Old buildings in Micklegate transformed into luxury apartments (From York Press)

Old buildings in Micklegate, York, transformed into luxury self catering apartments

9:12am Saturday 13th October 2012 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

CONSERVATION and tourism chiefs have hailed a £3.2 million investment in a new luxury apartment complex in York’s Micklegate.

The Lawrance comprises 14 designer serviced apartments of one, two and three bedrooms, all sympathetically converted from former business premises and featuring wooden floors, HD televisions, free WI-FI and high quality bathrooms and kitchens.

At the front is a coffee shop and café open to the public and guests. The development has created six jobs, including coffee shop, reception, management and support staff.

Sir Ron Cooke, vice chairman of York Civic Trust, said the restoration of a former antiques centre and one-time warehouses and factory buildings was a fine example of the right way to redevelop old buidlings, and it would help rejuvenate the historic Georgian street, not least by bringing extra footfall for local businesses.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the tourism organisation Visit York, said the development was a stunning addition to York’s self catering offer.

She said Visit York was now working with more than 100 self catering properties to promote their businesses, an increase of 50 per cent in the last five years. “The quality of self catering in York is now second to none, with dozens of four and five star properties for our visitors to choose from.”

The apartments will be targeted primarily at business visitors to York during the week and to tourists at weekends.

Director Simon Bullock said the development was ideally placed to offer a very different designer alternative to hotel rooms, adding: “We have created a collection of stylish, spacious and luxurious homes from home for guests, with great attention to detail and high specification designer finish, making the apartments a very attractive alternative to visitors who want a base in York to work from or to enjoy a visit to the city.”

Manager Yvonne White said: “Our proposition is to offer the quality of finish, design and furnishings you usually only find in a privately owned apartment, or a five-star hotel.”