College & University Properties

Properties Suitable for Colleges & Universities for Sale or to Let

Bernard Gordon & Co. has specialist expertise in the college and university property markets, with extensive experience in the sector. Formerly falling within use class D1, colleges and universities now fall within use class F1. We understand the demand for commercial premises that cater to the needs of their students, whether for higher education, further education, centres for education, faculty offices, or other uses. We have assisted many colleges and universities in finding sites over the years, be it a university looking to open a campus within London, a college looking to expand, or a university seeking larger accommodation for student dormitories. We understand the specific requirements of this market, and our database and network host a range of applicants and clients, all with the same end goal.

We have a selection of properties available to rent or buy that are suitable for use as colleges and universities. Please visit our listings below and use the filters to sort properties for sale or to let.

Our team has extensive experience in the commercial college and university property sector. We’ve successfully handled everything from small lettings to large-scale 40,000 sq. ft acquisitions across London and its surrounding areas.

Borehamwood, WD6

5,020 Sq.ft. NET

Use Class E

Ideal For: Ideal for Medical, Education, Tuition, Offices etc.

View Details

Buying & Renting Premises Suitable for Colleges & Universities

Bernard Gordon & Co. has decades of experience working in the use class F1 sector. We believe you will be hard pushed to find an agency in London and the South East with more experience or expertise in this marketplace.

We understand the complexities of securing the right property, including considerations such as site development for academic infrastructure and campus amenities. We have also witnessed how factors such as funding issues, challenges stemming from Brexit for international students, and the disruptions caused by holding classes from home during the pandemic have impacted the use class F1 property market.

The market is still very active, and we help our clients deal with the problems associated with securing appropriate commercial premises and meeting the specific requirements to ensure their suitability. We’re familiar with the specific requirements for academic campuses,where specific numbers of students are proposed, classroom sizes, student services, breakaway space, offices, reception, smaller tuition rooms, etc. We also appreciate the need for students to be able to access the site easily and that public transport is crucial, especially within London and other large cities, as well as the critical need to implement security measures to protect students.

If you are looking for a site or premises or are looking to dispose of a site or property suitable for use as an academic institution, please contact us. Our team will be happy to share our knowledge and experience.

How We Can Help

Please do get in touch if you wish to discuss further; we specialise in:

Disposals by way of lease or sale of freehold or long leasehold interest in D1/F1 properties suitable for colleges and universities
Purchasing freeholds and long leaseholds of properties suitable for colleges and universities
Rentals on new leases for properties suitable for colleges and universities
Guidance on opportunities that require planning permission and working with various suppliers to ensure the correct advice is given from the right source

Expert D1/E Commercial Property Assistance

We offer guidance on likely rental levels achievable should a property come to market suitable for D1/F1 use or educational development.
We offer guidance on likely sale levels achievable should a property come to market suitable for D1/F1 use or educational development.
We can advise on the process of renting or selling a property from start to finish, offering advice, guidance, and recommendations along the way.
We can offer guidance on suitable properties, planning implications, lease terms, negotiating, etc.
We can provide an up-to-date guide on market trends should you need a better understanding of the market.

Please contact us for further assistance with your college and university property search; we are always delighted to help.

Make An Enquiry

College/University Property FAQs

Colleges and universities in the UK fall under Use Class F1 – Learning and non-residential institutions.

This classification was introduced in September 2020 as part of an update to the planning use class system. Previously, educational institutions were categorised under Use Class D1, which is no longer in use.

Here’s some additional information to keep in mind:

Use Class F1 also includes other institutions like Religious/community, museums, libraries, and galleries.
There are no permanent permitted development rights associated with Use Class F1.

This means any changes to a building’s use to accommodate a college or university would likely require planning permission if F1 is not already in place.

We provide various services tailored to properties falling under use classes E, F1, F2, and Sui Generis, including those suitable for colleges and universities. These include:

Acquisitions: Our team are experts at helping clients find suitable properties all across the UK.
Sales & Letting: We assist with selling or letting your property, handling the entire process from appraisal to finding a tenant or buyer.
Consultancy: We offer consultancy services for developers seeking to redevelop a site while retaining community use.
Investment Advice: We can help you explore sale and leaseback options to help raise capital while retaining property use.
Finding Tenants/Buyers: We have a large network of applicants and can help find the right tenant or buyer for your college or university property.

Finding Suitable Properties: Our team has plenty of experience in understanding the needs of colleges and universities. We can assist with finding properties for various purposes, including:

Establishing a new campus within or outside of London
Expanding an existing college
Finding larger accommodation for a university

Our knowledge of this commercial property market means we can find properties that cater to the specific requirements of colleges and universities.

Each property listing varies in terms of its features and suitability for specific educational programs such as art studios, performance spaces, or science labs.

While we can’t guarantee that we currently have listings matching all your requirements readily available, we encourage you to reach out to us directly. By doing so, we can discuss your specific needs in detail and explore any potential properties that may meet your criteria. While properties with these features may not always be readily available, we continuously update our listings and network to accommodate diverse requirements. So, even if we don’t have an exact match at the moment, there’s a possibility that suitable properties may become available in the future.

The reclassification of colleges and universities from use class D1 to use class F1 has had a significant impact on the property market. This change reflects the evolving nature of educational institutions and their need for flexible commercial premises. With this reclassification, colleges and universities now have more options in terms of property types and usage, allowing for greater adaptability to their specific requirements. We use our industry knowledge to help clients find suitable properties that align with the new use class F1 designation. This often involves exploring a wider range of property types and considering innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of colleges and universities. Please note we have vast experience entering into subject to planning deals, where for example and existing office building may be ideal for a college, and we can guide you through how to gain planning for this, subject to necessary consents.

Make An Enquiry

At Bernard Gordon, we don’t just offer college and university properties for sale or lease. We are experts in the commercial property market. Browse our other properties available for sale and to let:

Property Use Class E
Property Use Class F1
Property Use F2 & Specialist Uses
Day Nursery
Health & Medical
Dental
Gym
Fitness Studio
Offices
College/University
Religious/Community
Primary/Secondary School
SEND School
Tuition & Training
Other

View Our Other Services

Sell Or Let With Us

Ben Wallis

Director

For more information on college/university sites for sale, contact us today!