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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

South Street, Market Street And Fore Street – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-EX-23

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: 4d13784

Parish(es): Not applicable

District(s): Exeter City Council

Site size: 1.3 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 88 – 105 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 175 homes

Potential for employment use: Yes

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: Close to the site options SA-EX-7 (North Gate) and SA-EX-8 (South Gate). Premises fronting South Street and Fore Street are identified as part of Exeter’s secondary shopping area in the Exeter Local Plan First Review.

Planning status: The car park off Smythen Street is the subject of a current planning application for 9 apartments.

Summary description of the site: Mixed use area of post-war redevelopment within Exeter city centre next to the Corn Exchange, currently including shops, offices, homes and two small public car parks.

Opportunities

This site is identified for consideration in the GESP because:

  • It provides an opportunity to make more efficient use of a brownfield site
  • It has excellent access to public transport and is close to a wide range of job opportunities and facilities, giving the potential for car-free residential development
  • It gives an opportunity to significantly enhance the appearance of the area
  • A large proportion is in public sector ownership, enabling additional influence over design and delivery and the opportunity to reinvest proceeds into city improvements
  • Part of the site has been put forward by landowners for development

Sensitivities

The site has a number of sensitivities which development would need to take into account, including:

  • It includes a number of existing homes and businesses
  • It is part of an Area of Archaeological Importance, with the potential to contain significant remains
  • It is also in the Central Conservation Area and close to a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Hall of the Vicars Choral) and numerous listed buildings
  • It may impact upon the Exe Estuary, which is a Natura 2000 protected wildlife site sensitive to an increase in the number of visitors
  • It is affected by air pollution from nearby roads and noise pollution from other city-centre uses and may be contaminated

Requirements

Planning requirements for the site will aim to create a great place to live and work, providing a well- designed new neighbourhood with appropriate and well managed public open space and safe walking/ cycling routes. All sites will need to provide a mix of homes (including affordable and custom build), investment in low carbon energy and transport, high speed internet and wildlife enhancements. More detail on these can be found in the policies within Section B of this document. Other emerging requirements include:

  • Redevelopment of premises fronting Fore Street and South Street to provide new shops, offices and community facilities, with homes above
  • Redevelopment of much of the rest of the site, to provide new homes
  • High quality, high density design that celebrates and preserves the site’s important heritage assets, creates a healthy living environment for new residents and respects the privacy of existing residents
  • Car-free residential development supported by mores sustainable transport measures including car- clubs and e-bikes
  • Removal of on-street parking in George Street, significant enhancement of pedestrian/cycle routes and financial contributions to traffic calming measures on South Street
  • Funding of measures to reduce the impact on the Exe Estuary, including provision/contribution towards Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)
  • Financial contributions towards the expansion of primary and secondary schools, medical facilities and utilities provision in Exeter

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