York architects mastermind go - ahead for major Exeter housing development
The award-winning York-based architects brown + company have won approval for a major housing project in Exeter.
Plans to build more than 800 studios and student flats at a gateway site on the edge of the city centre have finally been given the green light by planners.
A total of 399 student flats and 414 co-living studios will be constructed in buildings up to six storeys high on the brownfield site of the old police station and magistrates' court on Heavitree Road.
Previous plans for the site - owned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and which has been derelict since 2021 - were originally refused by councillors and then on appeal because of fears they would harm the character of the area.
Now Exeter City Council's planning committee approved brown + company’s designs for the project by eight votes to two.
Rob Miller of brown + company, who designed the new plans, commented: “This is tremendous news. We were acutely aware of the sensitivity of the site and the reasons for previous refusals, so we needed to create a masterplan which both respected the character of the surrounding area and fulfilled our development brief.
“So, in collaboration with landscape architects Oobe, we have designed a high-quality, inclusive and accessible community. Situated to the east of Exeter’s city centre, opposite the historic St Luke’s College campus, this major development has been carefully planned to combine thoughtful architecture with comprehensive master-planning.”
Within the plans, the student flats and co-living units will be spread over seven blocks to be built on the site, which has been empty since 2021. The co-living units are rental studios aimed at young professionals with shared kitchen, lounge and workspace facilities. The site will be "car-free" with 448 bicycle spaces and 20 per cent of the units will be affordable.
Rob Miller explained the background to this landmark planning decision, saying: “In early 2024, we were commissioned by developers Nixon Homes and NCO (Seven) to lead a new vision for the site after a previous proposal was refused on appeal. The new scheme addresses key concerns from the rejected application—primarily around scale, site coverage, and local character. From the outset, we engaged with council officers, local councillors and the wider public to ensure a more contextually sensitive and community-focused approach.
“This focussed approach has paid dividends. Although the site lies outside a designated conservation area, it borders the Summerlands and Mont Le Grand Conservation Areas and sits opposite the locally listed St Luke’s College. It is also adjacent to residential properties along its northern and western boundaries, while Heavitree Road and Gladstone Road—two busy thoroughfares—define its southern and eastern edges.”
The scheme delivers over 10% biodiversity net gain through native planting and the addition of more than 150 new trees. The landscaping strategy creates a variety of outdoor spaces for both public use and resident enjoyment. For instance, the student courtyard is divided into two zones: one is an open, adaptable area for events, activities, and food trucks, while the other offers a quieter, more contemplative setting for relaxation and socialising.
In the past year brown + company, which also has offices in Manchester and Edinburgh, has built up a strong portfolio of leisure, educational, heritage, commercial and residential developments. These include projects at St Peter’s School, Aparthotel Micklegate, 23 Piccadilly, 4-6 Parliament Street and the Mount Royale in York alone.
For further information, please visit www.brownandcompany.uk
