Developers have revealed details of their £25 million plan to turn a York motorbike showroom and car park into a hotel and flats.

The 146-bed hotel and eight apartments scheme in Piccadilly, which also features a terrace and riverside garden with new public areas creating views across the River Foss to Clifford’s Tower, is set to be submitted to City of York Council later this month by local development company Northminster Ltd.

The 50,000 sq ft scheme, comprising of 42,000 sq ft for the hotel and about 7,900 sq ft of apartments, is known as Piccadilly Riverside, and has been the subject of two years of pre-planning discussions with the council and Historic England.

York Press:

This photo shows the site in the foreground. The hotel and flats would gives views across the Foss to Clifford's Tower

The scheme is proposed for 46-50 Piccadilly, the site of a former Polar garage which is now an NCP car park and Infinity Motorcycles accessory shop, which has been owned by key figures at Northminster Ltd since 1978.

The developers believe the proposed scheme could be a catalyst for the long-anticipated regeneration of Piccadilly and the historic castle area.

They plan to build using traditional brick and glass, with construction work starting as soon as possible if planning permission is granted.

York Press:

The development company, which regenerated 34 Piccadilly, a former 1920s car showroom, into ten luxury apartments in a £5 million scheme which won a York Design Award, said Piccadilly Riverside responded to the council’s vision for a new ‘southern gateway’ to the city centre that would increase footfall and contribute to creating a culturally, socially and economically vibrant area.

George Burgess, Northminster Ltd’s managing director, said: “Piccadilly is the Cinderella of main arterial routes into York city centre.

“It has a fantastic setting next to the River Foss, with huge potential, but badly needs bringing up to the standard which residents and visitors to the city have a right to expect which is long overdue.

“Our proposed scheme will replace unattractive, rundown buildings with an exciting new scheme which will contribute towards the local economy for tourism, business and ‘city living’ homes.”

  • The plans for Piccadilly Riverside will be on display at the Hilton Hotel, Tower Street, York, between 3pm and 7pm on Wednesday, January 25.