A NOTORIOUS eyesore that has stood empty in York city centre for nearly 30 years could be torn down and replaced with a new hotel and shops, The Press can reveal.
The owners of The White Swan Hotel in Piccadilly are drawing up new proposals for the building, which has been unoccupied since the 1980s.
They plan to demolish the existing hotel, which was built in 1912, and replace it with a new one. Shops and/or a restaurant could also be provided below, replacing the existing shops. The Press understands a leading UK supermarket chain has expressed an interest.
The building has been owned for many years by the Surrey-based Graham Family Trust, but a recent change within the family has led to a new desire to redevelop the site.
Jason Garrett, who is representing the trust, said: “We are in the very early stages at the moment.
“We are very keen to do something with it that will bring some benefit to the city.
“We are going to be doing something, and it’s a big plus. We are keen to get it going as soon as we can. We have an interest in delivering value back to the town and are in discussions.”
Talks have been held between the trust and the city council.
The Press has been told the trust, or its representatives, will meet planning officials again within the next few weeks to discuss its ideas. It is not yet known what would happen to the retailers currently based on the site.
James Alexander, City of York Council leader, said he was aware of the talks so far and was keen to see the appearance of that part of the city centre improved.
He said: “The new council administration has committed itself to demolishing the ‘splash palace’ toilet block this financial year to open up that area of the city centre. This will provide more focus on Piccadilly and the need for development along here, and the White Swan will be an integral part of any such improvements.”
Philip Thake, chief executive of York Conservation Trust, gave a cautious welcome to the news but said he would be keen to see the detail. He said: “If it was a sympathetic development then, at this time when we are talking of all these new retail units at Monks Cross, it could be positive.”
The White Swan has stood on its current site for hundreds of years, though the current bulding was not constructed until 1912.
The earliest mention of The White Swan is in 1733. By 1902, when York’s Chief Constable carried out a detailed assessment of York’s public houses and inns, it had 25 bedrooms, a drawing room, a commercial room, a coffee room, three sitting rooms, a smoke room, a bar, a vault, a servants’ hall, a larder, a pantry and two kitchens.
That building was demolished to make way for the construction of Piccadilly, but was rebuilt in 1912. It closed in the 1980s, and more recently was occupied by squatters.
• Historical source: Hugh Murray’s Directory of York Pubs.
Hope at last on eyesore hotel
FOR decades, The White Swan Hotel in Piccadilly has been one of the most embarrassing eyesores in York.
There it has stood, on a prime corner of the city centre overlooking Parliament Street, boarded up and looking increasingly forlorn and neglected.
Attempts by the city council to get the owners, the Graham Family Trust, to do something about it have failed. Now, however, there is hope of progress. Following a change within the family, The Press understands that the owners are drawing up new proposals to demolish the hotel, which was built in 1912, and replace it with a new one. Shops and/or restaurants could be developed below.
This is excellent news. There are some who may be sorry to see the grand old building go, and who would prefer to see it refurbished. Certainly any new building there will have to be designed to fit in with its surroundings.
But for far too long, this building has been a blight on the centre of York. The site is perfect for a city-centre hotel. Any new shops and restaurants below would add considerably to what the city has to offer, as well as bringing welcome new jobs and investment.
We look forward with anticipation to further developments.
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