sidmouth Town Council has confirmed the line-up for the hugely popular Sidmouth Regatta Airshow which returns this year on Friday 22 August 2025 as part of the Sidmouth Regatta Weekend.

A sentimental charity shop find in Sidmouth – spotted 10,000 miles from its remote Australian home – has sparked a woman’s hunt to track down its past owner.

Detectives investigating a report of aggravated burglary near Exeter are appealing for information.

Exmouth Town Council, in collaboration with Plastic Free Exmouth and Harbour View Café, has unveiled the town’s fourth Cigarette Butt Ballot Bin - part of an ongoing campaign to reduce cigarette litter and protect Exmouth’s beach.

Safety at Exeter’s Bus Station has been improved thanks to the linking up of its CCTV system to the city-wide network.

A group of South West-based researchers have shown that early improvements in asthma symptoms can help predict how effective treatment will be in the future.

Lifeguards will soon begin patrols at Budleigh Salterton, keeping young families and paddleboarders safe this summer.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk has welcomed the official opening of Exeter College’s new Centre for Rugby – a community facility based on excellence, inclusivity and sustainability in sport.

A mud kitchen at an East Devon farm shop is to stay in place after a successful planning appeal.

The family of Denva Lewis Smith, 24, who died following an alleged assault in Exmouth on Saturday 31 May have paid tribute to a beautiful boy with a kind soul, who will be missed by everyone.

Plans have been submitted to knock down Exeter’s former police station and build more than 800 homes for university students and local people.

A team of researchers led by the University of Exeter have been awarded a £3.3 million grant by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to study the treatment and potential cure for eczema.

From July new cameras will come online from to monitor and enforce the use of the bus gate on Wonford Road in Exeter.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and information following a serious road traffic collision on the A3052, at Boshill Cross, Colyford.

Drivers using Exeter’s car parks will be asked to pay more – as well as footing the bill for using a mobile phone app to do it.

Northbrook Swimming Pool in Exeter will be closed after a decision at an Exeter City Council meeting held on Tuesday evening.

Exmouth and Exeter East MP David Reed has claimed the proposed law that allows assisted dying did not include “sufficiently robust safeguards”, prompting him to vote against the legislation.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a serious road traffic collision on the A3052, at Boshill Cross, Colyford.

A second investigation into a decision to grant permission for controversial plans for up to 130 homes in an East Devon town has been launched.

Sidmouth’s multi-million-pound coastal defence scheme is one step closer to reality. 

Exeter has a vital role to play in Devon’s forthcoming devolution deal despite being in the ‘second tier’ of councils involved.

Supporters across the heart of Devon opened their gardens to raise vital funds for hospice charity amidst funding deficit. 55 gardens opened during 2024 in support of Hospiscare, the local hospice charity for Exeter, Central and East Devon.