Plans submitted for Friends Life site

F&C REIT, on behalf of Friends Life, has submitted a series of planning applications to deliver a major residential-led, mixed-use redevelopment of a vacant and obsolete office complex at Clyst St Mary, near Exeter.

The site, which was previously partly occupied by Friend's Life, will provide over 300 family homes, a 50 acre community park, vastly improved community sports facilities, new offices, a nature reserve and the refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Manor House if the proposals are accepted by East Devon District Council.

In addition, the development would create over 400 construction and 450 long-term jobs in the area.

The scheme represents a comprehensive approach, responding to a challenging site with 170,000 sq ft of obsolete surplus offices, with some buildings having been empty for over seven years. The complex will be entirely vacant as of early 2015. The plans make effective use of previously developed brownfield land, existing buildings and new build homes to provide a modern, sustainable proposal that is designed to link into the existing community. 

Maurice Fitzgerald, Development Director at F&C REIT, commented: "The proposals have evolved following extensive consultations with East Devon District Council and the local community through Public Consultations. The future of this vacant site had been uncertain for some time and it is clear that an alternative strategy is needed. Simply doing nothing is not an option with matters such as security and vandalism being concerns expressed by the local community.

“We have been strongly influenced by listening to the local community, taking the sensitivities of the site into account, in order to create a comprehensive approach to the scheme. This is most evident in our plans for the community park, the use of the listed building and proposals for providing new changing facilities at the sports area.”