Apartments are set to be built on the site of an ‘eyesore’ city centre car park.
Plans have been lodged with Exeter City Council with nine new flats to be built within an existing private car park in Smythen Street.
The scheme, for land to the rear of 95 and 96 Fore Street, aims to provide ‘much needed open market accommodation’ for Exeter, and consists of three one‐bed flats and six two‐bedroom flats.
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The site is described by the applicants, Phoenix Developments Ltd, as an eyesore, who add that it corresponds to a Conservation Area appraisal and action plan which states the whole of Smythen Street needs improvement.
A Design & Access statement with the application says: “The application is seeking permission to build nine residential units within the private car park. Located on the edge of the main shopping area the site is close to both sustainable travel and local amenities.
“The proposed application is supported by Exeter City Councils Central Conservation area appraisal and action plan which states the whole of Smythen Street needs improvement and there are a number of opportunities for new buildings and new activities and the rears of 93-98 Fore Street, used for car parking, with its broken gates, wire-mesh fencing and exposed flanks and rear walls of adjacent properties, is an eyesore.”
The statement adds: “The new building looks to blend with the surrounds and also create in a more warehouse style accommodation, being a multi brick finish in brown/grey and red brick construction, and it aims to provide quality living accommodation in a city centre location. The building has been designed to provide privacy to the surrounding developments by ensuring no living area windows directly facing surrounding residential properties.
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“As part of this new construction, there will be ‘under croft’ parking, secure bin and cycle store on a lower ground floor which will be created by slightly reducing the level close to the existing building to meet the road level.
“The new development has looked at providing a modern development of apartments within a area needs upgrading as stated in the councils development plan. We believe the proposal demonstrates that the design have been developed to accord with all the relevant policies at the national and the local level.
“This development will offer quality city accommodation in the form of open market flats seeking to reuse a central site and provide much needed open market accommodation.”
Exeter City Council will determine the fate of the application at a later date.
