Exeter’s Shipping Future at Stake as Major Development Plans Unfold

Exciting yet controversial plans for new housing in Exeter could impact the city’s maritime future and shipbuilding activities

Exeter’s Shipping Future at Stake as Major Development Plans Unfold
Exeter’s Shipping Future at Stake as Major Development Plans Unfold

Exeter: The future of shipbuilding and maritime activities in Exeter is hanging in the balance. There’s a big housing project on the table that could change everything.

Next Monday, the city council’s planning committee will meet to discuss the next steps for a development at Water Lane, right by the Quay. They’re looking at building up to 1,000 new homes, which could range from student digs to fancy apartments with water views.

But not everyone is on board with this plan. There are loads of objections, and the report for the committee is a hefty 120 pages long. The Water Lane Development Management Company wants to tear down some old buildings, including a meat rendering plant, to make way for new homes, shops, cafes, and even a hotel.

They’re also planning to build a new bridge over the canal and get rid of an old trawler that’s been sitting there for years. The whole project is expected to cost over £400 million, and they’ll need to spend £30 million just to prepare the site.

This land has been marked for housing in Exeter’s local plan for two decades. However, Historic England is worried about how tall the new buildings will be, and local NHS providers are already stretched thin.

The Exeter Port Authority insists that part of the area must remain available for launching large boats. They believe that while commercial use has slowed down, it’s still important to keep access to the water for future maritime activities.

Groups like the Friends of Exeter Ship Canal are concerned that this development could wipe out the shipyard and limit any future maritime-related jobs. Meanwhile, the Inland Waterways Association argues that keeping the wharf for maritime use could actually create new skills and job opportunities in Exeter.

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Mangesh Wakchaure is a skilled journalist who loves writing about current events and social issues, offering fresh and thoughtful insights in every story.