Plans lodged for 150-bed student scheme

Plans have been lodged to redevelop a site in Exeter’s Grecian Quarter with a seven-storey building that could provide accommodation for 150 students.Barton Willmore, on behalf of Exeter SPV/HG Capital Investments, has submitted an application for a site at the corner of Cheeke Street and Bampfylde Street.A seven-storey student accommodation development is proposed, featuring a total 150 bedrooms containing a mix of cluster apartments, studios and wheelchair accessible bedrooms.Facilities including a common room, gym and study room will be provided on the ground floor.A new waiting room for the adjacent coach station is also proposed for the ground floor of the new building, with 40 cycle parking spaces to be provided at the rear of the property.The site is currently occupied by two-storey retail building occupied by the British Heart Foundation. This would be demolished under the new plans.The development is one of a number of student accommodation schemes proposed for the Grecian Quarter, including a 588-bed scheme on the site of the bus depot. The Princesshay Leisure scheme, including a cinema, retail units and restaurants, is also underway in the area.It has been designed to “supplement and enhance adjacent development proposals with the ultimate aim of regenerating and enhancing an existing environment”.