NEWS

Developer plans to convert retail units in Exeter city centre block to additional student bedrooms

Conversion of five of eleven shop/leisure units at The Depot in Cheeke Street would add nineteen rooms to existing 715 bedrooms in monolithic PBSA.

Leigh Curtis

The developers of a purpose built student block in Exeter city centre have applied for planning permission to convert several of its street-level retail units to student accommodation.

The Depot currently includes eleven ground floor retail and leisure units in addition to 715 student bedrooms. But the developer has so far failed to secure commercial tenants for eight of the units.

The proposals are to create nineteen student bedrooms by reconfiguring five of these units, which would increase the total number of student bedrooms in the block to 734.

The changes would mean approximately 25% of the designated retail and leisure space would be converted.

Empty retail units at The Depot Purpose Built Student Accommodation block on Cheeke Street in Exeter Empty retail units at The Depot on Cheeke Street

The Depot was built in two phases by Mace Developments Limited on the site of the former Stagecoach depot between Bampfylde Street, Summerland Street, Cheeke Street and Belgrave Road in Exeter city centre.

Construction of the six to eight storey block was due for completion by the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year but was delayed and alternative accommodation had to be found for hundreds of student tenants.

Marketing and promotion of the retail units began in late 2018. In September 2020 a Co-op store opened at the Cheeke Street/Belgrave Road corner of the building, opposite the Vue cinema, and the Department of Work and Pensions are intending to relocate the Job Centre from its current position on Western Way to two of the units on Belgrave Road.

However the developer says that there has otherwise been “no confirmed interest from high street names or nationally recognised chains”. Informal offers from other businesses such as start-ups have been rejected on the basis they were “not commercially viable”.

Attempts to find “meanwhile” or “pop-up uses” for the spaces have so far also been unsuccessful.

Subscribe to The Exeter Digest - Exeter Observer's essential free email newsletter

Your personal information will be processed and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Planning permission for the development was originally granted for the first phase in January 2017 and the second in June 2019.

The applications were considered in the context of Exeter’s Local Plan Core Strategy, which sets out the strategic vision for development in the city. This includes “maintaining a vital and viable mix of uses in the city centre and delivering development to enhance Exeter’s position as a premier retail and cultural destination.”

The site also falls within the Grecian regeneration area defined in the strategy. It says that developments in this area will “enhance the city’s unique historic townscape quality”, “create places that encourage social interaction” and “enhance and expand the city’s retail function to improve Exeter’s draw as a regional shopping centre”.

A planning officer’s report accompanying the application also said the buildings were “designed to have active and transparent frontages” with the positioning of the retail units allowing forecourt areas “which could be used for seating in association with cafes etc”.

The recent application to renew previously-granted planning permission for an eight storey 108-bed student accommodation block on the site of the King Billy public house includes similar plans for a retail unit and a pub or restaurant space on Longbrook Street.

Exeter City Council will consider the applications at a later date. More details are available on the city planning portal.


Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer is proving that reader-funded media can deliver the independent public interest journalism our local democracy needs.

Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

More stories
Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell, previous chief constable Will Kerr and interim chief constable James Vaughan

Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell receives 18-month misconduct warning

Outcome of Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation delivered day before retirement of suspended chief constable Will Kerr announced, with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez unwilling to say whether “golden handshake” agreed.

Newtown active travel scheme map

Newtown active travel scheme approved after four years of public consultations

Joint Devon County Council and Exeter City Council project includes road closure, car parking changes and contraflow Clifton Hill cycle lane.

South West peninsula 2025 spending review road and rail investment map

Dawlish rail resilience, Exeter A379 bridge renewal and Cullompton M5 J28 schemes all shelved after spending review

Government road and rail funding announcement billed as “the biggest boost to England's transport infrastructure in a generation” largely passes Devon and Cornwall by while leaving final phase of South West Rail Resilience Programme undelivered.

Illustrative floor plan of new redevelopment proposals

New Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” complex proposals submitted to Exeter City council

Application for full planning permission for 813-room scheme in seven blocks follows decision to reject previously-proposed 955-room scheme in two blocks which was subsequently upheld at appeal.

Change in bus passenger journey numbers 2019-20 to 2023-24 by England local transport area bar chart

National Audit Office finds decline in Devon bus passenger journey numbers among largest in country

Devon journeys down 28% – seventh from bottom across 85 areas – while journeys in Cornwall increased by more than 40%.

Danny Barnes

Danny Barnes received full £15,000 Devon County Council allowance during 2024-25

Heavitree & Whipton Barton councillor failed to sign off £14,600 community grants after attending only two of fifteen public meetings and is alleged to have worked for Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker since shortly after last year’s general elections.

, updated

On Our Radar
Summer at the Quayside illustration

TUESDAY 29 JULY TO FRIDAY 29 AUGUST 2025

Summer at the Quayside

A month of free family activities including weaving, felting, doodling and drumming.

EXETER QUAY

Spork! summer special

THURSDAY 31 JULY TO THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2025

Theatre in the Park

Exeter Phoenix hosts an al fresco summer theatre season featuring Shakespeare, spoken-word poetry, puppetry and physical comedy.

ROUGEMONT GARDENS

Exeter quayside farmers market vegetables

SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2025

Quayside Farmers’ Market

Monthly market offering local produce, hand-made goods, plants, cakes and more.

EXETER QUAY