EXETER’S bulldozed former bus station will be transformed into a multi-million-pound development featuring homes, retail outlets and public spaces, members of the city council have been assured.

It will not be used as a car park forever, council leader Phil Bialyk (Lab, Exwick) pledged, when asked about the future of the land off Paris Street.

Although there are proposals to use the cleared space as a car park, Cllr Bialyk stressed it would only be a short-term solution. Any other suggestions were “a little bit of nonsense”, he claimed.

Mr Bialyk was challenged about the future of the old bus station during a meeting of the full city council and asked if there were any better ideas for it than using it as a car park.

He said the debate was “disappointing”, and added: “It has always been the intention of this council to work with partners to redevelop the site.

“Five years ago it was estimated to cost £350 million. We haven’t got that money, so we have to work with partners.

“It’s a bit silly to say we’re going to put a permanent car park right in the middle of our city centre, which clearly needs to be regenerated. Is that the extent of the aspirations of this council? A car park? Of course it isn’t.

“It will be a major project, and it will take time.”

He said there may be “pop-up” shops on the land at some stage, but in the meantime the council could make money for the city’s coffers by using it as a short-term car park.

Guy Henderson