Exeter's £20m bid to start bus station
COUNCIL leaders have asked the Government for up to £20m to kick-start the huge redevelopment of Exeter city centre.
The massive project to transform the bus station site would create hundreds of new jobs and breathe new life into a rundown part of the city. The planned £200m transformation of the area includes creating a new swimming pool to replace the Pyramids as well as a hotel, shops, restaurants and food store as well as a new coach station.
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Pete Edwards and Karime Hassan at Exeter bus station. Photo: GRW Photography
Many existing buildings would be demolished to make way for the development.
The city council is due to hear next month if its application to the Government has been successful.
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If the money is not forthcoming other funding sources will continue to be examined to get the scheme off the ground.
A feasibility study is currently being carried out and if the council decides to go ahead there will be a major public consultation ahead of a pre-planning application next spring.
Karime Hassan, one of the city's strategic directors, told the Echo: "We are looking at every funding option to support the growth of the city. If this funding bid is not successful we will continue to explore other sources of finance.
"What we are saying to the Government is you have a legacy of investment in the area – £90m in Cranbrook – and in return you need to build on this and you will get a faster rate of growth than in other areas."
Councillor Pete Edwards, leader of the city council, said the development is the next stage in Exeter's rapid economic growth following the rebuilding of Princesshay and the opening of John Lewis.
He said: "This scheme is so important for Exeter. It is part of our aspiration for the city centre."
Cllr Edwards said a new pool was needed to replace the aging Pyramids. The council wants a new 25m eight-lane competition pool, a 20m four-lane training pool and the option of a spa and an enhanced cafe.
"We have to consider the long-term maintenance costs of the Pyramids," he said.
"The cost of maintenance for such an old pool is not justified. We could spend £2m-plus on it and it still would be less than satisfactory.
"I want this pool to be completely part of the city.
"For example, we should consider opportunities on the public health front. This is an area that is rapidly changing and we should be able to get people referred to the new pool and facilities if they need help with health issues. We should be talking about all of that."
The council wants the scheme to be delivered in two phases.
The first would be the top corner of the site, at the junction of Paris Street and Sidwell Street and opposite John Lewis.
Mr Hassan said: "We don't want to go ahead with one part of the scheme without being confident we can deliver the whole package. That just would not work.
"And this is why we are going to keep up pressure for funding, not just on the Government but we also see a role for the Local Enterprise Partnership to help us unlock funding."
He said the scheme would provide a major jobs boost for the city and surrounding areas.
"The bid to Government states an investment of £8m would provide 1,350 jobs, including 260 in construction," he said.
"Add another £3m and that would provide another 600 jobs.
"All the city's projects would provide 3,100 jobs, including 550 jobs in construction.
"In essence we have oven ready projects providing a great opportunity for growth."
Comments
by raggetyanne
Friday, October 26 2012, 8:51AM
“would love to have a good sized theatre that could bring in major productions, we are missing out on warhorse :( , also a ice rink would be my second choice.”
by deejaytee
Thursday, October 18 2012, 9:18PM
“Of course we need a proper theatre. You have only got to look at the productions at Plymouth's Theatre Royal and Pavillions or Torbay's Princess Theatre to see why people regularly travel there from Exeter.”
by Kirton1
Thursday, October 18 2012, 4:05PM
“Theatre ! why do every always go on about needing a theatre. I don't know anyone who regularly goes to the theatre, only to Panto's over the xmas period. Anyway, its a nice treat to go to London to see a show. (i.e. Lion King great family day out, Rainforest Cafe, Harrods then train home)
Not quite the same, Barnfield theatre, Girafe Cafe, Primark, bus to beacon heath !
If the theatre goers wants a new theatre then they should pay for it, in ticket prices to reflect the full costs needed to build and produce, not the rest of us who have no interest.
If there was a big demand for this in Exeter, why did the Northcott production company go bust, surly not enough money coming in the door, ie, not enough people wanting to visit.
There are two theatres in Exeter already, we do not need another.
But, a Velodrome would be very handy indeed !”
by APExeter
Thursday, October 18 2012, 2:02PM
“lordribeau- I disagree- new shops promote competition- innovation- healthy prices- like any businesses the one's that suffer most from competition are those past their best and no longer fit for purpose (ala JJB, woolworths, hmv, comet). You could argue John Lewis wasn't needed given the 2 department stores already here (plus M&S) but look at the state of Dingles. JL will force Dingles either to close or refurbish and up its game- long overdue..”
by dummyboy
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:30PM
“so a lot of those jobs are temp, and do those others also include the jobs that will be lost from the shops that will close for the redevlopment?”
by lordgribeau
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:28PM
“Exeter doesn't need more shops or even a new Theatre (the Northcott is good for large productions, Bike Shed for small), what it does need is improved flood defences. Urgently.”
by Jamespotters
Thursday, October 18 2012, 12:50PM
“This is a very short sighted scheme proposed for the Paris street bus station.
There is already more than enough shops & restaurants in the city centre, additional ones will only take trade away from existing ones. The present pyramids pool could be redeveloped or built in a cheaper and less commercially viable site away from the centre of the city.
This Paris street site would be ideal to build a good theatre that could attract the national touring theatre production companies. This would bring in greatly needed revenue to our local economy and employment with increased trade for hotels, guest houses,restaurants,winebars, public houses, shops and taxis ! Exeter city centre is crying out for this potential boost to the night time economy !”