New plans for student flats on police station site

An aerial view of the plans for the site on Heavitree Road in Exeter

New plans are being put forward for about 750 studios and student flats on the site of a former police station and magistrates' court.

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) has previously tried to get planning permission to build about 1,000 student accommodation and co-living units on Heavitree Road in Exeter.

Exeter City Council refused planning permission for the units in September 2022 and in February the Planning Inspector rejected the PCC's appeal.

A public consultation has been launched on the new plans which involve eight separate blocks and a cafe.

The plans show what the new buildings would look like from Heavitree Road

Rejecting the previous plans in February, Planning Inspector, Hayden Baugh-Jones, described the five-storey buildings as "vastly larger than any other nearby building".

Consultant DPP Planning, which is working with the PCC on the new plans, says in the public consultation it hopes to have come up with a scheme that is "more reflective of the character of the area".

It says a cafe on the corner of the site will create "a prominent public space".

The police station closed in April 2020

The police station closed in April 2020 with operations moved to a new station at Middlemoor. Exeter Magistrates' Court moved to the Exeter Law Court site in Southernhay.

PCC, Alison Hernandez, did not want to comment on the latest plans.