College seeks views on property masterplan to invest £70 million into education

Exeter College is seeking the views of the community into a proposed masterplan which will invest £70 million into education – to meet the ambitions of the city of Exeter and the wider region.

The mission of the college is to shape the future of education by delivering excellence in all aspects of its work in order realise the ambitions of its learners, city and region.

Under the plans, the college is working to meet the ambitions of the city of Exeter, the region and the local community served by the college, together with meeting needs of world-class employers and the skills required within their workforce.

As highlighted by Exeter Live Better, Exeter is now one of the UK’s most successful cities as a brilliant alternative, on so many measures.

The masterplan – which would ultimately see the college’s Tower Block in Hele Road replaced by a lower building – has been drawn up as the outstanding college continues to play its role in building the city’s knowledge economy.

The college is holding an exhibition into the proposals and is inviting feedback from the public before taking the plans further.

The masterplan builds on the college’s considerable multi-million-pound investment in outstanding facilities across the city in recent years, including a new Advanced Engineering Centre, supported by the LEP, Maths and Science Centre, Sports Hall, and 3G pitch for community use. The college is currently investing in a new gym and dance studio.

The first stage of the masterplan is a proposal for a new South West Institute of Technology building, which will help put the region at the forefront of digital technology learning across the UK, next to the current Hele building.

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “Exeter College is seeking the views of people in Exeter and beyond about our plans for the future – which could see, over time, around £70 million invested in education in the city.

“Exeter College has been based in and around Hele Road in the city centre since it was founded, as the first tertiary college in England, in 1970, when it had around 6,000 post-16 students.

“The college today caters for almost twice as many students as it did back then, and has developed a number of new facilities in the city centre and beyond.

“To meet the ambition of the vibrant city of Exeter, the region and the local community we serve, together with meeting needs of world class employers and the skills required within their workforce, we are looking at how we meet these demands.

“We value the important role we play in Exeter and Devon, and the sustained partnerships we have been fortunate to develop.

“Above all, we are proud to be part of the local community and that is why we are so keen to hear the views of our community and the city about our plans for the future.”

Steve Campion, Vice Principal (Finance and Business Operations), Exeter College, added: “Working with planning experts and some of the region’s leading architects we have drawn up a masterplan, showing how we could redevelop the Hele Road site in stages in the coming years.

“Before we submit this masterplan for planning consideration, we’d like to seek the views of the people of the city, and our neighbours in particular, hence our open invitation to our masterplan exhibition, which will feature details of our plans.”

The exhibition is being held in the college on Thursday 17th January 3.30pm to 7pm in the Tower Block.