Cheesy Tuesdays used to be a staple of Exeter’s nightlife. Hosted by the now shut Unit 1, they offered an alternative to Timepiece or Fever. However, most of the student body would probably not remember them now, as Unit 1 shut their doors at the end of 2023. Since then, the building has remained empty, but for the first time there are now plans to put in new student housing.
The student housing crisis is not a new topic, many students feel panic in their first term trying to find somewhere to live for the upcoming year. Additionally, the number of undergraduate students being accepted into Exeter has been slowly rising. In the last five years, there has been almost a four per cent increase in undergraduates admitted to the University. This slow but steady increase has been putting pressure on the student housing market. This has been shown on campus accommodation too, with new developments being built such as East Park and the Moberly expansion.
However, after first year, the majority of students move into private accommodation, most of which falls under student houses or flats made specifically for students. Many of these student flats already exist across the city, such as The Printworks, Hope Hall, and Trust House.
Now a new development is being considered on the old Unit 1 site. This is not the only new set of student accommodation being built in the city. Previously, Exeposé reported that a new student accommodation had been approved in the space next to John Lewis. This approval came with some backlash from residents who thought this could lead to even more students in the city; Tammy Palmer, the Lib Dem councillor for Duryard and St James stated that the “residents have simply had enough” in regards to the number of students living in the city.
Students do take up lots of the housing throughout the city. If you walk through some of the roads closest to the University and city centre during non-term time, you’ll find the roads mostly empty. However, during term time, the streets are full of parked cars.
However, could these student style flats decrease the number of students living in privately rented homes and open up these houses for local residents? The developers for the Unit 1 housing project seem to think so. The current plan for this project is to build a six-storey building with 180 studio flats for students. The housing will also include shared spaces such as a gym, courtyard, and laundry facilities. The public consolation for these plans took place last summer. The plans were also changed from seven-storeys to six so as not to overshadow nearby homes.
The development of these new student homes seems to be greatly needed to accommodate the rising student population, while also making sure locals have access to housing.
