Huge new Exeter student flats block likely to go-ahead

Eight-storeys next to John Lewis

A new eight-storey block of student flats on the site of a former city centre pub will be one of Exeter’s tallest buildings if it gets the go-ahead.

Members of the city council’s planning committee will meet next week (September 8) to consider an application from Durham-based Rok Prop Co (Exeter) for 108 self-contained studio flats on the site of the old King Billy in Northbrook Street.

Their officers will advise them to give the development the green light, providing the applicants agree to fund a plan to manage the noise generated by the development as well as paying more than £60,000 towards cycle networks and more than £27,000 to expand oversubscribed local GP surgeries.

The development will be next door to the eight-storey John Lewis department store, and permission already exists for a similar height building and a similar number of student flats.

The site has a planning history dating back to 2016, when permission was first granted for six storeys of student accommodation. The old pub was bulldozed in 2023.

The latest version of the scheme – to be discussed next week – moves the building away from the rear of the site which will allow the remains of one of the city’s medieval walls to be preserved. The wall has already been partially demolished.

Officers say there is a ‘continued, evidenced, demand’ for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).

But a number of objections have been lodged with the council ahead of the meeting.

One of them is from ward councillor Tammy Palmer (Lib Dem, Duryard and St James), who says the plan is not in the best interests of local people.

“I wholly object to the development being used as a PBSA,” she writes. “St James residents would welcome students if they were part of a truly balanced community, but unfortunately as we are all too aware this is not the case.

“The sheer number of students living in and passing through residential streets in St James is beyond excessive and has a severely detrimental impact on permanent residents.”

Cllr Palmer says issues include anti-social behaviour, excessive noise, rubbish and broken glass. She also disputes the claim that building PBSA will put other homes back into general use for local families.

“Adding in another 108 students to a residential street will make residents’ right to enjoy their homes much more challenging,” she says, adding: “The area is like a ghost town outside of term time – a cleaner, quieter place but a ghost town.

“Streets that should be full of families are empty with uncared-for houses of multiple occupation and full rubbish bins left out on the street for the gulls, foxes and rats to enjoy.

“St James residents have simply had enough.”

Another objector writes: “This population of students produces noise and occasional vandalism and is a constant irritation to those others who live there. Fast food packaging, vomit and broken glass are regularly strewn over the local pavements

“Students have their positive side, too, of course, especially when sober. They have their place in our city. But they should not be housed in such numbers as to dominate the rest of the population.”