Plans for a new 168-bedroom hotel to be built in the city centre are set to be approved, despite some residents saying there are too many large hotel chains developing sites within the walls.
The former Banana Warehouse site on Piccadilly will be turned into a hotel and restaurant under the proposals. Work has already started on a new 143-room Hampton by Hilton hotel directly next door to the site.
The scheme would see most of the buildings on the site demolished. The front of the former Banana Warehouse would be kept and incorporated into the new three to five-storey high block.
Three residents object to plans. They say large hotels should be built outside the city walls and call for the site to be turned into a cultural quarter.
One said: “With the buildings there currently and Spark York opposite this area has potential as a creative quarter of the city, introducing new local enterprise and attractions for tourists and residents.”
Designs ‘disappointing’
Guildhall planning panel also objected to the plans – saying they were disappointed with the designs presented compared to those shown to residents.
And that they expected that there would be public access to the river – with hopes of a riverside walk in the future – but this is not in the plans.
Historic England also have concerns about the height of the building and the impact on views from Cliffords Tower, a report for the planning committee says.
But the proposed hotel is smaller in height than the neighbouring building.
Planning officers say: “The proposed development is not considered to result in harm the character and appearance of the conservation area or the setting of nearby listed buildings and the scheduled ancient monument and accords with planning law and national and local policy in this regard.”
The hotel is expected to create 31 new full time jobs and five part time roles.
Piccadilly has historically been home to timber and coal merchants, a saw mill, brewery, fruit merchants’ warehouses and a small aeroplane factory – before being redeveloped into garages and office blocks.
The applicant is Axcel Group and the hotel operator has not been revealed. The meeting takes place on Thursday.