Agenda and minutes

Venue: Guildhall, High Street, Exeter

Contact: Sarah Selway, Democratic Services Manager (Committees)  Telephone 01392 265275 or email  sarah.selway@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Committee Membership

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the following appointments be agreed:-

 

Portfolio Holder for Customer Access

 

Councillor Morse to replace Councillor Morris

 

Scrutiny Committee – Community

 

Chair – Councillor Wardle

Councillor Morris to replace Councillor Morse.

 

2.

Planning Application No. 15/0791/01 - Bus and Coach Station Re-development Area, Paris Street, Exeter pdf icon PDF 590 KB

To consider the report of the Assistant Director City Development.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor explained that, due to the level of public interest in the planning application, it had been decided to permit public speaking at the meeting as was the practice at Planning Committees and that five objectors and four supporters would present their cases.

 

She handed over to Councillor Bialyk, the Chair of the Planning Committee, who explained the format of and conduct for the meeting.

 

The Assistant Director City Development and the Principal Project Manager (Development) (HS) presented the application for Demolition of existing buildings at Exeter Bus & Coach Station, no. 188 Sidwell Street & nos 1-29 (odds) Paris Street for a comprehensive retail-leisure led mixed use development comprising Use Classes A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 [retail including food & drink uses], D2 [assembly & leisure] & including a new Leisure Centre & new Bus Station, with associated access landscaping and public realm works.

 

The Devon County Council Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment was also present to advise on highways matters.

 

The Assistant Director, in defining the site and proposal, advised that it was an outline planning application for retail and leisure led mixed use development with all matters reserved. He reported that the application was accompanied by a Design and Access statement and three parameters plans showing extent of site and uses, access and circulation routes, and building heights. The proposals involved the demolition of existing buildings at Exeter Bus and Coach Station, 188 Sidwell Street and 1-29 (odds) Paris Street.

 

The scheme would provide a new mixed use development of up to 27,547 square metres (sqm) of new floorspace and for the demolition of 7195 sqm of existing floorspace. It is proposed that the scheme include between 5,000 and 11,000 sqm of Class A1 (retail), between 5,000 and 9,500 sqm of Class A3 (restaurants and cafes), a total maximum of 750 sqm of A2, A4 and A5 (financial services, drinking establishments and hot food takeaways), between 1,300 sqm and 4720 sqm of D2 (assembly and leisure) and between 5,500 and 6,100 sqm floorspace for the leisure centre and 760 sqm for the bus station building with associated access, landscaping and public realm works.

 

The Principal Project Manager (Development) set out the following key issues:-

 

Principle of use

 

A City Centre location was considered appropriate for a mix of quality retail, dining and leisure, the latter including a cinema and swimming pool and was in accordance with the Development Plan.

 

Closure of Paris Street and package of highway works

 

The closure of Paris Street to vehicular traffic between Dix’s Field and High Street and the laying out of this as a public open space was necessary to provide a better link between the High Street and Princesshay and the bus station and considered essential to viability. In order to mitigate effects on park and ride buses using Paris Street, a bus lane would be created with a turning area in Dix’s field together with stops. Additional proposals for New North Road, Longbrook Street, York Road, Bampfylde Street, Cheeke  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.