A £15 MILLION scheme to double the size of York's only five star hotel looks set to win the backing of planners next week.

A City of York Council planning official is recommending approval for the expansion of the Grand Hotel & Spa, which will create 45 jobs and 107 new rooms.

Development management officer Jonathan Kenyon says the proposed extension into Roman House, an empty office block in Rougier Street, would enable the existing hotel to achieve its potential for tourists and business customers.

York Press:

An image from the planning application. The building marked red is Roman House.

He said in a report to next Thursday's planning committee meeting that the only alteration to the existing Grade II listed hotel in Station Rise which would impact on its historic fabric would be the removal of one corridor window to form a necessary link to the expanded area in Roman House.

"The approach is sympathetic to the original layout and the detail in this area will be covered by condition," he said. "The amount of harm will be low and outweighed by the overall benefits of the scheme.

"The historic and architectural significance of the hotel building - the former North Eastern Railway Co. head office - would not be affected by the proposals."

He said external works would enhance the listed building and its setting, and the design of a proposed dining extension as an "elegant contemporary pavilion of contrasting light-weight appearance" would enhance the terrace located in the former service yard and provide a much needed facility.

He added that Historic England was content in principle with the proposal to extend and link Roman House to the hotel and for a dining pavilion to be added in the courtyard.

York Press:

Hotel boss Maria Florou, pictured previously outside Roman House

The Press has reported previously that Roman House, which had lain vacant since insurance giant Aviva moved out in 2010, had been bought for an undisclosed sum by Splendid Hospitality Group, less then a year after the company acquired the Grand Hotel from Cedar Court Group.

The company said the two-year renovation project would also involve upgrading rooms in the existing hotel as well as converting the former offices block into a new "wing" creating 107 "executive suites", and creating a 160-seater restaurant with outdoor terrace and a valet parking area with space for up to 15 vehicles.

It said the move would generate an additional £1.7 million of annual visitor expenditure for the local economy.

As well as directly creating 30 full time jobs at the hotel and potentially a further 10 to 15 part time jobs, Splendid believed its investment would "indirectly stimulate" the generation of up to 100 further jobs in York, and a further 150 construction jobs during the development work.