West Park Student Residences Project
West Park Student Residences Project
The University is seeking to increase student accommodation on Streatham Campus by building new and refurbished, student living facilities that provide an excellent on-campus living experience and reduces pressure on the University seeking third party accommodation providers in the city.
The West Park Student Residences project is looking at creating a new accommodation in the Clydesdale and Nash area and converting accommodation in the Birks Grange Village area from catered to self-catered.
This will include redeveloping the reception, catered dining halls and the Market Place Village Shop (Birks Grange Central Block) into further accommodation and amenity space including study, social and in-house commercial space. The catered Birks Grange blocks A-E will undergo a refurbishment and will provide modern self-catered accommodation once completed.
UPP has been appointed as the development partner to design, build, fund and operate the new accommodation.
Enhancing biodiversity and ecology in the area is an important aspect of the project. We are working with our development partners UPP to retain much of the mature woodland, plant double the amount of hedgerow that is currently in the area and plant over 200 trees. The new planting will include a mix of seasonal species to enhance biodiversity, and wildlife habitats will be greatly improved, including the installation of bat, bird and hedgehog boxes, and wood and stone piles to provide further habitats.
The project is subject to final University Council approval before construction will start on site.
The Reserved Matters Planning Application for the project (ref: 22/1746/RES) was approved by Exeter City Council at a planning committee meeting in June 2023. This follows the scheme being granted Outline Planning consent (ref: 20/1684/OUT) in September 2021. A Minor Material Amendment to the planning application was approved in May 2024 (24/0184/VOC), the details of the amendment are in the tab below.
We have been considering adjustments to the design of Birks Block (A-E) and we have submitted a new planning application for this Block, which proposes less alterations to the exterior of the building than the approved 2023 planning application. You can view and comment on the planning application on Exeter City Council’s website (the application reference number is: 24/1534/FUL), visit: https://publicaccess.exeter.gov.uk/online-applications/
As with all University estate projects, mitigation measures are put in place to minimise dust and noise from a construction site where possible. We work with contractors that are part of the Considerate Constructors scheme, to ensure they have high standards in managing risks, protecting the environment and positive relationships with the local community. This project will be registered with the Considerate Constructors scheme and monitored in accordance with the scheme's code of considerate practice.
West Park Information sessions
The University and UPP hold public information sessions for local residents to find out more the project.
The last information session took place on Thursday 7 March 2024.
If you would like to come along to the next session and be kept up-to-date on the project, please sign up to our mailing list via the registration form here.
Project update
Next steps
We are currently working closely with our partners UPP to discuss the programme and timescales for the project going forward.
The project is subject to final University Council approval before construction will start on site. We expect to start construction on site in summer 2025 (subject to change).
The relocation of the Grounds Compound to the top of Rennes Drive is currently under review. We will share details when we have a future plan and programme for these sites.
Essential road resurfacing is taking place at Birks Grange Village from Monday 23 June to Friday 4 June. The main reception at Birks will remain open. Please follow footpath and road diversions, and take care in the area. The works will create ongoing noise while the road surface is remove and re-laid. Thank you for your patience during this time.
If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch with the project team at WestPark@exeter.ac.uk
Contact us
If you have any queries or questions about the project please email WestPark@exeter.ac.uk and we will get back to you.