Flats could replace Exeter's old nick

Councillors considering new plans

Major plans to build student and ‘co-living’ flats at Exeter’s former police station and magistrates’ court are being recommended for approval next week, despite dozens of objections.

The location on Heavitree Road is opposite the University of Exeter’s St Luke’s Campus and next to 134 co-living studios currently being built opposite Waitrose.

With the plan put forward by Nixon Homes & Student Roost, the new buildings contain a total of just over 1,000 rooms, most of which are for students. The rest will be in a separate ‘co-living’ block with 358 self-contained units.

The city council’s planning committee will vote on the application on Monday [5 September]. It had previously been set to consider it at the end of July but was deferred at the request of the applicant.

A revised plan was submitted in June which has reduced the scale of the buildings to six storeys visible from street level, plus basement levels.

The development will have no on-site parking except for a limited number of disabled spaces and a drop-off layby. However, over 500 cycle spaces are planned.

Recommending approval, planning officers say the development will “deliver a number of substantial economic, social and environmentally sustainable benefits” such as by providing accommodation “likely to be in the price range of young people who can’t obtain a mortgage.”

They add the purpose-built student accommodation will reduce the need to convert Exeter’s existing housing to houses of multiple occupations, while it will provide 20 per cent affordable housing and re-use a brownfield site “in a sustainable location that reduces the need for reliance upon car travel.”

Their report continues: “Importantly the context of the approach to the city centre and the width of this section of arterial road are both factors that warrant the provision of taller buildings at the site.

“The standard of accommodation has also been improved such that it accords with schemes previously approved by the council immediately adjacent to the site and elsewhere in the city.”

But some local residents are unimpressed, with 114 public objections and no comments in favour. Their reasons include how Exeter is “overwhelmed” with high-rise student blocks and that the site should be used as council housing instead.

One person comments: “As we have so much student accommodation in Exeter, not least the three massive buildings around the bus station, I wonder why exactly we need another [677] student units.”

Others question the “realism” of a car-free development and the potential impact on nearby street parking.

“This proposed building is far too large and ugly, not in keeping with the area,” another commenter claimed, adding: “There will be problems with parking as those able to afford this type of accommodation are sure to be bringing cars.”

Exeter City Council’s planning committee will consider the application on Monday evening.

Whilst they are being recommended to approve it, there is another recommendation to refuse permission if the associated Section 106 legal agreement is not completed in time.