Multi-award winning Princesshay celebrates its 10th birthday

The multi-award winning Princesshay development in Exeter city centre turns ten years old this month. The largest single regeneration in the city’s history, Princesshay has transformed Exeter’s economy and retail scene – with more than £200m injected into the city since its opening. 1,200 people now work at Princesshay, whether in the stores and restaurants or as part of management and ancillary services teams.

Princesshay hosts over 17 million visitors per year, drawn to its 60 stores, 12,000m² department store, five restaurants, and heritage visitors’ centre. 121 residential apartments overlook the streets below, accessed by private courtyards on top of the retail. Visitors are struck by the way that modern retail provision is sympathetically blended into the city’s historic setting. 

The scheme, which still looks brand new, initiated a knock-on effect in the city, facilitating other development. Pedestrian-friendly public spaces allowed for the introduction of a continental-style café culture and outdoor eating. Princesshay is symbolic of an economically resurgent Exeter, and has brought residents back into the city centre.

Also designed by Chapman Taylor, phase two of Princesshay, which has Reserved Matters consent, will be a mixed-use development which provides new retail and leisure facilities, a cinema and an outdoor amphitheatre for the enjoyment of Exeter people. It will also include a brand new bus station.

Chapman Taylor worked on the first phase of Princesshay in successful collaboration with Panter Hudspith and WilkinsonEyre, producing the masterplan, the detailed design for the central position of the site, the employers’ requirements, and delivery for the entire development as monitoring architect. Included among Princesshay’s many awards are the BCSC ‘Supreme Gold Award’ in 2007, Retail Week’s ‘Shopping Location of the Year’ in 2008 and the ICSC ‘Best Medium Sized Shopping Centre in Europe’ award in 2008.

Chapman Taylor offers its warmest congratulations to everyone at Princesshay for its decade of success. We look forward with them to the next one!