THE PACE of economic and population growth in Exeter accelerated in recent years to the point where it has seen the third highest growth in jobs in the country. Importantly, this has not been at the cost of the city's undoubted environmental advantages. Despite current difficulties, expansion of the Exeter sub-regional economy is to continue over the next two decades with planned developments currently making good progress. Central to this strategy will be continuing to secure a balance between jobs, housing, transportation and environmental impact on the sub-region.
Housing & Infrastructure
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Exeter town centre plans |
The Exeter growth area is expected to deliver 28,500 new homes, a significant number of which will be provided as a strategic urban extension of the City in neighbouring East Devon. Since 2007 Exeter City Council, East Devon District Council and Devon County Council have entered into a formal partnership with the Government to deliver this growth agenda and the Exeter and East Devon New Growth Point represents a successful coming together of the local authorities to meet the housing and employment needs of the sub-region. It is anticipated that some 28,500 new jobs will be created in the travel to work area by 2026.
Science & Innovation Exeter established itself as a fast growing economy prior to the recession as well as successfully regenerating its city centre with the award winning Princeshay development. The city has also developed as a strong base for science and knowledge. In the last 12 months, the University of Exeter has consolidated its position as a major research university. Prior to that, the success of the university has played a key role in attracting international organisations to Exeter, such as the headquarters of the Met Office. |
The 24 hectare Exeter Science Park is being developed in partnership with the Met Office, the University of Exeter, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Devon County Council and the South West RDA. The park will offer extensive new facilities encouraging enterprise, science and research and development related activities, as well as offering high quality space for businesses ranging from start-ups to major corporate headquarters. The University’s Innovation Centre is seen as having made a major contribution to ‘preparing the ground’ for the science park.
Devon County Council has also signed a joint venture partnership with St Modwen to deliver 40 hectares of high quality business space called Skypark. This business district will provide 1.4million sq. ft. of office and industrial/manufacturing space.
Exeter International Airport has expanded dramatically in the last decade and now serves over 50 destinations in 22 countries including three hubs with extensive world- wide links. The airport is also home to the new multi-million pound Flybe-sponsored training centre, currently under construction, which will reinforce its engineering and other training capacity in Exeter.
Sustainability
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Together with these strategic employment sites and improvements to major transport routes, the vision is to create truly sustainable communities linking housing at Cranbrook and also urban extensions at the eastern and south western edges of the city, directly to major new employment locations. The key projects in the east of Exeter area contribute to realising the sustainability ambitions of the partners. Skypark and the Science Park are intending to create skilled employment opportunities in high quality internal and external working environments, accommodating staff in low or zero carbon buildings with sustainable transport links to Cranbrook, Exeter city centre and other parts of the city. The intermodal rail freight handling facility, with a new rail head, goods yard and warehousing facilities, has the potential for major reduction in the transportation of goods by heavy goods vehicles, and transfers to more environmentally-friendly alternatives. These new developments in and to the east of Exeter have a significant and potentially complementary demand for energy that may provide the opportunity for energy solutions, at a scale that would not be viable if each site was considered separately. |
Exeter Science Park |
Progress
Progress is real. Resolutions to grant outline planning permission have been passed for both the Science Park and Skypark and planning consent for the intermodal freight terminal has also been granted. Detailed work to deliver these developments is well advanced.
For further information on the Exeter economy please see their featured listing, or contact Richard Ball, Head of Economy and Tourism, Exeter City Council. Email: richard.ball@exeter.gov.uk
