Jefferson Sheard Architects have submitted a planning application for a new 150 bedroom Student Accommodation scheme in Exeter, Devon.
Located in the city centre regeneration zone ‘The Grecian Quarter’ the 7 storey development will provide a mix of high quality studio and cluster bedrooms for students attending the nearby University of Exeter.
The site is situated moments from the commercial city centre and is located adjacent to the Bus Station and Bus Depot, both of which are also subject to significant re-development. The proposals see the demolition of a low quality, 2 storey building which occupies the entirety of the development footprint.
The proposed building’s form respects the smaller scale buildings fronting Sidwell Street stepping up to a larger mass contained at the corner of the site and along Bampfylde Street composed through three distinct volumes.
The building’s appearance references the historic architecture of Exeter through the vertical rhythm in the composition of the facades, including deep set and framed windows. A limited palette of materials was selected with brick chosen as the main coverage for the building envelope which again reflects a common building material in the area.
An important consideration in the configuration of the ground floor plan was locating the communal areas so that they directly address Cheeke Street and Bampfylde Street. In doing so the building offers active frontages at street level providing visual engagement from the street with occupants and activities within the building.
Pending a successful planning application, it is anticipated that construction will commence mid/late 2017.