EXETER DEAF ACADEMY PLAYING FIELD. (Mount Radford Lawn.)
Mount Radford Lawn Playing Field.
On Thursday 10th December 2025 I and one other member of the SLNA committee were invited to an update on the progress of The Deaf Academy’s (DA) plans for the playing field.
In the absence of a press release from the DA I will attempt to summarise what is happening, may happen, or not happening.
A lot of us had imagined that their intention to celebrate their 200th anniversary by making MRL a social space for the community meant that there would be some changes to be seen on the land in 2026, whereas it almost appears that a final decision being made to do something might be the actual celebration as far as the MRL project is concerned.
The DA have spent a lot of money so far on a feasibility study and if the Trustees agree they intend to spend another sum on professional fees before they reach a time when they feel ready to put in a formal planning application. A matter on which the Trustees are finding it hard to make a decision is the governance structure - who will run it? - the balance of control between the DA and the community? And other matters.The sums spent seem eye watering, maybe the Trustees feel that’s the only way to get the job done, but I can’t help feeling that they are getting carried away with outsourcing everything. One reassuring aspect of these high payments is that by putting such sums up front they are showing commitment.
Before the DA achieve their stated aims for MRL there is one intervening project which will be very unpopular with residents, I’m sure. To cover some of the expenses they are considering leasing the field to Exeter Energy Ltd as a compound for the storage of materials and equipment during the process of creating the Heat Network. No lease has been signed yet, but if it is it will help to defray some of the costs as mentioned before.
We came out of the meeting (a) slightly bemused by the time and money it has taken to get this far and (b) slightly reassured by the financial commitment they have shown.
Latest PRESS RELEASE BY DEAF ACADEMY -Pre-planning applications for Mount Radford Lawn in Exeter
January 2026 Update:
Over the last two years our Board of Trustees has been exploring the potential use of Mount Radford Lawn as a multi-use space for the benefit of our Charity, the local community and the wider Deaf community. Following our Feasibility Study report in 2025 we commissioned a Pre-Planning Application to explore the potential for development of the site in line with our charitable objects and local themes, namely recreation and leisure, nature and biodiversity, partnership and community.
The details in the recent Pre-Planning Application were overall received favourably by Exeter City Council. The Board of Trustees has commissioned the initial preparation of the full planning application and in addition are commissioning an evaluation of funding opportunities and the wider business model for the delivery of the proposed facilities and space. A decision on whether to progress with the proposal including the full planning application will be made by the Board of Trustees in Spring/Summer 2026.
The Academy’s Principal, Sylvan Dewing, said: “This is a very exciting project. We are now in the later stages of assessing its overall viability in delivering sustainable outcomes for the Charity, local community and wider Deaf community”.
Exeter Energy Network Proposal
Exeter Energy Network has approached the Academy about supporting their Green Heat Exeter Energy Network which aims to substantially decarbonise heat across Exeter by delivering renewable heat from a single Energy Centre to buildings in and around the centre of Exeter.
In line with our Eco-Schools values and wider strategic objectives in working towards Net Zero, we have agreed a fixed period during which Mount Radford Lawn will be used by Exeter Energy Network to support the roll out of the Exeter Energy Network, subject to
agreement by Exeter City Council. Funding received from this agreement will support the overall running of the Charity and its various projects, including the development and assessment of the Mount Radford Lawn proposal.
Mr Dewing added: “We were really pleased to be approached by Exeter Energy Network in supporting the renewable energy project for Exeter. We are a Green Flag accredited Eco-School and students and staff are very keen to support projects and initiatives that support the development of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gases.
“Our Charity is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year as the oldest Deaf school in England and one of the oldest charities the Devon. We are very proud of our history and our connections to the neighbourhood of St Leonards and the City of Exeter.”
The Board of Trustees will meet in February for the next stage of discussions related to the Mount Radford Lawn proposal.
The website for information is:-
www.thedeafacademy.ac.uk/mount-radford-lawn/.
This web page serves as a public timeline and will be kept updated at each stage in this project’s progress.