Staff at John Lewis discuss plans for redevelopment of Exeter Bus Station

Published: 30 September 2016

Staff at Exeter’s prestigious John Lewis store discussed plans for the redevelopment of the city’s bus station site with a leading councillor.

Cllr Phil Bialyk, who is overseeing Exeter City Council’s plans to create a state-of-the-art new leisure complex and new bus station, spoke to the store’s partners on Friday.

Members of the Project Design Team also attended the store to talk about details of the plans and answer questions.

Cllr Bialyk explained the council’s plans to build a new bus station and St Sidwell’s Point leisure complex. Work is due to begin next year.

He also highlighted plans by Crown Estate to create Princesshay Leisure, an extension of Princesshay, with new shops, cafes, restaurants, a cinema and public open space at the site.

Cllr Bialyk, Exeter’s lead councillor for Sport and Health and Wellbeing, said St Sidwell’s Point would be a stunning new addition to the city’s leisure offering.

And he said the new bus station would be a major improvement on the current facility, which is tired and dated, and lacking in accessibility.

John Lewis staff were told that temporary arrangements for bus users, including covered stands, would be place before the end of March 2017, when the current bus station is set to close.

Cllr Phil Bialyk speaks to staff at John Lewis

The temporary arrangements will then remain in place until the new bus station opens in the winter of 2018.

Cllr Bialyk said: “It is great to talk to people at events like this and hear what they have to say about the plans. The response was very positive, and people are excited about what is coming to Exeter.”