DEMAND for smart new serviced apartments near Barrow-in-Furness's shipyard is high, says the Holker Estate.

The property owner has given a new lease of life to the historic Devonshire Buildings, two imposing red sandstone buildings at Barrow Island built almost 150 years ago.

The 1870s properties were constructed to house workers at the Devonshire Docks and the Barrow Iron Ship Building Company, and they are still used for that original purpose, featuring more than 100 residential flats.

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Following a major refurbishment, a number of the apartments have been smartly furnished to offer fully serviced accommodation which can be let "ultra flexibly" week by week - and they can be viewed during an open evening on Wednesday, June 14.

The flats' central location at Michaelson Road, opposite BAE, makes them particularly popular with shipyard contractors, says the Holker Estate.

Designed by architects Paley and Austin, the Grade II* listed buildings feature popular corner apartments located in octagonal towers at the end of each block, where there was originally a bridge spanning Island Road.

Rachel Bagshaw, group property manager for the Holker Estate, said: "We knew there was a requirement for accommodation in and around Barrow, particularly in the short-term lettings market, so we decided to trial the letting of a small number of serviced apartments and see how they went.

"The interest was phenomenal so we have since released a further number of the fully serviced apartments."

The open evening is to take place on June 14, 6-8pm at the Devonshire Buildings estate office, with tours, drinks and nibbles. For more, visit www.devonshirebuildings.co.uk, and to register your interest call office manager Kelsey on 07794-663793.