Public invited to see proposals for University of Exeter's St Luke's Campus
People are being asked to have their say on the redevelopment plans
Last updated 16th Apr 2024
A proposed vision to redevelop the University of Exeter’s St Luke’s Campus over the next 50 years will soon be open for public view.
The University say the long-term vision is designed to "enhance their local and global reputation as world-leading for health and wellbeing research and education".
In November 2023, the University invited colleagues, students, strategic partners and members of the local community to an early-stage engagement so they could share their views on how the campus should be developed.
Now, a public display will showcase the proposed long term vision for the campus, which incorporate key aspects of the feedback shared.
Professor Richard Smith, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for planning and projects in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, said:
"We’re excited to showcase our vision for an ambitious redevelopment of our St Luke’s Campus, which will significantly enhance the city’s position as a global centre of excellence in health and wellbeing in the coming decades.
"When we first gauged public views during the earliest stages, we were told that people wanted us to retain the historic buildings and green spaces.
"I’m pleased to confirm that the proposal will enhance our chapel and our cloisters buildings and the green spaces at the heart of the campus.
"In the long term, it will create an open and inviting space that complements the surrounding areas and buildings."
The vision sets out proposals for seven potential new buildings over the coming decades, and the area, scale, height and distribution of public open spaces within the campus, as well as which buildings, features and green spaces will be retained.
The vision will then be reviewed by Exeter City Council. If endorsed, each building and area to be developed will go through the usual planning process and include further public consultation before any construction starts on site.
Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said:
"The future vision for our St Luke’s Campus will allow us to significantly grow our research in biomedical sciences so that we continue to make pioneering medical breakthroughs that benefit people across the world.
"It will put us in an incredible position to translate our research into new treatments and technologies, and provide medical education to train tomorrow’s future health leaders and researchers.
"The proposed vision will upgrade our beautiful and vibrant campus, leading to the creation of high-quality jobs and boosting the surrounding areas as part of Exeter’s health quarter."
St Luke’s was founded in 1854 as a teacher training college, an activity that is still going strong through the University’s School of Education.
The campus has a 160-year history of delivering research and training, with an increasing focus on health and wellbeing since the University of Exeter Medical School was established a decade ago.
The University says the new vision for the campus aims to build on the close proximity to key partners the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the Devon Partnership NHS Trust.
Sam Higginson, Chief Executive Officer for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
"The proposed expansion of St Luke’s represents an excellent step forward, not only for our strong partnership with the University of Exeter, but it also strengthens our joint reputation as being a centre of excellence for research and innovation.
"Developing our world-class facilities will help us continue to promote the South West as a leader in the sector, and enable us to continue offering extensive training and career development opportunities. This will also enhance the cutting-edge research we deliver, benefitting our colleagues, trainees, and communities."
Public views are invited at two engagement events on Tuesday 16 April and Thursday 25 April from 13:00 to 19:00, at St Luke’s Campus on the first floor of Cross Keys café.