Up to 1,000 homes could be built on a brownfield site in Exeter, with £400 million to spent on clearing and construction – but Devon Live readers in our comments sections aren’t entirely happy with the bold plans.
The land at Water Lane, overlooking the canal which runs near the centre of the city, includes an area that was once a gasworks and coal store, and more recently a plant for rendering meat from animal carcasses. If the developer’s plans are approved, millions will be spent on clearing and decontaminating the site, including the rotting hulk of the former Brixham trawler Marie Claire.
If the plans are given the thumbs up by city councillors, the first residents could be collecting their keys by late 2027. The development is set to include a mix of buildings including homes to be sold on the open market, affordable homes for ‘buy to rent’ operators, extra-care homes and student accommodation, which is likely to be the first section to be completed.
Reader Exeterism says: “Exeter is in desperate need of social housing at affordable rents. No mention of this here at all. This area is on a floodplain; it’s short term thinking to develop this during an era of climate change and rising water levels.”
Commenter Devonred1956 writes: “I understood the intention was to make this a ‘15 minute living/working‘ area, if so why is student accommodation being included which is clearly more than 15 minutes away from the University! Additionally, currently one entry/exit route via Exe Bridge which is already overcrowded and yet no plans or suggestion of a further entry/exit point to alleviate traffic jams and congestion!”
YellowVanMan says: “So 1,000 homes, mostly for students, yet no mention of the provision for a GP, a chemist or a dentist or even a couple of corner shops.” M1785 wants quick progress: “I am seeing so money places empty, it’s a joke, let’s see the projects in-progress and completed.”
On our Facebook page, Jonny Bee writes: “Developments like this are exactly what Exeter needs. It’s much better to build on brownfield sites than green space. Creating dense, walkable neighbourhoods within the city are also better than out of town developments. Out of town developments often lead to increased car traffic and council tax revenue going to adjacent municipalities rather than Exeter City Council.”
Shayne Wright agrees: “It does need some major redevelopment down there. It should be the place to go.”
Greg Seward is concerned about the growth of traffic: “I’m all for new housing, and I’m not claiming to know where better to put it. I’m just concerned about the road infrastructure in the area.”
“There will be a mix of every kind of housing,” said project director Richard Clarke of the Water Lane Development Company. “It’s a sensible way to approach things.” Affordable homes will be part of the mix, but developers are unlikely to be able to meet the council’s target of making 35 homes in every hundred ‘affordable’. Having such a large proportion would make the project unviable, they say.
“We do want to get affordable housing on the site,” said Mr Clarke. “People think every developer hates affordable housing, but it is actually quite good because of the way it is funded. We want a mixed community – homes for market sale, extra-care homes, student accommodation and homes for buy-to-rent. That provider may also provide affordable housing. There will definitely be affordable housing on site but we have yet to negotiate what that is with the council.”
Have your say! What other parts of Exeter could do with a root-and-branch redevelopment? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.