New hotel for York

Demolition work has already begun on the site, next to the County Court building, to make way for the new Quality Hotel, which will add 100 rooms to the city's hotel sector.

Planners at City of York Council originally turned down Hollin Hill Properties Ltd's application for the hotel on grounds it would be too large and overbearing.

But a planning inspector overturned their decision on appeal.

The six-storey, 36,000 sq ft hotel will feature contemporary stonework and cladding on the front elevation with a glass tower rising through the six floors. It is estimated that work will be completed by May 2001.

Adrian Thomas, Harrison's technical director, said: "York's increasing popularity as a tourist attraction means that existing hotel accommodation is struggling to meet demand.

"The construction of the new Quality Hotel will help fill the gap in the city's hotel market between budget and higher priced hotels. It will be an attractive, contemporary building, in keeping with its city centre surroundings."

Michael Hammill, from Hollin Hill, said: "The York economy is currently enjoying an uplift, with many new companies relocating to the city.

"Not only is the city in need of additional accommodation for the ever-increasing number of visitors, but also of executive accommodation for corporate visitors."

The development is one of several Harrison projects in York over the coming months, including the next phase of the Clifton Park office development.

Work on the new CPP headquarters on Holgate Park is due to be completed in October and the firm recently started work on a new £800,000 medical centre at Tower Court, Clifton Moor, for Teesland Investments.

Other major projects in the pipeline including three schemes on the University of York site.

The new hotel will be only yards away from another new hotel - due to open later this year - at the junction of Piccadilly with Castle Mills Bridge