Revisions to an application for full planning permission for a “co-living” block on Summerland Street have been submitted to the city council for approval.
When the city council restructured the leases on the site to enable its demolition and development for co-living in a private meeting in May last year it said it expected a 186-bedspace block, which would have been eight or nine storeys tall.
The proposals that subsequently came forward in March were for a 167-bedspace seven storey block, which has now been reduced to 147 bedspaces over six storeys.
The council owns the site, between Verney Street and Red Lion Lane. It is part of the “East Gate” development zone allocated in the new Exeter Local Plan, which also includes much of Sidwell Street, Paris Street and the foot of Heavitree Road.
It faces the north eastern corner of the 734-bed Cheeke Street student accommodation block known as The Depot.
It is occupied by several businesses including Yonk Asian Foods, Sai Kung Cafe and the Boneyard retro games arcade. A windscreen repair centre previously also operated there.
Summerland Street co-living block redevelopment site
Developer Mclaren Property is responsible for 26 student accommodation blocks across the UK.
It says its Summerland Street co-living scheme would contribute to “local housing need and the objective of ensuring mixed and balanced communities” and would enhance the St Sidwell’s conservation area.
The proposals provide 4.3 square metres of amenity space for each co-living bedspace, including a rooftop terrace that shares the floor with seventeen bedrooms.
The building would be two storeys taller than adjacent residential Wheaton House on Red Lion Lane.
Comments on the Summerland Street development proposals can be submitted via the city council website where the application can be viewed in full.
