Two hundred miles west of London and some 80 miles south of Bristol, Exeter is the natural regional capital of the southwest counties. Over the past 10 years, the region has developed significantly and is attracting a great deal of interest from inward investors – highlights have included the Eden Project, recent growth in air traffic at Exeter and Newquay Airports and imminent major city centre developments in Exeter and Plymouth. The relocation of the Met Office to Exeter looks as though it will have a similar positive effect on the city as the Eden Project has had for Cornwall.
In support of this growth, Exeter City Council has developed a clearly defined mission for the city aimed at achieving a position in which Exeter is nationally regarded as the regional capital and as a premier city for quality of life in the UK. The city aims to develop its economic base and create a stronger, more diverse, sustainable local economy, maximising employment opportunities to meet the challenges and opportunities offered by new technologies.
