We’ve reached 27 March and despite lobbying from concerned residents across the country, it was deemed unnecessary to extend the deadline for the final implementation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

To have extended the deadline would have been a sign of a strong government. A government which listens to the people. A government which realises that planning rules were rushed through. A government which is keen for the electorate to see democracy enshrined in every fibre of its being.

Instead of that, in those districts where there is no Local Plan in place...

A £9.7m bid to create a University Technical College (UTC) in Newton Abbot has been approved by the Department for Education. South Devon UTC - the area’s first University Technical College – will offer a new way of learning for up to 600 young people aged 14 to 18. It will be based in Newton Abbot and recruit from a 30 mile catchment area which includes Teignbridge, Torbay, Exeter and the South Hams. The academy school will have a unique focus in engineering, water and the environment, reflecting both the natural environment in Devon and the needs of employers in these industries where...

Award-winning house builder Redrow is delighted to announce the official launch of its new development in Exeter, The Harrington’s. To celebrate, Redrow is inviting local residents to come along to find out more at an Easter-themed event, which will support local businesses.

The launch event will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, 30 and 31 March between 11am and 4pm in the marketing suite and three brand new show homes at the development, which is located off Harrington Lane, Pinhoe, in the stunning Devonshire countryside.

Well-known local business owner Matthew...

A leading university enterprise partnership in the UK has secured £64,750 of funding to establish and encourage open innovation between big businesses, primes, universities and SMEs.

SETsquared, a collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey, will use the cash to run a programme of work including bespoke “one to many” forums that will bring together large corporate companies or public sector organisations that are interested in creating open innovation relationships with SME ‘growth companies’.

The ‘Meet the Prime’ initiative...

Devon is to benefit from a share of £5 million of funding unveiled by the Government this week.

A partnership of Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council and the Environment Agency will receive just over £488,000 from the Flood Resilience Community Pathfinder scheme, launched by Defra in December 2012.

The funding, announced by Environment Minister Richard Benyon, will go towards a near £730,000 package to improve local community resilience so that individuals and businesses are better prepared against the risk of flooding. A total of 24 communities will...

Are you a "fruity pinot" or a "full bodied merlot”?

Pebblebed Vineyard near Exeter is holding its first ‘Wine Dating’ evening on Friday 5 April.

The event, being held at the Topsham Cellar, is a fun evening for singles to chat and sample a few of the glasses of Pebblebed’s finest.

The event will be a cross between speed dating and wine tasting for singles.

Geoff Bowen, vineyard owner said: “We’ve had a great response so far and it should be a really fun evening, but we just need a few more men to sign up. Don't be shy, it will be a very informal evening of...

The Exeter office of Ashfords LLP has advised DQ Entertainment PLC (DQE) on its fund-raising of £4.1m to remake the much-loved children's tale The Jungle Book .

With its main operations in India, DQE is an award-winning global producer and distributor of animation and visual effects for feature films, TV, video, internet, mobile and next-generation console games.

Having established itself as a producer of quality animated content for television, DQE has increasingly focused on the production of high definition 3D stereoscopic animations and, most recently, animated feature...

Exeter poet Richard Skinner will read his new Easter poem, "Utterly Staggering", on Thursday 28 March (Maundy Thursday) and Saturday 30 March (Holy Saturday) in St Stephen's Church, Exeter High Street at 12.00noon. The reading will last approximately 30 minutes, and there is free admission.

As a poet and performer Richard has published seven books, the most recent being Invocations. He also gives regular readings of his work, appearing at the Exeter Festival since 1989, and has twice been on tours sponsored by South West Arts.

A former member of Cambridge University '...

A recent survey from Rightmove.co.uk has revealed Exeter to be the Number One place to live in the South West in its Happy At Home Index, and in fourth happiest place to live across the whole of the UK.

Rightmove’s index uses 12 distinct factors to measure how the British public feels about where they live, covering their home (investment, well-being, pride and costs) their community (safety, amenities, recreation and neighbourliness) and their property (décor, space, contentment and value). Responses for each of the 12 measures are averaged to provide both a category score and an...