Rediscover Church has submitted a new application for Signal House on Cofton Road, Marsh Barton months after the Exeter City Council refused its first attempt. Now local busineses are being asked to have their say.
One of Exeter’s largest churches has lodged a fresh bid to bring a vacant Marsh Barton landmark back into use, months after the city council blocked its first attempt. Rediscover Church has submitted a new planning application to turn Signal House into a place of worship and seven days a week community hub with a café, soft play, training rooms and co-working space. The application, reference 26/1158/FUL, is now live on the council’s planning portal and open for public comment.
It follows a refusal in April, when Exeter City Council ruled the site sits in a protected employment area and should stay in business use. In response to this, the church hosted a vision event held inside the building on 12 June 2026 to present its case to councillors, planning agents and business leaders.
Rediscover Church project Lead, Helen Lami (left) and lead pastor, Rev Mark Pugh at Signal House in June.
Rediscover Church, which has been in the city for almost a 100 years and draws a congregation of around 500, argued that the unit had not drawn serious industrial interest and that its plan would put a struggling building back to work.
Industrial estate agent Katie Purrington, told guests that empty units are becoming a familiar sight in Marsh Barton. “It is depressing driving through the estate,” she said, warning that the area risks being left with “a graveyard of buildings rather than an opportunity.”
Devon County Councillor and deputy leader Neil Stevens backed the scheme on jobs. “Potentially this could be 40 jobs. There are not many places in Marsh Barton that provide 40 jobs,” he said, adding that the church would be “bringing a significant building back into productive use” at a time when the job market is fragile.
Project lead Helen Lami, who hosted the event said that the church would submit an improved application rather than appeal the original decision. That application has now been submitted.
As a business owner in the education sector, Helen believes the project will greatly benefit surrounding companies.” I know how difficult it can be in business and the pressures you carry,” she said. “Being in the heart of Marsh Barton would enable the church to support local firms, give people somewhere to grab a coffee, and train employees in the skills of the future.”
Signal House carries significant local history. A spokesperson for the owners told guests the facility had been family owned since the early seventies and was where the numeric pager was developed back in 1970.
Lead Pastor Mark Pugh said an eight year search for a permanent home for Rediscover Church had finally found a building that fitted, but the church kept hitting the same obstacle in how the city zones its land. “When I sit with the planners and ask which area is allocated to charities and churches, the answer is that there is nowhere,” he said.
Rev Pugh was keen to play down the bricks and mortar. “We are not wanting to build a cathedral, the church is not the building, the church is the people.” He continue to make the point that the church belonged in the middle of a working estate rather than apart from it, floating the idea of offering chaplaincy to local business people and describing the vision as “a quietly therapeutic centre in the middle of a vibrant business community.”
Rev Mike De Vetter showing guests around Signal House and the potential the space offers.
Associate Pastor Mike De Vetter, who moved his family from New Zealand to join Rediscover, led a tour of the space which could house an auditorium seating between 400 and 700, children’s rooms and training rooms. He suggested nearby firms could make use of these facilities. “Most businesses would not be set up with a boardroom or a classroom,” he said, pointing to first aid courses and apprenticeship training the church could host for Marsh Barton employers.
The council’s original refusal notice set out that the proposal would mean a loss of employment land, and that it had not been shown there were no suitable premises outside the protected area. Officers accepted the community benefits but concluded the policy objection carried more weight.
With the new application now live, the church is urging supporters and local businesses to have their say. “We really want to sit round the table with the council,” Mr Pugh said. For an estate dotted with empty units, the question of what counts as the best use of Signal House is now back in front of the planners.
Rediscover Church Signal House – Have your say
The application is open for comment right now, and the council wants to hear from you before the consultation closes. If you would like to see Signal House brought back to life, or you have concerns, this is the moment to say so.
Visit Exeter City Council and search for reference 26/1158/FUL to have your say.
Rediscover Church and Kingdom Business
Rediscover Church already has a track record of engaging with Exeter’s business community through Kingdom Business, which provides networking, business support and events for local entrepreneurs. Its annual conference has also brought business leaders together in the city, with marketing and AI expert Steve Pailthorpe appearing as keynote speaker at Rediscover Business 2025. The event saw Steve share practical advice with South West businesses through his 7 Step Marketing Chassis, demonstrating how the church’s role in Exeter already extends into supporting enterprise and connecting local businesspeople.
Al Gibson
Alistair Gibson is the founder of Countdown Creative and editor of Devon Business News. A journalist and communications specialist, he combines traditional storytelling with digital media to help businesses communicate clearly and get noticed. He has lived and worked in Devon since 2007, building strong connections with businesses and organisations across Plymouth, Exeter and the wider South West.
