A MAJOR hotel chain has been given the green light to open in York.

Malmaison was given the go ahead to open a new hotel in the former Aviva building, in Rougier Street, by City of York Council’s planning committee on Thursday evening.

Councillors raised concerns about granting permission because of the message it may send to large companies looking for office space in the city.

However, they agreed the hotel would bring people into the city and the industry would create jobs.

Cllr Ann Reid, chair of the committee, said the move would tidy up the building.

“When you used to look in it used to be a bit of a mess and when it was Aviva it was unloved, so hopefully this will help it.

Cllr Chris Cullwick added: “I find it difficult on planning grounds to say ‘no’ to this but it doesn’t mean I like it.”

Mike Slater, assistant director of planning and public protection, said: “From the city’s point of view, retaining offices is important, but hotels do create employment.

York Press:

“A hotel operator would employ people and that would bring people into the city to see what it has to offer, so there are positive economic values.”

As part of Malmaison’s plans, the building will get a bronze-clad roof extension, and a seven-storey rear extension, and will become a 124-bed hotel with 36 serviced apartments.

They want to put a hotel bar, restaurant and coffee shop on the ground floor, and bedrooms on floors one to six - spaces that are currently set out as open plan offices.

Meanwhile, a key decision on work to convert the Guildhall complex into a business club and serviced office complex has been deferred.

City of York Council’s planning committee made the decision after the applicant requested more time to look at concerns surrounding the re-development, including the design of a feature window and the on-going treatment of its civic use.