Year: 2010

Paul Noall, former head of strategy at Cheshire property developer Eatonfield Group (AIM: EFD), has bought a Trafford-based fit-out company from its founding family in a buy-in/buyout deal.

Noall has paid an undisclosed sum for a majority shareholding in J Mills (Contractors) Ltd, of Urmston, which refurbishes shops, pubs, offices and student accommodation and employs 50 people.

Peter Mills, whose grandfather John started the business in 1908, has stepped down as managing director but is keeping a minority stake and staying on at the firm …

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Controversial plans for a city centre hotel to become student accommodation are recommended for refusal.

Applicants Lingar Properties have told planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council they are seeking to use the Hotel Roma at 49-51 Lower Bridge Street and a modern annexe, including a converted garage, to house 29 students.

The grade two listed, three storey 18th century townhouse is close to County Hall which is being taken over by the University of Chester …

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Barclays is set to break up and partially sell student accommodation provider University Partnerships Programme (UPP).

Education Investor reports that the process is expected to raise Barclays £800 million, which will help fund future developments.

It is expected that UPP, which is owned by the infrastructure funds of Barclays Capital, will now be split into two. The assets will be sold to a standalone fund and asset management business, open to institutional investors …

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CB Richard Ellis has been instructed by administrators on the disposal of Cable Street in Lancaster, a 233-bed student accommodation complex, with offers sought in excess of £9.225m.

Cable Street is located in Lancaster city centre and is 100% let for the current student year and 2010/11, and 50% reserved for 2011/12.

Nick Mullins, director of valuation advisory and investment consulting at CBRE North West, commented: “Student accommodation in Lancaster has previously been dominated by the universities, so Cable Street presents a fantastic opportunity for private sector involvement in what is a lucrative market …

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ask4, leading independent supplier of broadband Internet services to student accommodation across the UK has strengthened its relationship with “Fresh Student Living (formerly Carlton North Wales Ltd) – Watkin Jones’ chosen student management company.

In addition to currently supplying over 1,000 students their broadband packages and other associated IT services at their sites in Wolverhampton, Loughborough, Liverpool and Sheffield, they now supply a further 1,500 students in their new accommodation buildings in Ipswich, Kingston-upon-Thames, Chester and Newcastle.

Yvonne Jones, Associate Director at Fresh Student Living said, “I am pleased with how ask4 have worked with us in the past, the reliability of their services and customer support is second to none and so strengthening our relationship with our extended portfolio was an obvious choice”…

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A £56m mixed-use development in Liverpool has secured planning permission, with construction likely to start later in the year.

Northern Ireland-based property company Tara House is developer for the scheme on Oldham Street in Liverpool city centre, which has been compared to New York’s flatiron building. It comprises two hotels, with a total of 270 bedrooms, and post-graduate student accommodation.

The developer says that it has secured a “major international hotel operator” for both hotels …

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The University of Gloucestershire has sold its London campus for £9.7m.

The sale will help to reduce the university’s debts and finance other estate refurbishment.

The site, in the East End area of the capital, was put on the market last autumn, along with the Pittville campus in Cheltenham …

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A derelict former dairy in York has been sold to developers.

The sale is currently awaiting closure, but The Press understands the 1.4-acre property on the A1079 Hull Road is likely to be converted into student accommodation.

Representatives from Leeds-based Sanderson Wetherall and chartered surveyors Carter Towler, who were involved in the sale, were unavailable for comment. Local resident Carol Wilson said she was glad the property had been sold, but would prefer to see housing available to all …

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Aberdeen Property Investors has made its second student accommodation acquisition, paying Watkin Jones Group £16.5m for Quebec House in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London …

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Developers want to turn a former Exeter school into student accommodation — but local residents say the idea is “horrifying”. 

Campbell Properties, which is based in Wiltshire, is proposing to turn Bishop Blackall School in Pennsylvania Road into 27 flats which would house about 100 students.

The property was most recently used as an annexe of Exeter College …

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