Plans for £25m York hotel progress

PLANS for a £25m hotel and apartments scheme close to York city centre are set to be lodged this month.

Details of the 146-bed hotel and eight apartments scheme in Piccadilly, which also features a terrace and riverside garden with new public areas creating views across the River Foss to the 13th century Cifford’s Tower, are being finalised before York development company Northminster submits a planning application to City of York Council later this month.

The 50,000 sq ft scheme, comprising 42,000 sq ft for the hotel and around 7,900 of  apartments, is known as Piccadilly Riverside and has been developed from two years of pre-planning discussions with City of York planners, the York city architect and Historic England, the public body which looks after England’s historic environment.

Piccadilly Riverside is proposed for 46-50 Piccadilly, the site of a former Polar garage which is now an NCP car park and Infinity Motorcycles accessory shop, which has been owned by key figures at Northminster since 1978 and they believe the proposed scheme could be a catalyst for the “long-anticipated regeneration” of  Piccadilly and historic castle area.

Piccadilly Riverside, designed with COG Architecture, Leeds, first mooted by Northminster in 2015, is planned to be built from high-quality materials using traditional brick and glass, with construction work starting as soon as possible if planning permission is granted.

Northminster  managing director George Burgess said: “Piccadilly is the Cinderella of main arterial routes into York city centre. It has a fantastic setting next to the River Foss, with huge potential, but badly needs bringing up to the standard which residents and visitors to the city have a right to expect which is long overdue.

“Our proposed scheme will replace unattractive, run-down buildings with an exciting new scheme which will contribute towards the local economy for tourism, business and ‘city living’ homes.”

The plans for Piccadilly Riverside will be on display for public consultation at the Hilton Hotel on Tower Street, York, between 3pm and 7pm on Wednesday January 25.