New "park and change" site opens in Exeter
People now have the option to park up and travel into the city by bus, car sharing, or by bike
The new "park and change" site at Exeter Science Park has officially opened.
The £2.24 million facility on the eastern edge of the city has 300 parking bays, enabling people to park up and travel the final part of their journey into Exeter or the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone by bus, car sharing or switching to cycle.
A shared footpath and cyclepath on Anning Drive connects the park and change site to the growing E4 cycle route, which the County Council has been developing in recent years and when complete will eventually link development to the east of Exeter with the city centre.
The first 2.5 miles of the route towards the city is in place, keeping walkers and cyclists separate from traffic on a level route with minimal crossings.
The route also extends east as a shared use path towards Cranbrook linking to major employment sites such as SkyPark, Amazon, Lidl and Exeter Airport.
High security cycle lockers are available to rent at the park and change site to enable people to leave their bikes overnight.
A Co-Bikes electric bike hire dock will be installed at the site later this year.
Although the site itself won’t offer a dedicated bus service, people will be able to use local bus services passing the site. These options are:
- CONNexIONS 56 service to the City Centre and St David’s Station via Heavitree Road from the bus stop on south side of Honiton Road. Services to Exeter Airport and Exmouth use the bus stop on the same side of the road as the Park and Change site
- Service 4/4A/4B to the city centre via Heavitree Road from the bus stop on south side of Honiton Road, as well as to Cranbrook, Honiton and Axminster from the bus stop on the same side of the road as the Park and Change site
- K bus service to the city centre via Pinhoe Road from the stop on Anning Drive
Electric vehicle chargepoints are also planned to be installed at the site from September as part of the County Council’s DELETTI project, which aims to expand the network of chargepoints across Devon to incentivise uptake of electric vehicles.
"We need to reduce car journeys across the county and particularly into Exeter, and the park and change site will help relieve congestion on the Moor Lane roundabout and the A30 Honiton Road approach to junction 29 of the M5.
"By improving access to walking, cycling and public transport it will also help to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. The environment has been considered throughout the design of this site, with the planting, landscaping and recycled materials used for the lighting columns and kerbs."
Councillor Andrea Davis - Devon County Council
The project, which received planning approval in October 2018, is being funded through National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF), Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone and developer contributions.
The site will be open from 6.30am to 8.00pm Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. It will be locked out of hours.