Former Clifton Hill Sports Centre site in Exeter could become more than 70 affordable ‘extra care’ homes

The site of a former Exeter leisure centre is set to become a huge development of affordable ‘extra care’ homes.

Clifton Hill Sports Centre was built in 1984 and designed by renowned architect Nicholas Grimshaw, who also created Cornwall’s Eden Project and London’s Waterloo International Station, but was knocked down in the summer of 2022.

The city council pledged to preserve the open space around the building, which formerly included a ski slope, and chose not to sell the land for purpose-built student accommodation even though it could have made more money by doing so.

Preferred Homes (PHL), which bought the site for £3.4million, has now lodged an official planning application to begin the work on more than 70 apartments.

PHL is a regulated provider of social housing and says it creates affordable ‘homes for life’ for elderly and vulnerable residents who are able to live independently but have intermediate care needs.

All residents are provided homes through their councils’ nomination processes, and all are at a social rent.

The application says: “Exeter will see a substantial increase in its older population over the period of 2021-2041. The local authority’s housing needs assessment shows a need for 880 specialist older person’s housing units, (of which) 49 per cent will need to be for rent.”

It also says the development has been designed to create a ‘sense of community’ for residents.

PHL says: “It will redevelop a currently derelict brownfield site, delivering much-needed specialist housing through a high-quality design approach. It represents a sustainable investment in the area, both environmentally and socially, and is intended to integrate seamlessly with the existing community while addressing a growing demand for specialist accommodation.”

The Exeter Clifton Hill Sports Centre operated from 1985 until its sudden closure in 2018. It was first built – on the site of a 19th century brickworks – as part of a national drive for low-cost public sports facilities.

During the 1970s the open space had been a running track which was used extensively by local clubs and schools before the opening of Exeter Arena. A 60-metre dry ski slope and golf driving range were established on the old quarry bowl behind the site during the 1970s.

The Duchess of Kent performed the official opening in 1985.

In early March 2018, the severe winter weather front known as the Beast from the East brought heavy snowfall across Devon, and the weight of the snow caused a major roof leak at Clifton Hill.

Exeter City Council chose not to repair the building, faced with a bill of around £1million to fix it. The decision triggered a fierce local backlash and a petition drawing thousands of signatures.

After demolition, the council initially transferred the site to its own company Exeter City Living to build 41 eco-friendly Passivhaus homes, but when Exeter City Living folded in 2023 the council bought back the land and began the search for external buyers.