Another block of student flats approved

Plans were initially rejected in July

The plans for 98 student flats, four accessible bedrooms, 12 penthouse studios at Summerland Street were rejected in July as ‘the appearance and shape of the proposed development relate poorly to the first phase of the development and as such, the proposals are considered not to be visually attractive or good design.’

Developers Deltic resubmitted their plans with a flat roof instead, and councillors approved the application by six votes to four, with two abstentions, but still had issues with the design.

And questions were raised about the sheer number of purpose built student flats popping up in Exeter, but councillors were told that there was continued demand for accommodation, occupancy rates were near 100 per cent, and Cllr Pete Edwards said that Pennsylvania would be turned into a student village if purpose built student accommodation was not being provided in Exeter.

On the design of the Summerland Street plans, Cllr Matthew Vizard said: “I didn’t like the design then and I don’t like it a lot more now, but there are some things that are marginally improved about it. I do like the improvements to the street scene, as it is a street that needs some tidying up, but it is difficult to be persuaded now to approve it. It is an enormous development and dominant on the skyline, and I remain unconvinced by this.”

Cllr Yolanda Henson added: “The developers have come with a different drawing but I don’t like it either,” but Cllr Emma Morse said: “While this application is not the most attractive thing in the world, we are never going to get that here as the design of the first phase is so unusual, so we have to compromise and they have tried their hardest to get the best they can.”

The first phase of development at a neighbouring scheme off Belgrave Road, which will provide approximately 600 student bed spaces, along with ground floor retail and leisure floorspace, is currently under construction.

Recommending approval, officers said: “The revisions to the design, following a review of different design options, do not change the shape of the building. They do however introduce new architectural treatment of the windows by grouping and framing them.

“The brickwork is proposed to match phase 1 and the changes to the windows results in the brickwork areas being more extensive and more visually dominant. The enlargement of the upper floor is not considered visually un-intrusive.

“The development will introduce further residential uses into the ‘Grecian Quarter’ regeneration area supporting the ground floor units which could be occupied retail and restaurants, business and leisure uses.”

But the debate on Monday night centred mainly on the controversial issue of purpose built student flats popping up all over the city, rather than the specific application, with Cllr Henson asking what the occupancy rates of the student accommodations blocks in Exeter was.

The committee heard from officers that the occupancy rates are among the highest in the country and are at near 100 per cent.

Officers added: “Rooms are let for 51 weeks a year, and you can only get away with renting for 51 weeks when supply exceeds demand, and the high rate of rent charged indicates a high level of occupancy. While it is not a matter to planning, and we don’t have actual figures, the occupancy rates are very close to 100 per cent.

“The headline figure is that the University has expanded by more than 7,500 students but the numbers of HMOS has remained constant. Student accommodation is diverting land away from the HMOs and it is fair to say that purpose built accommodation is the right way to go.”

Cllr Phil Bilayk said: “After Brexit, this the next most continuous issue that we have to deal with. I will support this because it will be daft not to. It is finishing off something that is already under construction, so it makes no sense not to, and it will improve the street scene greatly.

“This debate has not been about Summerland Street but about student flats, but there is a demand out there that needs to be met. People do say look at it all, but I say, we need more. We need the figures or a formula about demand or occupancy rates and then we can avoid the constant row as to whether there is enough or not enough student flats.”

Cllr Bob Foale said that he thought there was already enough student accommodation in Exeter. He said: “We have people on the housing waiting list, people living on the streets, and people who have to move back in with parents, but we keep on building more student accommodation. There is enough accommodation within the city for those in HMOs and student accommodation and I don’t see any homeless students in the city. I cannot support further requests for student accommodation when we don’t have the figures for the need.”

But Cllr Morse said: “Currently the rents in the city are so high people cannot afford to live. If they stopped building student flats, then the rents would go up even more. Students will be coming and living in Exeter regardless of whether we approve this as the University is expanding, so we need to ensure that we have a housing stock for the people of Exeter.”

And Cllr Pete Edwards said that Pennsylvania would be turned into a student village if purpose built student accommodation was not being provided in Exeter.

He said: “There is no doubt about it, there is a call for more purpose built accommodation. Housing stocks in some cities have been destroyed, so if you don’t put in this purpose built accommodation then it will take up the whole of the housing stock and you will see the whole of Pennsylvania turned into student accommodation.

“Building student flats does get up peoples nose, but it is not us building it, but others investing in the city. But we need to look at our planning policy so they are not in the city centre all the time.”

The plans for Summerland Street were approved by six votes to four, with two abstentions.