Storey goes to school
Bedfordshire council has sold Maryland College, a listed former adult education college in Woburn, for £2m to local development firm Storey Property Developments. The building comprises 18,500 sq ft of teaching, office and residential space and is set in 14 acres of green belt land. It has been sold for residential and commercial development. Drivers Jonas advised the vendor.
Asserta MD Lundholm resigns
David Lundholm, managing director of Asserta Holdings — which operates property websites Asserta Home and Property Finder — has resigned. Finance director Jim Buckle will take over the role. Asserta announced that it had reached breakeven, following its MBO from Aviva last year.
Market feels February chill
Housing market activity appeared to cool in February, according to figures published this week by the RICS. A balance of only 8% more surveyors reported a rise in new instructions than reported a fall, compared with 42% in January. This means that the stock of unsold property is approaching its May 2002 low. But for the three months to February, 38% more surveyors reported a rise in house prices than a fall.
Splash to renew Saxton flats
Urban Splash has rescued two blocks of council flats in Leeds from demolition with a 200-home scheme. The blocks are the remaining two of seven in Saxton Gardens, on a hillside overlooking the River Aire and the Clarence Dock regeneration area. The Leeds regeneration company, Re’New, has refurbished five of the blocks for council tenants and was considering demolishing the remaining two.
