Harlequins redevelopment gets thumbs up

Seven storey buildings for 'co-living' and hotel

Plans to redevelop Exeter’s outdated Harlequin Centre on Paul Street in the city centre into a ‘co-living’ scheme and a hotel have been given the go-ahead.

After three hours of debate on Monday night, developer Curlew’s scheme, which would convert the shopping centre into a co-living scheme – thought to be the first in the south west, as well as a hotel with bar and restaurant, was approved by Exeter City Council’s planning committee by nine votes to four.

The redevelopment will see two blocks built on the site – block 1 with 251 co-living bedrooms – which involves a number of flats being built for students but can be rented by non-students as well – with 116 hotel bedrooms in Block 2.

The plans will also see the creation of a 'pocket park', significant improvements to Paul Street, enhancing the environment for pedestrians and cyclists, and the replacement of the pedestrian bridge over Paul Street with a new lightweight bridge.

But despite 375 of the 379 people who commented on the application objecting to the scheme, Exeter City Council planners recommended the plans go-ahead, and councillors supported the scheme.

The meeting heard that as the council cannot at present demonstrate a five-year land supply of deliverable housing sites and the housing policies of the development plan are out-of-date, the presumption of sustainable development applies to the application.

Chris Dadds, speaking in favour of the scheme, said that it delivers the Liveable Exeter Vision. He said: “Harlequins has struggled as retail and there are no calls for the retail use to be retained. It is agreed by experts there will be impacts but these are less than substantial, and while there will be impacts, we must make best use of such sites to achieve a sustainable future, and the impacts are outweighed by the substantial benefits.”

But opposing the scheme, Mary Chichester said that the seven storey block will overshadow and dwarf the roman city wall. She added: “Would it not be better to build something that will cause no harm to the city and to build something inspiring? A seven story tower block will do the opposite and damage a core conservation area. Hundreds of residents have expressed their reservations and this will harm the city’s heritage assets.”

Cllr Diana Moore, who represents the St David’s ward, also called for the plans to be refused. She said: “The design, scale and mass of the co-living block and hotel won’t make a positive contribution to the area and will be overbearing on heritage assets. What evidence do we have this will contribute to housing supply numbers as this is student flats but in a new name?

“This is an ideal site for new housing and we know Exeter has a shortage of affordable housing, but only 20 per cent of affordable rooms, no social housing, and no off-site provision fails to go any way to meeting the needs. The overbearing development will have a significant negative impact on heritage. This is not a good development for Exeter – please reject the application.”

Further concerns were raised by Cllr Laura Wright, who said that while the notion of co-living is something she supports, the size of the units worried her. She said: “They would be well short of the size of a Travelodge room and living in an equivalent space is not acceptable for anyone to live in for any length of time.”

Cllr Rob Hannaford added: “I am concerned about what it will means for people and the longer term implications for younger people who could be in these units for months if not years. The idea that any of our young people can have a life that can be scooped up in two bin bags is not the vision I have for our young people or Exeter.”

But Cllr Bob Foale said: “We have too many kids leaving the university and going back to mum and dad, staff at the RD&E who need accommodation, we suffer the brain drain. We need to make this a success.”

Cllr Phil Bialyk, leader of the council, added: “Exeter has a pressing need for accommodation to meet our housing needs and our challenge is to provide it in sufficient numbers. We are obliged to demonstrate five year housing land and presently we cannot do so – have just over two years supply of housing land.

“This is a challenge to deliver in the historic city but the amendments are worthwhile and render it acceptable. There is evidence for demand for this sort of co-living and young people have not got a chance of getting on the housing ladder. To give them an opportunity to live this way will keep younger people in the city. I really do think this is a move in the right direction.”

Recommending approval, officers said that the balance test with regard to heritage assets has already been satisfied as there were no adverse impacts of the scheme that are considered to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the economic, social and environmental benefits of the scheme.

Money from the developers will be paid towards the management, maintenance, repair and promotion of the City Wall, and public open spaces within the area, the report says. Councillors voted by nine votes to four to approve the application, but that the application be refused if a legal agreement about those contributions is not signed within six months.