The new “park and change” site at Exeter Science Park has opened today.
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 Devon 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, Exeter Airport, Amazon, and Lidl.
High security cycle lockers are available to rent at the park and change site to enable people to leave their bikes overnight. You can apply for a cycle locker at www.cyclemanagement.co.uk
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.
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.
East Devon District Councillor Dan Ledger, Chair of the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone Board, said: “I’m delighted to see the park and change facility open. It will help people access the growing number of employment sites and opportunities for jobs in East Devon. Investing in the park and change scheme is key to providing sustainable transport in and around the Enterprise Zone, helping us to fulfil our ambitions for clean growth. It means more people can reduce their reliance on car journeys and use opportunities for walking, cycling and public transport.”
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “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 Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “We’re committed to establishing a greener, healthier recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic and this park and change site will make it easier for people living in rural parts of the county to choose active and more sustainable transport when travelling into Exeter or to the growing employments sites in the Enterprise Zone. We’re continuing to invest in establishing a network of high-quality walking and cycling routes to achieve our ambitious target of 50% of all Exeter journeys to work and education to be made by foot or bicycle by 2030.”
Councillor Sara Randall Johnson, County Councillor for Broadclyst, said: “I welcome the delivery of this valuable additional travel option and can’t wait to see e-bikes for hire being introduced. Annings Drive has access to the Blackhorse Lane cycle route into Exeter and to the Enterprise Zone.”
Councillor Henry Gent, County Councillor for Broadclyst, said: “I support the ambitious target to increase active travel and this investment will contribute to that target.”
The site will be open from 6:30am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. It will be locked out of hours.
