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New student homes force out pet shop
Jim Pearson who is having to close the pet shop at Pearson's Pet and Aquatic Stores on China Street, where he has worked for 41 years, as the building is being converted into stdent accommodation.
A FAMILY business which has thrived in Lancaster for more than 40 years is to close its doors.
Pearson’s Pet & Aquatic Store in China Street will close in March after developers bought the building to turn into student housing.
Kilnerfoot Developments of Hutton Roof, near Kirkby Lonsdale, are behind the scheme, which will see nine three, four and five-bedroom student apartments with a ground floor commercial unit developed.
Existing office space will be used by Lancaster University Students’ Union, who will run the building and rent out the apartments to university students.
See the Lancaster Guardian (19-01-12) for full story.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
rango
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11:47 AMSeems to be another anti-student thing going ? What a surprise, zzzz. China Street on the other hand has had buildings to let and falling apart for years, so surely any investment will be an improvement, can't possibly look any worse ..
RisingSun
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:10 PMAgree with LouE. They should be building student accomodation nearer to the university instead of taking over a shop in the centre of town which has been there for the people of Lancaster since before these students were born. How is the ecomony in town going to improve if they're taking shops away. And I also have no idea why these student rooms are needed, with the tuition fees now! Good luck to Mr Pearson and family.
wildlancaster
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 11:53 AMThe reason no one does any development other that for students is because the council will not let them, I also disagree with your comment that students are treated like trash, first all the drinking establishments are geared towards students, the buses cater mainly for students and all the shops are also geared towards the students and younger people. The elderly have to struggle through hoards of students cramming the buses heading towards the Uni, there are older people who rely on the buses and live in Hala though Stagecoach would not think so. Also with regards to accommodation, what do they want four star rating. With regards to the over pricing well that simple if the property is not rented out then they owners will have to bring the prices down - supply and demand!
TinLancaster
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 10:35 PMThe trouble is that students do bring in the revenue. Lancaster is fortunate to have such a uni on its doorstep. Without it, the place will collapse. Why? Because hardly anybody has done anything about the local economy. I'm not defending the developers. I will miss that shop. Besides, students here are treated like trash, most of the accommodation is truly horrific and severely overpriced.
LouE
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 08:49 PMDisgusting. How can the council give permission for these developers to evict a family business, which is well loved and thriving, for over 40 years!! Why not build around it?! Generations of families have been going to the pet shop and what now? To accommodate a few students and make some developers more cash. Isn't there enough student accommodation? Who are we catering for? It isn't the community! So much for investing in independent business. Disgusting. Thank you to Mr Pearson and his family for his business. Myself and my family hope that you manage to find a new home rather than disappear altogether.
Suzanne Mills
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 03:56 PMGiven the ever increasing cost of higher education I'm suprised the Lancaster housing market has not collapsed -due to a glut of empty student dwellings!
sam111
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 03:32 PMHow his is allowed to happen is beyond me. This town is going to the dogs.
wildlancaster
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 02:19 PMThis is disgusting that a well established business is forced out to build yet more student accommodation. Why not simply extend the whole of Lancaster into the university and be finished with it, after all that is the way it is going. The town no longer caters for anyone other than the student population. Of course I suppose I the usually backlash will be "Well the students bring in revenue etc.. etc.. etc.. well sorry but they don't put anything into my back pocket
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