A legal firm which has been in Lincoln for nearly four decades has relocated to a new premises on the High Street.
McNeil & Co Solicitors agreed an eight-year lease with property development firm Taylor Lindsey for the upper of 142 High Street and the ground floor of neighbouring 141, as well as on-site parking. The company opened for business at the new premises on April 28.
The move saw the firm leave their base on West Parade, and close its Gainsborough premises, which had both been operating since the 1980s. The Lincoln and Gainsborough staff are now all under one roof.
The business undertakes all areas of criminal law from the police station through to the Supreme Court, as well as covering family law, divorce, care proceedings, wills, trusts and conveyancing. They are looking to expand into employment and civil law later this year.
Principal Mark McNeil told The Lincolnite that thousands of High Street solicitors are closing on a daily basis across the UK, according to the Law Society Gazette, but he is happy that his firm remains available for clients and to serve the local community.
Inside McNeil & Co’s new offices. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
He said: “Now we’re very close to Magistrates Court, literally 200 yards away, it enables access for everybody who hasn’t got a solicitor on the day to come over to see us.
“Also, with the parking it makes it viable for people with disabilities. Lincoln is notoriously hard to find parking and if you can find parking it’s expensive, and why should people attending court have to cover those costs.
“This has been made possible through the sensible deal with Taylor Lindsey and we are looking forward to a bright future.”
McNeil & Co Solicitors is located at 141 and 142 High Street in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The firm’s old office on West Parade.
The firm was first established by as Andrew Jay Solicitors in 1984 by Andrew Jay. He sold the company to Philip Hanby in 2009, who kept the business name.
After Philip’s death in November 2019, Mark McNeil took over managing the practice Michele Hanby, who remains as a director and plays a key role in the operations of the business.
Mark purchased the business in October 2020 before the firm changed name to McNeil & Co Solicitors in March this year.
Adrian Bower (left), Estates Manager at Taylor Lindsey, with Mark McNeil (right), Principal at McNeil & Co Solicitors. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Adrian Bower, Estates Manager at Taylor Lindsey, said: “It was pleasing to see an expanding firm into the High Street. We have been very pleased with the way our occupiers have performed on mass, both in the office and retail sectors particularly, which have been hardest hit through the pandemic.”
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A former pub in Boston will be merged with a neighbouring building to create larger residential home.
Plans have been granted for a new use for the Red Cow Hotel on Wide Bargate.
The pub has had a turbulent history recently, briefly closing and reopening in 2014, before shutting again shortly after.
Planning documents say it’s fallen into a poor sate of repair. However, applicant SHWilkinson Architects Ltd is now working to bring it back into good condition.
Boston Borough Council has granted permission to build a two-storey extension to link it with the Georgians, an 18th century townhouse used as a care home for the elderly.
The extension will be set back from the road so it doesn’t detract from the historic architecture.
Artists impressions show what the larger, combined care home would look like.
The extended care home on Wide Bargate, Boston Photo: SHWilkinson
The recently-approved application states: “The link will allow both buildings to operate under a combined management and staffing rather than two independent staffing units, were they kept separate.”
It adds that the plans are an “opportunity to bring the derelict and deteriorating building back into use and to address localised issues with vermin appearance.”
The buildings’ external features will be restored and replaced where needed.
A Lincolnshire village has given their support to plans for affordable housing which would make it easier for people to move there.
23 homes would be built in Bassingham, creating a range of one to three-bedroom houses and bungalows.
It is the second phase of a development off Vasey Close.
The vast majority of the comments from residents have welcomed the plans to help people on a budget afford a home.
One local resident who was born in the village said: “Without this development, we would lose the opportunity to apply for an affordable property in the perfect location with family and friends for support.
“Possibly more important than that, we would lose the chance of a foothold on the property ladder like so many other people of our generation.
“There is no guarantee we will obtain one of the proposed houses, but if they are not built, we definitely won’t get one!”
It would extend a previous development in Bassingham | Photo: Lindum Ground
Another resident said: “Whilst no site location is perfect, this development does provide easy pedestrian access to all the key village amenities.”
21 messages of support have been received from local residents, and three objections.
The parish council is also strongly in favour of the plans from Longhurst Group and Lindum Group.
“These proposals will help to encourage people to stay local and will be of particular help to the young element of our society,” it said in a statement.
“Bassingham Primary School is in need of new pupils for its September intake, and it is extremely important that this facility maintains a good level of registered pupils.”
The development will go before North Kesteven District Council’s planning committee next week due to the exceptional public interest in it.
Council officers have recommended that the plans, which can be viewed online, are passed.
Whatsapp
