Exeter’s former Royal Clarence building set to return to its former glory

Published: 11 October 2022

Plans to rebuild the city’s historic Royal Clarence building have been welcomed in the city.

Members of the Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for the reconstruction and extension of the building to create a ground floor restaurant, the rebuilding of the former Well House Tavern pub as well as new residential units.

There will be 23 two and three bedroom apartments over five floors with a roof top terrace.

The exterior of the building fronting Cathedral Green will be reconstructed to match the elevations of the former hotel building as closely as possible, including the Royal Clarence lettering, crests and ironwork.

The former Royal Clarence Hotel was badly damaged by a major fire which destroyed much of the site in 2016.

A previous application to restore the building as a hotel was granted planning permission but was deemed economically unviable and new plans were drawn up.

The site has remained behind scaffolding and hoardings since the fire six years ago and has suffered further damage by being exposed to the elements.

The restoration and rebuilding is expected to take at least two years to complete.

Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “The Clarence was well loved by us all here in Exeter and it will be re-loved if these plans come to fruition.

“At the moment it doesn’t look good and it has been like this for a long time. This was a landmark building for all of us and I am so pleased that it will return.

“It is great to think that it will be reinstated with that magnificent white frontage and crest, and this will become a great place to come and socialise, to eat and drink and just be in such a lovely part of the city.”

The Planning Committee meeting can be viewed online