West Park Student Residences Project
New West Park Student Residences
Demolition of Clydesdale Court
Demolition of Clydesdale
Birdseye view of bridge and courtyard
West Park Student Residences Project
The University is increasing student accommodation on Streatham Campus by building new and refurbished, student living facilities that provide an excellent on-campus living experience and reduces pressure on the University seeking third party accommodation providers in the city.
The West Park Student Residences project is creating new accommodation in the Clydesdale and Nash area and converting accommodation in the Birks Grange Village area from catered to self-catered.
This will include redeveloping the reception, catered dining halls and the Market Place Village Shop (Birks Grange Central Block) into further accommodation and amenity space including study, social and in-house commercial space. The catered Birks Grange blocks A-E will undergo a refurbishment and will provide modern self-catered accommodation once completed.
UPP has been appointed as the development partner to design, build, fund and operate the new accommodation.
Enhancing biodiversity and ecology in the area is an important aspect of the project. We are working with our development partners UPP to retain much of the mature woodland, plant double the amount of hedgerow that is currently in the area and plant over 200 trees. The new planting will include a mix of seasonal species to enhance biodiversity, and wildlife habitats will be greatly improved, including the installation of bat, bird and hedgehog boxes, and wood and stone piles to provide further habitats.
The Reserved Matters Planning Application for the project (ref: 22/1746/RES) was approved by Exeter City Council at a planning committee meeting in June 2023. This follows the scheme being granted Outline Planning consent (ref: 20/1684/OUT) in September 2021. A Minor Material Amendment to the planning application was approved in May 2024 (24/0184/VOC), the details of the amendment are in the tab below.
We have made adjustments to the design of Birks Block (A-E) and a new planning application for this Block was approved by Exeter City Council’s (24/1534/FUL).
We are working closely with UPP and their contractors Bouygues UK to plan the works and to minimise disruption to colleagues, students and visitors where possible. Bouygues UK are part of the Considerate Constructors scheme, which ensures they have high standards in managing risks, protecting the environment and positive relationships with the local community. This project will be registered with the Considerate Constructors scheme and monitored in accordance with the scheme's code of considerate practice.
Construction work has begun in the Clydesdale, Nash and Birks Grange Village area of Streatham Campus this summer 2025.
We expect students to move in to Phase One of the new accommodation by September 2027, and Phase Two by September 2028.
West Park Public Information Sessions
The University and UPP hold public information sessions for local residents to find out more the project.
If you would like to be kept up to date on the project, please sign up to our mailing list.
Project update
Next steps
Construction work has begun in the Clydesdale, Nash and Birks Grange Village area of Streatham Campus on the West Park Student Residences project
UPP and their contractors Bouygues UK have started the demolition of the buildings in the Clydesdale and Nash area and they will begin in the Birks Grange Village area soon. They are continuing to install hoarding around the site and complete service diversions. A number of footpaths and roads in the area will be closed or diverted.
Holland Hall car park and the majority of the car parking in the Clydesdale and Nash area, on Clydesdale Avenue and in front of Birks Grange A-E are now closed for the duration of the project. Alternative staff permitted car park spaces on Streatham Campus can be found here. Accessible car park spaces will continue to be available at the back of Mardon Hall, and cycle parking will be unaffected in the area.
Clydesdale Avenue, from Clydesdale House to Grafton Road, is now closed to vehicles. Please find an alternative route and follow footpath diversions for your safety. A new footpath is being created below Clydesdale Avenue in the arboretum area in the coming weeks.
On-street parking on Streatham Drive is closed to construct a new footpath. Some of the on-street car parking bays will reopen once the footpath is complete and some parking bays will remain closed to support safety in the area during the project.
Barriers and signage will be in place throughout the works. Please follow all health and safety signage in the area. Below is a map of the West Park development area.
If you have any questions about the project, please get in touch with the project team at WestPark@exeter.ac.uk
Construction lookahead
Below are details of the construction work taking place for the next two weeks:
Please note, the dates and information are updated regularly but are subject to change at short notice, due to weather conditions and working with external contractors.
The construction work is taking place during normal working hours, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and may also occur on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.
|
Date |
Details |
Noise levels |
|
Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 December |
The demolition, transportation and crushing of rubble around the Clydesdale area will continue, creating ongoing medium to high noise in the area. Groundwork preparations will continue in the Nash Grove tennis court and Clydesdale Rise area, causing a medium level of noise. The current pedestrian route to the top section of Clydesdale Avenue will be diverted for trenching works and managed by traffic marshals. This will continue over the weekend. Excavation works will be taking place at Birks Grange Central Block to prepare for piling mat installation and drainage diversions. There will be an increase in vehicles on site. This is expected to cause a medium level of noise. Removal of internal materials will continue in Birks A-E Block. This will create a low level of noise. Hoarding installation continues across Birks Grange Village. The final set up of site cabins in Holland Hall car park will be taking place. The internal fit out will be taking place over the weekend. The fencing for the temporary contractor’s car park at Higher Hoopern Lane, on the grass area near Car Park B, is due to commence this week. |
Medium to High
|
|
Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 December |
Weekend work will take place between 8am-6pm. The current pedestrian route to the top section of Clydesdale Avenue will be diverted for trenching works and managed by traffic marshals. The final set up of site cabins in Holland Hall car park will be taking place. |
Low to Medium |
|
Monday 8 to Friday 12 |
The demolition, transportation and crushing of rubble around the Clydesdale area will be taking place, creating ongoing medium to high noise in the area. Groundwork preparations will continue in the Nash Grove tennis court and Clydesdale Rise area, causing a medium level of noise. Trenching work will be ongoing near the top section of Clydesdale Avenue. The current pedestrian route will be diverted and managed by traffic marshals. Excavation works will continue at Birks Grange Central Block to install a piling mat and drainage diversions. There will be an increase in vehicles on site. This is expected to cause a medium level of noise. Removal of internal materials will continue in Birks A-E Block. This will create a low level of noise. Hoarding installation continues across Birks Grange Village. |
Medium to High
|
We thank you for your patience and cooperation during the construction of the new student accommodation on campus.
Contact us
If you have any queries or questions about the project please email WestPark@exeter.ac.uk and we will get back to you.
If there are any urgent issues on site, please contact the site manager Amber Gratton-Davey on 07345479453.