THE owners of a York hotel that has stood empty for nearly 30 years have vowed to consult residents before drawing up new plans for the site.
As revealed in The Press last month, The Graham Family Trust wants to redevelop The White Swan Hotel in Piccadilly, which has been unoccupied since the 1980s.
The Surrey-based trust is considering demolishing the building and replacing it with a new hotel, but has promised to consult fully before drawing up any plans.
The demolition suggestion has prompted widespread discussion on The Press letters page, with many unhappy about the possibility of the building being lost.
Jason Garrod, from CJ2 Limited, representing the owners, said: “We are currently in discussions with City of York Council about the potential to redevelop the White Swan hotel building. No decisions have been made about what will come forward at the present time and we aim to submit a planning application in spring/summer 2012.
“We recognise that there are different and strongly held views about the current building and we will ensure that we consult with residents and businesses about our ideas prior to submitting any application to the council.”
A White Swan has stood on the current site for hundreds of years but the current building, with mock-Tudor finishings, was constructed in 1912 following demolition work to make way for Piccadilly.
The Press has been told that if the current hotel is demolished, it could be replaced with a new hotel with shops and/or a restaurant below.
Supermarket chain Waitrose is understood to have expressed an interest.
The building has been owned for many years by the Graham Family Trust, but a recent change within the family led to a new desire to redevelop the site, following an impasse that lasted many years.
Welcome move
FOR three decades The White Swan in Piccadilly has been more of an ugly duckling.
The mock Tudor hotel may once have been as graceful as its name, but the building is currently an eyesore, so the Graham Family Trust’s decision to redevelop it is surely welcome.
However, one idea is to demolish the hotel and that has left many unhappy. Now, in a welcome move, the trust says it will consult residents before drawing up any new plans for the site.
The White Swan may not be listed, but it has a place in York’s history and within its 20th century fabric are thought to be parts of a medieval timber-framed house.
Therefore, it is important to pay due regard to people’s opinions and craft plans for the site based on those opinions.
That is not to say we would not welcome an intelligent new design; after all, York needs to breathe, not become a theme park.
But too many buildings have already been lost due to inconsiderate planning. Consultation has to be the way forward.
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