The Rush is On to Rent Luxury Student Accommodation Ahead of 2014/15 Academic Year
Dean Clarke Lofts are at the vanguard of bringing residential living back to the heart of Southernhay
With its imposing Georgian townhouses and fine gardens, Southernhay once provided the most prestigious residential addresses in Exeter. Impressively proportioned, with high ceilings and tall windows, the houses – many created by local master builders Matthew Nosworthy and William Hooper – were perfect for local gentry and affluent middle classes and their staff. Following the huge societal shifts driven by both world wars, however, the dynamic of the area changed and Southernhay saw its residents gradually move out and the city’s professional businesses move in.
For the last half century, Southernhay as been seen as the best business address in the city but now there is growing interest in the area as a prime residential spot once more, with a number of luxury apartment buildings ready to welcome homeowners by this summer. At the vanguard of this residential resurgence has been Dean Clarke Lofts, a development of luxury student accommodation forming part of the former RD&E building on Southernhay East, which opened its doors in September 2013, and is already signing up a new tranche of tenants keen to secure the best digs in the city in time for the start of the 2014/15 academic year. To date, 50% of the Lofts are already secured, with fresh appointments being booked on a daily basis.
Comprising just 30 apartments – a mix of one-level and mezzanine-style living spaces – Dean Clarke Lofts offers the largest student accommodation in the city (35-56 square metres) and the most luxurious. Renovated to the highest standard and fully furnished, the apartments make the most of the Georgian architecture, featuring period features and dramatic views, whilst incorporating all mod cons, such as high-spec kitchens (including a washer-dryer) and bathrooms. Rents include megafast 100Mb broadband, contents insurance and all utilities, on-site professional management, a flat screen smart HD TV, TV licence, plus secure access and CCTV. And with optional VIP packages available providing all bedding and linens, kitchen equipment, and study materials, all you need turn up with is your suitcase.
Steve Travé, whose company, Academy Property Consultants, manages Dean Clarke Lofts, says: “What we offer here is space, grace and pace. The lofts are essentially self-contained one-bedroom apartments, with the 11 largest – two of which have two double bedrooms – ideal for sharers and couples. All come with double beds as standard, but we can provide two single beds on request. There’s no other student accommodation in the city offering anything like this, not least because we are in an historic and beautifully renovated landmark building in one of the most exclusive parts of town. The best of what Exeter offers is right on the doorstep, with city centre shops and entertainment, Cathedral Green, the Quay and St Luke’s campus all within walking distance, plus the Cosy Club restaurant is just downstairs.
“We’ve already had lots of interest in tenancies for the next academic year, much of it through word of mouth recommendations from existing residents. And this year we’ll also be able to offer apartments to professionals in training, which is great news.”
To date, nine of the students currently living at Dean Clarke Lofts have decided to stay on for the forthcoming academic year. One of those is Arthur Lim, who is a Business and Economics student at the University of Exeter Business School.
"It was an easy decision to stay on for another year at Dean Clarke Lofts – my apartment is beautiful and I've really made the most of living so close to the heart of city,” said Arthur. “The management team here are very professional and always ready to help; nothing is too much trouble. I would definitely recommend the building and the area to anyone coming to study in Exeter."
Steve Travé continues: “I’ve worked in the student accommodation sector for many years and never encountered an offering to match Dean Clarke Lofts. Exeter University is one of the top ten places to study in the UK, and is in the top 100 worldwide. Why shouldn’t we offer accommodation to match? Southernhay is a beautiful part of the city, and with the rest of the Dean Clarke House development ready to welcome residents by the end of the summer, the area looks set return to being the thriving residential community it once was.”
Mark Edworthy, the developer behind the renovation of Dean Clarke Lofts, says: “The response to the Lofts proves that there is strong demand for high-quality student accommodation in Exeter, and we are currently seeking other projects in the city. Due to the success of this development, we are also considering rolling out the model to other cities in the UK.”
To arrange an appointment, please contact the Management Office on 08453 191600 or info@deanclarkelofts.co.uk.
