Car park plans for old coach station are scrapped

Plans to convert the demolished bus and coach station in Exeter into a temporary car park have been scrapped after the site has been left empty for more than two years.

The old station site, next to the new St Sidwell's Point leisure centre, was closed in 2021 and the station demolished in March 2024.

Labour leader Phil Bialyk said in 2024 the demolition had paved the way for "significant future redevelopment" with a plan for a temporary car park thought to be an easy way of earning money while plans were drawn up.

However, the cost of converting the land into a car park has proved too steep and Green Party councillors have said the site should instead be used as a market and community space.

A meeting of the full council heard members had previously approved a budget of £75,000 to create a temporary car park.

However, the costs had more than doubled after consultations with the county council, meaning it was no longer financially viable.

The project has now been removed from the council's capital programme and other options are being considered.

Bialyk said the city would not "pour money down the drain" on the car park project, but would conduct a feasibility study into other potential uses.

He said: "That's not throwing it into the long grass, but we have to go through the correct process to make sure that we're spending the money and doing everything correctly."

Lynn Wetenhall, Green councillor for Newtown and St Leonards, said: "This is one of the most important sites in Exeter, sitting at the heart of the city centre, and it has stood empty for far too long.

"Residents are entitled to ask a simple question – if everyone now agrees the site has huge potential, why is there still no timetable for making something happen?"

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