Empty shops in the centre of Exeter could be put back into use as part of a project to make the city centre more ‘animated’.
Driving down the amount of anti-social behaviour is also part of the new five-year plan for the heart of the city.
Six ambitious ‘themes’ make up the new strategy to shape the future of Exeter’s city centre.
The city council has just launched an online survey as part of its consultations into the new strategy, which will shape the heart of the city for the next five years.
The aim is to bring together communities, businesses, stakeholders and the council itself to reinforce what the council says is one of the best city centres in the UK.
The six themes, which emerged from workshops and previous online consultation, are:
Appearance and cleanliness
The latest strategy ‘action plan’ stresses the importance of the city’s parks, gardens and trees which make it more attractive, benefit nature and improve climate resilience.
Key actions will include better street cleaning and litter removal, more planters, more greenery and more street decorations.
Safety, accessibility and wellbeing
The aim is a city centre that is inclusive, welcoming and safe around the clock. Police and other agencies will work to reduce anti-social behaviour, and there will be improvements to lighting and CCTV around the city centre.
Measures will be taken to make the area more accessible to people with limited mobility.
A vibrant daytime and night-time economy
Vacant shops will be brought back into use to make the city feel ‘animated’ around the clock.
The strategy says: “The city will be a magnet for businesses attracting and retaining entrepreneurs, students and young people, fostering innovation and entrepreneurialism.”
Attracting more people from outside the city will increase Exeter’s catchment area, and there will be increased promotion of performing arts and events.
Destination Offer
A new cultural strategy will build on Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature status by promoting public art, performance and festivals. Building on the Visit Exeter branding will increase the number of visitors to the city.
The number of business events will also be increased, and there will be better signage and mapping around the city centre.
City centre living
The aim, says the new strategy, is that ‘the city will be recognised nationally and globally as a liveable city that puts wellbeing centre stage. There will be a greater choice of housing options and improved affordability’.
Large-scale brownfield developments are in the pipeline.
Connectivity of the city centre
“Exeter will be easy and pleasurable to move around,” says the strategy. Pedestrian and cycle connections will be improved, along with public transport hubs.
Cutting the number of road traffic accidents is one of the targets, while city centre car parking also remains a priority.
For more details click engage.exeter.gov.uk/exeter-city-centre-strategy
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