Green light for Judges Lodgings revamp (From York Press)

Green light for Judges Lodgings revamp

9:29am Thursday 12th October 2006

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AMBITIOUS multi-million pound plans to renovate one of York's most historic buildings have been given the green light by council planners.

The Judges Lodgings, in Lendal, is now set for a massive £6.5 million overhaul, which will turn it into top-class tourist accommodation.

As previously reported in The Press, owner Peter O'Toole wants to convert the 14-bedroom hotel into five luxury, Georgian-style, self-catering apartments.

A City of York Council planning sub-committee has given its approval to the plans, and Mr O'Toole said today that work could begin at the start of next year.

Speaking following the decision, Mr O'Toole said: "We are absolutely delighted. It's brilliant news and finally lets us get on with doing it and bringing the whole plan together.

"We are envisaging January as a likely start date for some of the works, then we will start to fade it so parts can stay open while other parts are being worked on."

The plans include the development of a new semi-enclosed caf bar with seating for 100 people at the back of the hotel, improvements to the existing terrace, and a music bar that will help promote local bands. Mr O'Toole has long wanted to turn the building into first-rate accommodation, but its limited facilities prevent it gaining five-star status as a hotel. Instead, he hopes that individual apartments will offer dwellings of a five-star quality, which will attract tourists and corporate customers.

He has said the plan would see the hotel return to its former glory.

The building was built in 1717 as a doctor's house, then used as private accommodation for judges from 1840 until the 1960s, before being converted into a hotel and restaurant in the 1980s.

The sub-committee's planning approval remains subject to possible intervention by the secretary of state, because the 18th-century building is listed.

Mr O'Toole should hear within a few weeks whether the secretary of state has called it in for scrutiny.

York Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas said: "This is fantastic news. We are delighted this project now has the go-ahead.

"We are seeing a steady increase in demand for self-catering accommodation in the heart of the city and customers enjoy the freedom this kind of holiday offers them.

"If this conversion is done to the highest standard, it will really put York on the map as a must-visit destination for a self-catering city break."

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