YOUR SOUTHGATE GUIDE TO ST THOMAS

Located just across the River Exe from Exeter City Centre, St Thomas is now considered a desirable, yet affordable residential area of Exeter. It has a good number of shops, including several supermarkets, together with a good spread of independent outlets.
The Exe Bridges retail park is home to several larger brand stores, including Marks and Spencer, Next, T K Max, and Boots. Cowick Street has a great range of smaller, independent stores and several charity shops, that are well worth a browse.
For housing, the area can be divided into three main regions. Firstly, the Haven Banks area adjoins Exeter’s gorgeous historic quayside. The properties adjoining the quayside comprise mainly modern apartments and townhouses, whilst the streets heading towards Alphington Road generally offer early 20th-century terraced properties.
The central part of St Thomas, often known as Lower St Thomas offers a varied stock of living accommodation. Queens Road is a ‘tucked’ away street packed with larger Victorian houses and leads to the charming St Thomas Pleasure Grounds.
The homes in the most westerly parts of the suburb, Higher St Thomas were mainly built post-war with a good selection of stock from the 1930s to the 1970s. There are a range of private and ex-local authority homes that suit a range of budgets. There are plenty of bungalows too, for those who are looking to live on one floor.
One point that we cannot fail to mention is that much of St Thomas flooded in 1960. A quick internet search will yield pictures of Oakhampton Road and Cowick Street waste deep in floodwater, with residents being rescued by boat. Although many homes are still considered higher risk for insurance purposes, the area has not flooded since, and significant improvements have been made to reduce the likelihood of a future flood. Buyers in this area should check the flood risk in the lower area before purchasing. The environment agency website provides individual flood risk data for properties in the UK. Note also that many properties subsided after the 1960 flood, so if buying in this area, watch out for wonky walls and sloping floors.
Housing in St Thomas is generally lower priced than equivalent areas to the East of the river. It is a popular choice for those looking for city centre living on a budget.