Plans for huge 703-bed student scheme take big step forward
Plans to build a huge 703-bed student scheme in Nottingham have taken a major step forward after the proposed site was sold to developers.
FHP Property Consultants has confirmed that the sale of the 2.2 acre Deakins Place near The University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus, previously occupied by Willbond, to Cassidy Group has now completed.
TheBusinessDesk.com first revealed plans for the scheme in April of last year.
David Hargreaves, the founder of FHP with John Proctor, who put the deal together and acted for the vendor said: “This has been a long and complicated transaction not only involving securing a relocation for the site occupier, Willbond the plumbing and heating and bathroom specialist, from a site they had called home for many many years and then fitting out and moving to their new premises during lockdown but also securing a planning consent for 700-plus student beds.
“In many ways the most difficult part of the deal was finding an industrial property that met Willbond’s requirements in a market with an acute shortage of supply.
After a few false starts we identified a property that our clients bought and we then agreed a new 10 year lease with Willbond who opened in their new facility in October.”
Cassidy Group secured planning permission for Deakins Place, which is being designed by Maber, last December.
Hargreaves added: “This is the fourth site FHP had sold to Cassidy Group in Nottingham following the sale of the DAGFA School in Beeston which is now a 229 bed student scheme, Chainey Place on London Road which has planning for 133 Studios and York House on Mansfield Road where they are currently building 470 student beds.
“Cassidy Group are fantastic to deal with, they not only offer the top price, but the pace at which they work is second to none and they do what they say they are going to do and deliver via Mabers on the planning side every time.
“These four schemes alone will have an end value of circa £150 million and follow the successful Saffron Court PRS scheme off London Road of 350 Apartments that was sold to Cording Group for close to £50 million back in 2018.”
FHP Property Consultants acted throughout for Mersault Investments, while Victoria Bovington of Shakespeare Martineau provided legal advice. Steven Petty of Feldon Dunsmore Solicitors of Coventry acted for Cassidy Group in the sale.
