Former convent undergoes £73m residential transformation

A HISTORIC convent site in York is set for a huge redevelopment after property investors Select Property Group got on board.

St Joseph’s Convent on Lawrence Street has been acquired by Select, with a development value of £73m.

Select will refurbish the site, and an additional 14 three and four storey buildings will be constructed, providing 649 beds to accommodate York’s student population.

Construstruction on site will begin in September this year.

Select’s Vita Student brand also has sites in Bristol, Exeter, Manchester, Liverpool, Southampton and Sheffield

Mark Stott, chief executive of Select Property Group, said the strategic purchase in York is a major milestone for the business: “This prime site in York presents a unique opportunity to deliver distinctive, high quality accommodation in this popular student city.

“Its proximity to both the city centre and University of York has made it an optimum location we’ve been keen to secure for some time.

“Our revolutionary end-to-end service means that we develop, let and manage our properties, ensuring the best possible service for customers.

“This is an ideal addition to our existing portfolio of more than 1000 student beds across leading university towns and cities throughout the UK.”