Luxury hotel plan for York (From York Press)
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Luxury hotel plan for council offices in St Leonard’s Place in York
12:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in News
Exclusive By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
Coun Sonja Crisp at the City of York Council offices in St Leonard’s Place, which may be converted into a hotel
AN UPMARKET hotel is set to be created out of council offices in an historic York crescent, providing new jobs and boosting the city’s tourism industry.
Developers Rushbond plc have applied to City of York Council for permission to convert 1-9 St Leonard’s Place and 2 and 4 Museum Street into a hotel, along with restaurants and bars and also to carry out internal and external alterations.
A spokesman said it was talking to a number of hotel operators who were interested in the building, which has been owned by Rushbond since 2006 and will be vacated by local authority staff when the new council headquarters are completed.
Coun Sonja Crisp, the council’s cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said the proposal was a “good news story” for the city at a time when such investment was more difficult to come by, and it would bring much needed new jobs.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to secure the future of a Grade II listed building in the heart of York,” she said, adding that she hoped the application would reflect the sensitive nature of St Leonard's Place.
Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the tourism organisation Visit York, said the building could provide the opportunity for a “quality, charming hotel in the heart of the city”, close to so many of York’s cultural attractions.
“We welcome new investment in hotel facilities particularly where developments help us to promote the fact that our city offers something very special and different,” she said.
“We are keen for any new operator to work actively with us – and with the city’s existing high-quality hotels – so that the wider tourism sector can also benefit from this investment.”
But George Briffa, general manager of the Grange Hotel in Bootham, reiterated concerns raised earlier this year by the York Hoteliers' Association about the number of new hotels being created in York, which he said was adding to pressure on existing hotels and B&Bs.
“Nearly 1,000 extra bedrooms will become available through 2012,” he said.
Peter Brown, of the conservation watchdog York Civic Trust, said it would be working its way through the application documents, mindful of the building’s importance and the need for the development to show proper respect for the architecture.
A report to the council said the terrace, Grade II* listed and “architecturally stunning”, was built speculatively as a fashionable terrace promenade in 1831, forming the centre piece of a town improvement scheme and clearing an overcrowded part of the post medieval townscape.
“The interiors have survived well during their conversion to office use. The city council alterations have respected key internal features such as staircase and balustrades and also most of the surviving cast plaster features and cornice work.”
Comments(32)
nowthen
says...
12:14pm Fri 15 Jun 12
nowthen
says...
12:16pm Fri 15 Jun 12
nowthen wrote:Spot the missing o
I'm just waiting for the loony left/green contingent to start moaning incase somebody might drive there in a private vehicle. How about some affordable housing ? or are listed buildings to good for the plebs ?
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:36pm Fri 15 Jun 12
bjb
says...
12:38pm Fri 15 Jun 12
LibDem
says...
12:43pm Fri 15 Jun 12
* the evening/weekend public car park will in future only be available for hotel guests.
* the developers want to move the bus stops away from the front of the building (but don't say where to)
* therearere only 2 weeks left in which residents can make comments or raise objections.
Contary to the impression given, the Civic Trust were consulted weeks ago.
http://tinyurl.com/S
t-Leonards-parking
tobefair
says...
12:43pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Pity they don't come complete with kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms. Then they might be useful.
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:48pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Nearly 1,000 extra bedrooms will become available through 2012,” he said.Hasn't anyone realised that the Council have a trick up their sleeve here ? They allow wholesale development of hotel bedrooms, hoping that the market becomes saturated. When certain hotels fail, it gives the Council a few options :
1. Use the spare rooms to house the homeless.
2. Compulsory purchase failed hotels and convert them to social housing or hostels.
3. Hope that Housing associations will purchase the failed hotels and convert them to social housing.
Meanwhile, the housing situation in York gets ever worse, but James and 'Red' Sonja score brownie-points for economic growth, and leave Tracey and Dave crying over the LDF debacle and the growing waiting lists. LOL
nearlyman
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12:48pm Fri 15 Jun 12
.........
Mr Crabtree
says...
12:51pm Fri 15 Jun 12
LibDem wrote:Never mind, 'A&E' will make it right with another cut and shut planning report.
Article fails to mention that: * the evening/weekend public car park will in future only be available for hotel guests. * the developers want to move the bus stops away from the front of the building (but don't say where to) * therearere only 2 weeks left in which residents can make comments or raise objections. Contary to the impression given, the Civic Trust were consulted weeks ago. http://tinyurl.com/S t-Leonards-parking
Now waiting to hear if there is an 'enabling
development' ......... ??? !
Smiler
says...
1:31pm Fri 15 Jun 12
LibDem wrote:The car park is no great loss. about 20 spaces? with ones on clarence street or marygate.
Article fails to mention that:
* the evening/weekend public car park will in future only be available for hotel guests.
* the developers want to move the bus stops away from the front of the building (but don't say where to)
* therearere only 2 weeks left in which residents can make comments or raise objections.
Contary to the impression given, the Civic Trust were consulted weeks ago.
http://tinyurl.com/S
t-Leonards-parking
The bus stops should never be there anyway as they obstruct the footpath, they should be in front of the art gallery.
the planning application must follow the timescales set by the council? surely therefore the residents will have had planning letters as in every other application.
as a York resident i don't see a problem with this at all. a busy hotel in the middle of York or an eyesore decaying unloved? i know which one i would like.
Oaklands Resident
says...
2:03pm Fri 15 Jun 12
I also don’t have a problem in principle with the development. It’s a shame though that the original plan for a mix of residential and a small hotel has fallen through.
Judging by the documents on the Council web site, they have decided that there are no “nearby residents” so no standard consultation letters have been issued. Usually residents get a month to comment but the silence surrounding this application means that only 2 weeks of that period now remains.
&, with respect, given the large number of bus services that use the St Leonard’s corridor, there is no chance of fitting additional bus stops into Exhibition Square.
meme
says...
2:05pm Fri 15 Jun 12
normally developers have to market offices/sheds for a year to prove they are not wanted before the loss of employment argument is negated! ridiculous but true!
Perhaps someone in planning is seeing sense at last. Not much hope of that is there!!!
notmyrealname
says...
2:10pm Fri 15 Jun 12
meme
says...
2:37pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Anyway its not a hotel yet, although its not a bad use for it, as they dont have anyone yet to develop it or run it. Combined with Judges lodgings /Holgate Villas /James st /Barbican it does seem there are a few biggies available
gmsgop
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2:44pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Madasanibbotson
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2:50pm Fri 15 Jun 12
The Mc
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3:38pm Fri 15 Jun 12
ReginaldBiscuit
says...
4:08pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Also, I think the car park should have .... a shrubbery! Ni
AngryandFrustrated
says...
4:26pm Fri 15 Jun 12
The bus stops cannot be moved unless the whole of York's buses are to be re-routed and none are to run into town on that side - given the volume of people that use them, that is highly unlikely unless of course big developers win over the needs of the residents. If Ex Square was to be used, what would happen to the gas guzzling, smoke belching, rolling roadblocks aka the tourist buses? PP would be out of a job! There are too many buses an hour for Ex Sq to be considered a suitable place for the replacement stops.
AngryandFrustrated
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4:44pm Fri 15 Jun 12
pedalling paul
says...
7:58pm Fri 15 Jun 12
AngryandFrustrated wrote:Tch...tch...tch....! You've got my doppleganger on the brain again..!
The lack of notice is nothing new - the Council and YMT tried the same trick over Christmas 2010 over the Big Wheel behind the Art Gallery fiasco.
The bus stops cannot be moved unless the whole of York's buses are to be re-routed and none are to run into town on that side - given the volume of people that use them, that is highly unlikely unless of course big developers win over the needs of the residents. If Ex Square was to be used, what would happen to the gas guzzling, smoke belching, rolling roadblocks aka the tourist buses? PP would be out of a job! There are too many buses an hour for Ex Sq to be considered a suitable place for the replacement stops.
Currie01
says...
9:42pm Fri 15 Jun 12
eeoodares
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10:36pm Fri 15 Jun 12
long distance depressive
says...
4:47pm Sat 16 Jun 12
Oaklands Resident wrote:The railings will have to go, H&S issue when customers throw themselves out of the windows after seeing the minibar prices.
Is “Red” Sonja holding up the railings or are the railings providing much needed support?
I also don’t have a problem in principle with the development. It’s a shame though that the original plan for a mix of residential and a small hotel has fallen through.
Judging by the documents on the Council web site, they have decided that there are no “nearby residents” so no standard consultation letters have been issued. Usually residents get a month to comment but the silence surrounding this application means that only 2 weeks of that period now remains.
&, with respect, given the large number of bus services that use the St Leonard’s corridor, there is no chance of fitting additional bus stops into Exhibition Square.
bevdearnley
says...
6:55pm Sat 16 Jun 12
How many bedrooms will this hotel have? The issue with this location is parking. If 1 space per 2 hotel rooms is needed, then that would restrict hotel to 40 rooms.
It is a very important building in the centre of York. It needs to be developed with sensitivity to it's history and location.
The bus stops there have always been a nuisance, especially for people with pushchairs or wheelchair users. A clear pavement would be a much better idea. But where should the buses be rerouted to? Outside the art gallery and get rid of tourist bus, would get my vote!
Even AndyD
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7:36pm Sat 16 Jun 12
eeoodares
says...
8:12pm Sat 16 Jun 12
Even AndyD
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10:27pm Sat 16 Jun 12
Also, hotels don't all cater for the same markets, I'd say in terms of high quality hotels for the top-end market, we aren't over-supplied. But just my opinion.
eeoodares
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2:21am Sun 17 Jun 12
Last year another three, lots of smaller BandB's and hotels really struggling and earlier in the year, IBIS were selling rooms for £30 and Churchills and Cedar Court for £80 for a double. If you want to see real problems, keep building hotels! People who want top quality hotels do not expect to have to leave their car in an NCP.
York does not need more hotels it needs conference centres, hi-tech businesses and similar to bring money into the city all year round...From what I understand there are plans for new 'large' hotels...two at the old Terrys site, Walmgate, Barbican centre, Holgate Road and now the Council Offices. Am I the only person that is worried about £6 per hour jobs that will become seasonal like Blackpool! We need to attract the businesses. Cambridge did it!
Bobmbmd
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7:50am Mon 18 Jun 12
Magicman!
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2:44am Tue 19 Jun 12
Sir Alex says...
12:09pm Fri 15 Jun 12