A STRIKING leisure and retail unit at Metrovick House in Newcastle city centre is now available to let, as work to transform the former six-storey office building into 63 self-contained student apartments approaches completion.

The company behind the scheme, York-based S Harrison, is marketing the unit through Newcastle agents BNP Paribas Real Estate.

Boasting a prominent position on the corner of Northumberland Road and John Dobson Street in the heart of Newcastle city centre, Metrovick House is right next to Northumbria University and just five a minute walk from Newcastle University. It is also just 200 metres from Newcastle’s retail heart of Northumberland Street.

“Having concluded a £7.5m deal last year to sell the completed building to student accommodation provider Empiric, we are now marketing 2,500sq.ft of prominent ground floor space along with almost 2,000sq.feet of basement space," said David Clancy from S Harrison.

“It’s an iconic building that’s been empty for a number of years, so it’s really rewarding to see it coming back to life and providing quality student accommodation for Newcastle’s two popular universities. We are confident there will plenty of interest in this commercial unit.”

David Furniss from BNP Paribas Real Estate says: “We envisage this two-storey space will appeal to a wide range of retailers or leisure operators looking for somewhere that enjoys really strong footfall. The entrance is on a busy corner location and the ground floor benefits from a glazed frontage on John Dobson Street, Ridley Place and Northumberland Road.

“The unit is directly opposite the soon to be refurbished City Baths and City Hall leisure complex. Ample car parking close by, excellent public transport links and the building’s proximity to the universities all combine to make it a very attractive opportunity.”

The building is due to complete in May and will be handed over to Empiric ahead of the 2016 academic year.