A HISTORIC York hotel is on track for a major overhaul taking it back to its Victorian heyday, if planning permission is granted.

The owners of the Royal York hotel, next door to York Station, have applied for permission to make alterations to the rooms, restaurant, bars and public spaces at the four star hotel.

The application, which was submitted to City of York Council in December, sets out a major overhaul to restore the grand lounge, create new restaurants and bars, improve the entrances, and refurbish all the bedrooms.

A design and access statement says that Starwood Capital Group - now a major shareholder in hotel company Principal Hayley, is investing heavily in eight of the firm's historic hotels, including the Royal York and The Metropolitan in Leeds.

The document says the aim is to make the York hotel a "leading, luxury, lifestyle destination hotel" both regionally and nationally.

It adds: "The hotel has been orientated towards a conference market, which has been vital in weathering the recession however this has denied any substantial or meaningful investment, relying instead on piecemeal intervention in support of the core business.

"In an improved environment, and with new funding secured, the owners have developed an exciting vision to rewind many of the later interventions and restore The Royal’s status as a grand hotel, revealing the original spaces and architecture and re-opening the building to the citizens and visitors of York alike."

The document goes on to say that as the hotels have focused on conferences and large groups they have suffered "unsympathetic" alterations and been left with a corporate and lifeless feel which the new plans should end and "rediscover the soul of these amazing historic buildings returning them closer to their original intent as grand hotels."

The wholescale renovation plan for the Royal York means that this is just the first of a series of planning applications due to be made - which include fresh landscaping, a destination spa, and a new bedroom wing.

The hotel was built in 1878 and extended in 1896, but in 1999 had an event centre added by operators Principal Hayley.