A YORK developer has abandoned plans to create 47 new apartments in the city after selling the proposed site to the owner of the city's only five star-hotel.

Skelwith has sold Roman House in Rougier Street to Splendid Hospitality Group, which plans to convert the vacant office space into a new £15 million wing for its Grand Hotel.

The property developer bought the 5,000 sq ft building in September 2013 from insurance giant Aviva after it became surplus to requirements to the insurance company’s office requirements.

After acquiring the building Skelwith began working on plans to transform the building into 47 luxury city centre apartments, with planning permission granted by City of York Council in early 2014.

The vision for the building included a 24-hour concierge service and high-end internal and external specification.

However following an approach by the owners of the Grand Hotel & Spa, formerly known as the Cedar Court Grand, who wanted to use the building to provide extra accommodation for the hotel, Skelwith took the decision to sell the building.

>>>York hotel unveils £15m expansion plan: 107 new rooms, 45 jobs, 160-seat restaurant<<<

Paul Ellis, managing director of Skelwith, said: "We were very excited to deliver our vision for Roman House but we are a commercial developer and made a commercial decision to sell when Splendid Hospitality Group said they were interested in the building.

"It made sense all round and we wish the company all the best with this building for the future.

"As a company we have strong roots in York and remain committed to the city. We are currently in the process of looking at a number of exciting developments within the city."

Splendid Hotel Group have submitted a planning application to City of York Council to incorporate Roman House into the Grand Hotel and Spa, in Station Rise.

The planning application seeks to lead to the creation of an additional 107 executive suites within Roman House, as well as a business centre and valet parking, a 160-seat dining pavilion and outdoor seating terrace at the rear of the hotel.

As part of the plans the public toilets will be relocated along the Rougier Street elevation, adjacent to an existing retail unit, which will be retained.

The remainder of the ground floor is to be used to accommodate ‘back of house’ services and as a valet parking area. The plans also include a secure cycle store located in the service yard at the rear of the building, providing storage space for up to 15 cycles.