February 28, 2019 3.05 pm This story is over 61 months old

Work to start on St Marks high rise student flats

There will be 1,372 rooms in total
Visuals of the site on St Marks which was formerly occupied by Homebase, Lidls and Topps Tiles.

Developers behind the £150 million redevelopment of St Marks will soon begin work on 1,372-room student accommodation buildings.

Aberdeen Standard Investments and the University of Lincoln concluded a deal to build the high rise blocks that will help the university meet anticipated future demand for quality accommodation from existing and new students.

Planning permission for the new accommodation was granted by City of Lincoln Council last December.

Work is expected to start by Easter 2019.

It’s anticipated that the first 407 units will be completed by the start of the 2020 academic year, with the remainder being ready by the autumn term of 2021.

Once completed, the properties will be managed and maintained by the university.

In a separate deal, Aberdeen Standard Investments has agreed a contract with Bowmer and Kirkland to build the student housing.

The former units have been reduced to rubble in preparation for the works. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

The new student housing marks the start of the first phase of Aberdeen Standard Investments’ broader £150 million regeneration of St Marks. The mixed-use scheme will deliver new retail and leisure, housing, a hotel and parking.

The existing St Marks Shopping Centre is open for business as usual and will remain so for the duration of the development.

David Stewart of Aberdeen Standard Investments commented: “This is a landmark moment that reflects a really collaborative partnership between the University and us. Next comes the exciting construction phase. This will also kick start the entire St Marks redevelopment project that will bring renewed vibrancy to the city of Lincoln.”

A University of Lincoln spokesperson added: “The University of Lincoln continues to attract students from across the UK and around the world, underpinned by our record for teaching quality and an outstanding student experience.

“The St Marks student accommodation development will deliver a further step change in the availability of high quality, University-managed student accommodation in Lincoln and is expected to be in high demand.”