Plans for ex-police station site to become housing

Plans have been submitted to knock down a former Devon police station to build more than 800 homes for university students and local people.

The plans for Exeter's former police station, on Heavitree Road, would see the demolition of the existing buildings, with them replaced with a "mixed-use" development of purpose-built student accommodation and co-living spaces.

Co-living refers to a development of small, affordable apartments with some shared facilities. The buildings to be knocked down also include the former magistrates' court on the site.

The latest application was a revised and redesigned version of one previously rejected by the city council.

That application was refused in February 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) says.

If passed by the city council, the development would have 414 co-living units and 399 units for students.

Would-be developers said the revised plans addressed and resolved the key concerns raised.

The development's overall impact had since been reduced, they said, creating "a high-quality development that better aligns with the character of the area".

Instead of the previously proposed two large buildings, the new design features seven smaller ones, which are lower and take up less space.

The blocks would now be between four and six storeys high, with the tallest ones on "less sensitive" parts of the site.

The new plans include a new public route through the site, as well as measures to minimise disruption to the environment, including more than 150 new trees being planted.

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