Car-free homes for Exmouth Junction

But handy for railway line!

Plans for 51 apartments on vacant land at the entrance to the former Exmouth Junction site have been unveiled.

In March Exeter City Council’s planning committee gave the go ahead for 400 new homes, a care home, and new green spaces on land next to Exeter’s Morrisons supermarket.

The development, near to Exmouth Junction, is on a brownfield site which has been used as a railway goods yard, rail sidings and coal concentration yard, before most recently being used for surface storage.

Work is set to begin before the end of the year, but Eutopia Homes have now asked for permission to add an L-shaped apartment block as a ‘gateway building’ into the main site.

They have submitted a new application to Exeter City Council for an apartment block of 51 apartments: 26 one-bedroom flats, 20 two-bedroom flats, and five three-bedroom flats – with the ground floor featuring a residents’ entrance, lift to all floors, plant space and internal bike and bin store.

The flats would also have a ‘communal amenity’ for the residents on the ground floor, roof terraces, private outside space for some ground floor units, over 100 cycle spaces, and there would be improvements around the entrance to the site to connect into existing cycle paths and widening existing footways for pedestrian access to Prince Charles Road.

It's going to be car-free, although car clubs spaces would be provided. The planning statement adds: “The highly sustainable location of the site allows for a car-free scheme to be proposed. Prospective residents will be aware, prior to considering whether to rent an apartment, that there are no residents’ parking spaces available and that there are wider parking restrictions in place in the surrounding area.

“Notwithstanding this, it is recognised that there may be a small number of residents who may prefer to have access to a car for certain journey purposes. In response to this, in the south west corner of the site, it is proposed to create space for a car club, and dedicated space is to be provided for up to two vehicles which will be made available to members for flexible periods of time (i.e. as little as an hour up to two-to-three days).

“This restriction on cars will actively encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport. This also fits with the objectives of the emerging Exeter Transport Strategy. One of its main objectives is to ensure 50 per cent of trips within the city will be made on foot or by bike. The proposal will help to meet this target.”

The application adds: “The mix of units will appeal to a variety of renter profiles including young professionals, attracted by the location and proximity to the city centre and families, as there is a lack of availability of high quality private rented accommodation in the city.

“It is considered that the development is of an appropriate scale and form given that it is a Gateway building into the main Exmouth Junction site, the context that the site is situated within, and how the massing relates to surrounding context, delivering several important urban design and regeneration benefits.”