POP-UP hotels could be used to cater for thousands of extra visitors expected to flock to York for next summer’s Tour de France.

Campsites and vacant land may be used to house one-off accommodation units as York hosts the start of the second day of Le Grand Départ, the race’s opening stage, on July 6.

City of York Council said pop-up hotels – often used at music festivals and also at the London Olympics – are likely to be needed to cope with a huge influx of spectators, staff and entourages. They can be built from prefabricated blocks plugged together, or based in huge tents with extra facilities.

A string of new hotels has been approved in York over recent years, but not all will be ready by next summer. One potential site for a pop-up hotel is Hungate, where owner Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd is planning a temporary community use for land until the remaining housing phases are built.

Coun Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said the council anticipated needing to maximise income from temporary hotels. She said: “With Visit York and Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, the council is talking to campsite owners about existing and possible temporary accommodation.”

About two million spectators are expected in Yorkshire for Le Grand Départ. Gillian Cruddas, Visit York’s chief executive, said: “We support these new ideas to ensure the whole of the city is geared up to offer a fabulous welcome to our visitors.”