Pictured: (l-r) Banks Long & Co surveyor Matthew Brooks
hands the keys for 20/22 West Parade to Jason Hall and Clive
Franklin who are converting the properties
Builder and student housing specialist Franklin & Hall has
acted swiftly and embarked on a new project to meet the ongoing
demand for quality undergraduate homes in the city.
Directors Clive Franklin and Jason Hall, who are celebrating a
decade in business, have snapped-up former office accommodation in
West Parade, Lincoln, which they are now converting for use by
people studying at the University of Lincoln.
They have made their move just weeks after the University was
forced to put some students into short-term
accommodation.
Commercial agent Banks Long & Co, which handled the sale of
20/22 West Parade, confirmed the deal was completed quickly, which
will allow Franklin & Hall to transform the property in time
for occupation in mid-January.
Banks Long & Co surveyor Matthew Brooks said: "This
mid-terraced period building was most recently used as shared
office space. However, it was clear from the start of marketing it,
that there would be an equal amount of interest from the student
housing market, particularly with the much-reported undersupply of
student bedrooms in the city."
Mr Hall said: "This Summer the University of Lincoln set up
temporary portacabin-style facilities to house 140 first year
students, after an higher than usual number of people requested
help to find homes - many at the last minute.
"We are pleased to have been able to build a strong relationship
with the university and the student community over recent years and
there is obviously a need to provide further properties for this
group of people.
"Twenty and 22 West Parade had been knocked into one property
for commercial use, but we are reverting it to two separate houses.
Each will accommodate six people. We normally let properties
ourselves, but these will be rented to the University," said Mr
Hall.
"We have been able to maintain a portfolio of quality properties
to meet the needs of students and we believe there is still
the potential to provide more," said Mr Hall, who added that
he understands 150 overseas students are due to start their studies
at Lincoln in the New Year.