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Landmark Newcastle building acquisition to fuel £8m student accommodation plans

S Harrison Developments Ltd, a York-based property and development company, has acquired a former 1930s office block in the centre of Newcastle for conversion to student studio apartments.

Metrovick House on Northumberland Rd, located 400 metres from the city’s universities, was originally owned by electrical engineers Metropolitan-Vickers. Recently, the six storey office building, with basement, has been largely unoccupied.

An £8m redevelopment by the York-based company will see the 21000 sq ft building brought back into productive use and make a significant contribution to the city centre economy. The retail provision, located on the ground floor of the building, will be retained.

With the proposed new use now confirmed by the planning authority, work will start immediately on the redevelopment programme with the high quality studio apartments ready for occupation by September 2016.

David Clancy, S Harrison’s director, said: “This is an iconic landmark building in the city. We have an excellent track record for finding new viable uses for older buildings and plan to commit the resources to deliver a new future for Metrovick House.

“We already have interest from investors keen to acquire the student accommodation when it is completed, confirming the continuing demand for quality student provision to serve Newcastle’s two thriving universities.”

S Harrison which majors in student accommodation, retail, hotels, office and residential development is currently delivering 240 student units in Edinburgh and is working with Hotel du Vin to bring forward plans for a new 48 bed hotel and bistro in listed buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The company has outline approval to develop a £40m housing and care home scheme in Whitby and has recently appointed contractors to build out a new B&M store at its Richmondshire Walk retail development in North Yorkshire. Other schemes are planned across the North of England and the Midlands over the next 18 months.

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