Demolition work begins at Exeter’s Rennes House tower block

Demolition work is set to begin at Rennes House in Exeter this week, marking an important milestone in the regeneration of the Whipton Gardens area and paving the way for a new generation of energy-efficient council homes.

The 11-storey tower block, which was built in 1968 and contains 61 flats, has reached the end of its practical lifespan following extensive structural investigations.

Rennes House was constructed using Large Panel System (LPS) methods and, following changes in building safety requirements introduced after the Grenfell tragedy, the cost of bringing the building up to modern standards was deemed financially unviable.

The last residents moved out of Rennes House in November 2024, with many relocating to newly built Passivhaus homes provided by Exeter City Council.

Contractors DDS Group will begin work on site on Monday 7 September. The demolition programme is expected to take around 32 weeks and will start with a comprehensive internal soft strip before the building itself is carefully dismantled.

Once demolition is complete, the site will be redeveloped with two low-rise apartment blocks that complement the existing Whipton Gardens development.

The new scheme will provide around 36 high-quality Passivhaus one and two-bedroom flats, helping to meet local housing needs while supporting the council's commitment to delivering low-carbon homes.

Councillor Yvonne Atkinson, Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for Housing, said: “The start of demolition at Rennes House represents the next stage in the transformation of this site and the wider Whipton Gardens neighbourhood.

“Rennes House was home to many residents over the years, but extensive investigations showed that the building had reached the end of its useful life, and we are now looking ahead to the future.

“The redevelopment of this site will provide new Passivhaus homes that are warm, affordable to heat and environmentally sustainable. Together with the new homes already delivered in Whipton Gardens, this investment will help provide high-quality council housing for current and future generations of Exeter residents.”

The project has received funding support from the Government's Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2).

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