Demolition preparation begins for St Marks student flats

Demolition preparations have begun on the vacant Homebase, Lidl and Topps Tiles units at St Marks this week as the planned £150 million redevelopment of the area continues to move forward.

As previously reported, revised designs for more than 1,300 student flats on Lincoln’s St Marks have been resubmitted after first proposals were refused by councillors, who called them “bland”.

Outline plans for the wider £150 million scheme which also includes, shops, leisure and a multi-storey car park have already been approved.

Workers are on site as demolition preparation begins. Photo: Emily White for The Lincolnite

The development proposed by Aberdeen Standard Investments will see the former Homebase, Lidl, Topps Tiles and part of the BHS unit demolished to make way for the accommodation.

Initial demolition preparations began on Monday, October 29 and is expected to last until mid-January 2019.

If the accommodation designs are approved, work could begin in spring 2019.

Plans were resubmitted this week with fresh designs.

The new application seeks to address the points raised when the application was refused and the changes include alterations to the elevations and finishes of the proposed buildings.

Fresh designs for the 1,300 student flats on St Marks.

The construction programme will be phased with the first students potentially moving in at the start of the new academic year in 2020.

New designs for student accommodation on St Marks following city councillors “bland” comments.

David Stewart of Aberdeen Standard Investments said: “We’ve looked very carefully at the design features the Council Planning Committee highlighted in July and we’re confident we have sympathetically addressed their concerns.

“Given that outline planning for the full St Marks scheme is already in place, we’re very hopeful that we’ll soon be able to start building the much-needed new student housing.”

Designs for 1,300 student flats on St Marks, Lincoln.

As previously reported, the scheme will eventually see all the units to the west of Debenhams demolished and replaced with new retail units, leisure space and other amenities.

Space would also be made for cycle storage and management facilities.

Options discussed also include the possibility of a new cinema and waterfront restaurants and the scheme has the potential to generate up to 2,000 new jobs in the city.

Demolition is also underway at the former Office Outlet store at the Tritton Retail Park. Photo: Emily White for The Lincolnite

Demolition is also underway at the former Office Outlet store at the Tritton Retail Park, with rumours indicating that Smyths Toys could open in its place.