Exeter secures £6m funding to help deliver new homes

Published: 12 October 2021

Exeter has secured nearly £6 million of government funding for innovative housing projects in the city.

The Exeter funding is part of a £8.4 million government package for regeneration projects throughout Devon and Torbay.

The Devon and Torbay One Public Estate Partnership has received £7,056,470 of Brownfield Land Release Funding (BLRF), and £1,360,474 of Self and Custom Build Grant funding to help drive economic recovery.

Councils are supported through the One Public Estate programme to deliver initiatives which create economic growth by unlocking land for new homes and jobs; providing new opportunities to save on running costs or generating income funding; or transforming services.

The Devon & Torbay One Public Estate partnership is made up of 10 local authorities (Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Torbay Council, Torridge District Council and West Devon Borough Council) as well as the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Devon & Cornwall Police, the NHS, South Western Ambulance Service, and the Government's Homes and Communities Agency.

Exeter City Council has been awarded £5,966,470 for the following sites. The money will be used to create homes on the following brownfield sites:

• Cathedral and Quay Car Park
• Mary Arches Car Park
• Bonhay Meadows 
• Belle Isle
• Exeter Canal Basin

Councillor Laura Wright, Deputy Leader of Exeter City Council, said: “This is excellent news for Exeter. This funding will help kick-start some very innovative housing projects which have been identified for key strategic sites in Exeter.

“We need to create more quality homes in the city but, to protect the greenfield ridges surrounding Exeter, we need to prioritise building on previously developed brownfield sites. So it is excellent news that the funding is now in place to further progress these important schemes.”

Torbay Council is receiving £675,000 for the redevelopment of Brixham town centre multi-storey car park and £415,000 to carry out groundworks at Torre Marine.

Other local authorities to benefit from the funding include, Teignbridge District Council, who will receive the following funds from The Self and Custom Build Grant for:

• Howton Fields -  £585,474
• Orchard Lane - £275,000  

North Devon Council will receive £500,000 from the same grant to fund a scheme at the Bicclescombe depot.