You will have seen that Exeter Civic Society responded to all the different consultations about the Mary Arches Carpark Redevelopment, raising its voice for a sustainable development which will enrich North Street. We find it important that the improvement of this street which takes shape from the top end where it meets Fore Street (restoration of Paternoster House, work on adjacent buildings) will be used to upgrade the whole street. Local businesses have shown interest in this, pointing out that they need an improved footfall by locals and visitors to the city to maintain their business. Local residents we heard from are very concerned about the state of this street which is home to some and a vital route into the city centre for others. The local councillors are all behind improvement plans, and there seems to be interest in ECC and DCC as well. So it really is to bring all these players together and get something started.
The ideas collected last year are summarized in our ‘Vision for the North Street’ document (see link in sidebar) and were basis of an application the three organisation jointly made for an ‘Active Travel England’ innovative funding round, where we were not successful due to a vast number of application handed in. We had applied for this scheme, as it was good timing for us, but we never relied on this. So we are back this year to see what we can do with budget restraints, S106 money from the redevelopment of Mary Arches Multistorey Carparks and other opportunities which might open up in the near future.
So come and join us on the Open Day, where you will find a model of North Street combining the results of previous workshops. You can inform yourself, speak with people involved, add to the model, comment on it and vote for different options. We will be there for you from 10-4.
Impressions from the Charrette on 10 June 2026, preparing the Open Day on 13 June
