Member Article

£25m York hotel and apartments scheme planned

PLANS are underway for the development of a new £25m hotel and apartment scheme in York city centre.

York property developer, Northminster Ltd, says it has been in pre planning application discussions about the proposed scheme for the re-development of the former Polar garage, now a 64-space NCP car park and Infinity Motorcycles accessory shop at 46-50 Piccadilly, with York City Council for almost a year.

The announcement of the proposed scheme, which will be latest stage in the regeneration of Piccadilly, follows Northminster Ltd completing the £5m redevelopment of a neighbouring warehouse at 34 Piccadilly, a former 1920s car showroom, into 10 luxury apartments which won an award in the York Design Awards 2015. They are now 80 per cent sold.

The latest proposal from Northminster Ltd, which has a strong association with Piccadilly through related ownership since the 1970s, is to replace the existing property, which covers the site of more than half an acre with two new buildings, an hotel and apartments.

There would also be a significant area of newly-created open space, including courtyard gardens with new walkways, overlooking the River Foss and Clifford’s Tower which dates back to the 13th century and is one of the city’s best known historic tourist attractions.

The design of the scheme would enable the eventual installation of a pedestrian bridge over the River Foss to link the two areas of the city.

The scheme is being designed by COG Architecture, Leeds, which has carried out other work for Northminster, including Piccadilly Lofts. Development work is continuing on a formal planning application which is expected to be submitted to York City Council early in 2016.

The hotel would be created in conjunction with a major hotel operator. A deal has been agreed and contracts are close to being finalised.

Northminster Ltd managing director, George Burgess, says: “We are close to agreeing the final form of the two new buildings but still have a lot of work to do in consultation with York City Council in order to guide this proposed scheme through the planning process.

“We are keen to continue the regeneration of this important part of York city centre which has a fantastic setting with huge potential but which badly needs bringing up to the standard which residents and visitors to the city have a right to expect.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Clarke Communications .