City centre site earmarked for 14-storey hotel
Plans have been unveiled to build a 14-storey hotel at a prominent site in central Leeds.
Hammerson UK will present pre-application details for the ambitious scheme to Leeds City Council’s City Plans Panel on 29 August. It wants to locate the proposed 205-bed hotel on land between the Eastgate Roundabout, Dyer Street and the A61, to the east of the Victoria Gate multi-storey car park. The land is currently being used as a temporary car park.
The same scheme would include 180 sq metres of conference space at first floor level, with associated meetings rooms. At ground floor and mezzanine level there would be about 148 sq metres of restaurant space, an entrance lobby and a bar lounge. The building’s facade would incorporate a digital advertising screen.
Panel members will be asked to give their views on the scale and design of the building, the inclusion of the digital screen, as well as servicing and traffic access provision.
The report to be presented to the councillors next week explains: “These proposed uses of hotel with associated conferencing and restaurant with bar, are appropriate city centre uses that would bring vibrancy and vitality to the site, wider street scene and this part of the city centre.
“The hotel would complement the existing mixed-use function of the area.
“This development would be situated in a sustainable city centre location, where the opportunities to use and support sustainable transport modes is highly sought.
“The current surface car parking, for 51 spaces, would be removed to facilitate the development. However, this parking was granted temporary consent only, and thus its use as such is due to expire in February 2020.
“In addition, the adjacent existing multi-storey car park is to be retained and would be useable for this hotel development for those that do need to travel via car to the site.
“The proposal offers the opportunity to complete the successful development comprising the Victoria Gate estate; complement recent developments and public space provision; and has the potential to be an addition worthy of its location.
“Further, the proposed hotel, bar and restaurant would support business and leisure growth in Leeds city centre, creating new jobs and contributing towards economic growth.”
