UK: Amended plans for a coliving development in Exeter have been refused by planners.
The first planning application, submitted by Sussex-based developer Shopland Gray Developments Ltd in July 2023, was for 101 studio apartments in Victoria Road. However, the scheme was reduced after Exeter City Council (ECC) planning officers said the scheme was “overbearing” and “bland” and they were unlikely to support it.
The new application sought to demolish a disused garage and Victorian villa in the St James area, and build 89 apartments across three blocks, varying in size from three to five storeys.
The updated plans were refused last week by ECC with five reasons given under the following headers:
• Neighbour amenity
• Harm to character
• Occupant amenity
• External lighting impacts
• Absence of S106 agreement
Relating to the impact on the area, the refusal notice said: “The height, massing and positioning of the proposed development will create unacceptable amenity impacts to neighbouring properties, with particular reference to the over bearing presence and dominance on rear gardens serving dwellings on Prospect Place and overbearing presence and privacy impacts on 77 to 80 Victoria Street.”
Concerns were also raised about the quality of the accommodation. The notice added: “The development is considered to provide inadequate amenity space for occupants both internally and externally due to disjointed layout, conflicting information on private spaces and access, sunlight/daylight provision to internal and external areas, unacceptable outlook from ground/ first floor south-east facing and ground floor central element rooms, poor natural light and ventilation in corridors and internal amenity spaces and conflict on emergency escape routes.
Cllr Tammy Palmer, who led the campaign with local residents, said: “This is the right outcome for this proposal. This site was never appropriate for such a large development; the height and general design completely overshadowed existing homes and it would have dramatically reduced the quality of life for many residents.”
Her subsequent comments demonstrated the image and understading problem coliving has among local planners: “The whole concept of coliving is questionable; it is unaffordable, does not provide a long term home for residents, and we must have clearer polices on co-living in Exeter moving forward.”
