A £10 MILLION scheme for an aparthotel near York’s riverside was approved by 11 votes to three last night by City of York Council’s planning committee, despite local protests.

The 97-bedroom, four-storey ‘Roomzzz’ building will be created in Terry Avenue, downstream of Skeldergate Bridge.

Robert Walker, speaking on behalf of residents at nearby Dukes Wharf, said the aparthotel would impact on a green wedge of countryside running into the heart of the city and cause an increase in noise and traffic for local residents 24 hours a day, and said the site had reportedly flooded 45 times since 2000.

Cllr Denise Craghill said the building would be a ‘huge overdevelopment’ of the riverside walk but Cllr Ann Reid said it was an industrial site which already had permission for offices.