Major projects set to transform look of city’s skyline

THOSE of us who live or work in Exeter are going to see some major changes to the city we love in the coming years.

- GUY HENDERSON

> The Royal Clarence Hotel redevelopment on Cathedral Green, in March > Proposals for Clarendon House > Plans for the former Heavitree Road police station > How new flats on the site of the former King Billy pub could look

(Nooko Chapman Taylor/Zinc/Exeter City Council Brown And Company/Exeter City Council RMI Architects/Exeter City Council John Lewis)

The city council has dealt with a large number of major planning applications, and it all means our skyline is going to change beyond recognition.

Tall blocks of student accommodation and co-living apartments will rise from several building sites across the city as Exeter continues to cement its position as one of the country’s fastest-growing communities.

New homes will spring up alongside the canal and the city’s old police station site will become the location for a massive new development. These are just some of the major projects in the pipeline.

CLARENDON HOUSE

A huge block of student flats on the site of the city’s current JobCentre has been given the go-ahead, despite objectors saying the scheme is ‘overbearing’.

Zinc Real Estate will build the 10-storey building containing nearly 300 purpose-built flats for University of Exeter students at Clarendon House, on Western Way.

The developers say more than 10,000 university students are in houses of multiple occupation, and having more purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) will free up other properties for local families.

The company initially shared proposed plans in December 2023 to demolish Clarendon House and build a 20-storey student block offering 350 beds. After feedback, a revised scheme cut the number of student rooms to 297, and reduced the highest part of the building to 10 storeys.

MARY ARCHES