Regeneration for new generations

The University of Exeter is one of the top academic and research institutions in the UK and attracts people from far and wide. This, together with the growing number of international students flocking to the historical city each year, means demand for top-quality accommodation is high.

As land owner and developer of one of the city’s prime development sites within the Grecian Quarter regeneration area, we repositioned student accommodation in Exeter with our Belgrave Road scheme.

The scheme features a distinctive pitched roof design that echoes the city’s rich architectural heritage.  Set around a large central landscaped private courtyard, the scheme rose to eight storeys, providing 601 bedrooms comprising a mixture of apartments, studio-style living and cluster accommodation alongside a range of onsite facilities and amenities. At ground floor the retail space includes a mix of shops, restaurants and bars which form a key part of Exeter’s continuing regeneration and ambitious growth plans.

Student accommodation has come a long way in the last decade and The Depot is at the forefront of modern student living, offering residents expertly designed accommodation, well specified amenities, multi-functional communal areas and private open space.

Construction completed during 2020 and achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating for the sustainability credentials of the buildings and contributed to Mace winning ‘Developer of the Year’ in the student accommodation sector at the 2021 Property Week awards.

The Depot was sold to Ares Generation during 2021 as part of a £157.5m student asset portfolio sale, the quality of the development and its lettings performance being reflected in its high valuation.