Bus station redevelopment discussed at Civic Society meeting

Published: 4 February 2018

Progress on the planned redevelopment of Exeter Bus Station was discussed during a public meeting in the city on Saturday.

The meeting, organised by Exeter Civic Society, heard an update on plans by the council to build a new bus station and leisure centre at the site.

The current bus station will remain fully open until May, when preliminary works are due on site. After May, it is expected that a number of services will continue operating from the current bus station throughout the time it takes to build its replacement.

Cllr Phil Bialyk, Lead Councillor with Responsibility for Bus Station Redevelopment, told the meeting that the council was preparing to re-tender to secure a main contractor. It is hoped that the main construction works will start on site in the winter, with the brand new bus station and leisure centre opening to the public in the winter of 2020.

A wide variety of suggestions for what new development should be built adjacent to the new bus station and leisure centre were also discussed by members of the public at the meeting.

Cllr Bialyk said: “I was pleased to be asked to speak at this meeting and give an update on the progress of our plans to build a new bus station and leisure centre, which are long overdue and very much needed.

“There were plenty of views expressed at the meeting - and not everybody agreed with me. But I welcomed the opportunity to give an update on where we are, and hear a range of views from people on what they would like to see on the rest on the site in the future.”