Mount confirms purchase of National Express site from Anwyl

Mount Property Group is planning to start a £45m student development on the former National Express bus station in Liverpool in September after confirming its purchase of the site from Anwyl.

Place North West first revealed Mount was close to a deal with Anwyl in January this year, and the developer has now confirmed it has purchased the site on Norton Street for an undisclosed fee.

The site has planning permission for a Falconer Chester Hall-designed student scheme, which includes two blocks of 16 and 10 storeys containing 566 student beds, split between 472 clusters and 92 studio flats.

Mount is now planning to start work on the scheme in September, although a main contractor is yet to be appointed. Working under the name Natex, the project is expected to be delivered in time for the 2020/21 academic year.

A spokesperson for Mount Property Group said: “The expansion of the Knowledge Quarter is expected to be a major draw for international students with The University of Liverpool already having over 34% international students compared to a UK average of 25%. We want to offer both local and international students first class accommodation in a location ideal for them.”

The project was to be Anwyl’s first in the city after the North Wales-based contractor and housebuilder gained planning permission for the site in November 2016.

The Deeside company also has planning permission for a 21-storey, 342-home private-rented block in Pall Mall, but this is also yet to start on site.

The purchase of Natex is also Mount Property Group’s second major student scheme acquisition in recent months, having purchase a 124-bed project on Devon Street for an undisclosed price last month.