Designing bottom-up for East Gate: an afternoon of collecting and discussing ideas of the area between the old bus station, the Civic Centre estate, Paris Street and Sidwell Street

Saturday 17th October at 13:30-16:30
Positive Light Projects, 184-187 Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6RD
This public engagement event organised by Exeter Civic Society will bring people with an interest in this area, from businesses, residents, to local councillors and organisations together to start a conversation about how to develop what the emerging Exeter Plan called 'East Gate' and wants to see developed into a new vibrant quarter of the city. So far developers have very much shaped the re-development of this area, alongside the major investments of Sidwell Point Centre and the new bus station. The few remaining sites should - in our opinion - now bring in the grassroot voices more into focus in a bottom-up rather than a top-down development approach. If there is appetite for locals and the public to engage, this event can be the start of a joint journey to promote a grass-rote vision.

We list some starting ideas for the workshop here, but it will be open to all kind of new ideas.

The shop units in Paris Street and on the southern side of Sidwell Street look as is they are filling up with independent traders, a development we were told is the primary focus of the new lease holder of most of these units, the Frazer Group. We think this is an exciting opportunity to further diversify the retail and hospitality mix in the city centre, as these businesses attract a different kind of customer base. Is this what the local community wants? And if so, what can be done to support this vision instead of knocking it all down and start with a potentially much taller and massive development?

Further east in Sidwell Street, buildings have two floors of residential living on top of the shop units. Can something like this be achieved here? The buildings have lacked investment for decades and the upper floors would need renovation and change of use. But this could secure much needed affordable and social rent residential homes in this central location of the city centre.

The remainder of the former bus station was earmarked for an interim use as a carpark. As even this proved too costly, can we now think ‘bold’ again for this area? Next to the new bus station and the leisure centre, it might be an idea to create a ‘plaza’, an open space with a big fountain for people to meet, markets to be held, events to take place – very much in the centre of Exeter. People say they miss such a place to hang out, enjoy a market atmosphere with good public transport connections to bring in the people from further afield, and to attract outdoor events.

The Civic Centre buildings will see Exeter City Council moving out. What to do next with this site? Residential living for crucial service workers is missing in the city centre. Could this be a site to add these to the mix of the new occupants of what is thought to be a vibrant new quarter?

Is the Paris Street roundabout fit for purpose? Can the roads around the site be more pedestrian focused? How can pedestrian links across Western Way be improved?

How can a sense of arrival be created at the bus station?

 

More details about the event tba closer to the time.

Frasers Group Paris Street and Sidwell Street leaseholds after Princesshay sale. Source: Exeter City Council.

 

Replacement Citypoint redevelopment scheme drawing from 2018. Source: Exeter City Council.