YORK developer Northminster has submitted its final plans for a new £25 million hotel and apartment scheme in York city centre.

The proposed design for Piccadilly Riverside has been sent by the developer to City of York Council’s planners, following a public consultation in January.

The draft proposals were first revealed by The Press in January.

Following publicity about the scheme, more than 50 people attended the day-long consultation which featured two displays about the development proposed for 46-50 Piccadilly, the site of a former Polar garage, now an NCP car park and motorcycle accessory shop.

Northminster says the proposed scheme, a 146-bed hotel with a stand-alone building containing eight apartments, responds to City of York Council’s vision for a proposed new “southern gateway” to the city centre and that it “will increase footfall to contribute towards creating a culturally, socially and economically vibrant quarter”.

Northminster managing director George Burgess said: “We are very grateful to those who took the trouble to attend our public consultation and make pertinent comments, some of which enabled us to put the finishing touches to our plan.

York Press:

“We believe that this is an exciting proposal which is sympathetic with the surroundings and that, if approved, Piccadilly Riverside can become an anchor scheme in the long-awaited regeneration of Piccadilly, creating the new ‘southern gateway’ to York city centre. We look forward to the local authority’s decision.”

Of 19 written responses from those who attended the consultation, 12 were listed as positive, seven as neutral and none as negative.

The 50,000 sq ft proposal, which comprises 42,000 sq ft for the hotel and around 7,900 sq ft of apartments, also creates a terrace and riverside garden with new public areas.

Some amendments were made to the proposed plan by COG Architecture, Leeds, following the public consultation. These include amending the boundary to accommodate how a new proposed walkway to the footbridge over the River Foss will pass between Ryedale House and proposed development and adding solar panels and electric car charge points to the apartment block after requests for access to renewable energy.

Northminster Ltd hopes to start work on site in spring 2018 if City of York planners back the scheme.