David Hattersley sees Bonding Warehouse as luxury hotel

North Yorkshire property developer David Hattersley wants the 19th century building to become a long-term asset for York again - and he is calling on City of York Council to take the lead in preventing it from becoming luxury flats.

Earlier this month Mr Hattersley bought the 700-year-old Lendal Tower in a multi-million pound deal, planning to turn it into one of the world's best places to stay.

That brought the total he has invested in York to more than £15 million this year alone. The money was also spent on: l the creation of a luxury small hotel off Bootham complete with Georgian-style furnishings and a modern relaxation suite l the extensive redevelopment of the former Tricksters Lane restaurant in Fossgate, due to reopen as Harvilles later this year l a number of properties purchased and turned over to tourist letting.

Now embarked on restoring Lendal Tower to its glorious best, in consultation with English Heritage, he intends it to be both a unique addition to York's tourist offering and a treasure residents can enjoy - it will be opened for public tours several times a year.

He is sure the same future can await another priceless piece of York's riverside heritage, the Bonding Warehouse, if it can be saved from being turned into luxury flats.

The 39-year-old hospitality entrepreneur has "long held aspirations to own" the warehouse. He sees the building reborn as the city's finest waterfront hotel, with bars and restaurants open to all.

That would further boost York's crucial tourist trade.

But he fears the council will rush into a deal which will prevent imaginative schemes like his getting off the ground.

"I am worried that because of the complexity of the Bonding Warehouse and the obvious problems involved that it will be ditched by York council as quickly and conveniently as possible," Mr Hattersley said.

"That will probably entail a best-bid situation based on a residential end use. That's the easy way. Thank you very much. Good night.

"I think this building needs a bit more care and attention than that.

"The council should not just be saying, We'll look at developers' proposals; a restaurant might be okay and there's old people's homes behind to think about'.

"They should be leading the way for heaven's sake."

The council has had plenty of time to draw up a briefing of what they want for the site, he said.

The warehouse has been empty since it was flooded in 2000. It was taken over by squatters for a time.

More than three years ago the council discussed selling the building.

"It costs a fortune to mount a bid for somewhere like the Bonding Warehouse, never mind the actual bricks and mortar cash," Mr Hattersley said.

"Why should I waste my time and money putting together a scheme that could be miles off? We're not just talking about an offshoot extension on a two up two down here, this is one of York's best buildings that happens to flood like hell.

"I'm staggered that they haven't even prepared the ground to help sensible people work towards the best deal for the city - that means financially as well as an after-life for this great building."

The Bonding Warehouse, designed by the city surveyor George Styan, in 1875, stands on a site which had been used since the 12th century to control the port of York. It is symbolic of centuries of the city's history.

Mr Hattersley said as it belonged to the people of York, through the council's ownership, the people of York should be consulted as to its future. "When I went inside the Bonding Warehouse and saw what a terrible state it was in after I had seen it in full operation years before, I did tingle with excitement at what it could be as York's finest waterfront hotel.

"People have said I must be out of my mind to even contemplate it and not to touch it with a barge pole. That excites me even more.

"It is a complex site, but with leadership from the council it could again become a commercial success, emerging from the wreckage as a fine amenity for the city."