Plans Unveiled for York's First Five Star Hotel

PLANS for York`s first five-star hotel, in the old GNER headquarters, have been unveiled by developers.

The development proposals by Acropolis Properties Ltd to transform the landmark building into a 107-bedroom hotel would bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

The York Press claims the the firm bought the building for £11 million in an unpublicised deal last summer, but it has taken until now for them to submit the planning application to City of York Council.

They claim the hotel would greatly enhance York`s appeal as a visitor destination, with guests arriving by rail getting driven by limousine to the hotel, which would be open around 24 hours a day.

The hotel would feature a luxury spa; gym or exercise studio; valet parking; and butler service in the suites. To ensure guests received top service, 250 to 300 jobs would be created to make sure their every need is catered for.

The applicant`s agent, David Johnson, said York was suffering by not having a five-star hotel and pointed to other cities which have overtaken York in the luxury hotel stakes.

In a supporting statement with the plans, he said: "York is missing out on a strong and growing sector of the tourism market.

"In the UK there are more than 70 five-star hotels, more than half of which are in London. However Bath, Brighton, Chester, Leeds, Edinburgh and other cities outside London now have five-star hotels and places such as Liverpool and Southport are developing them."

He said a five-star hotel would make a "considerable contribution" to York`s economy.

Acropolis Hotels already has four-star hotels in the north at Harrogate, Huddersfield, Bradford and Wakefield, but says it has long been aiming to open a five-star establishment in York.

The proposed architects, McKenzie Wheeler, have worked on other five-star hotels, including at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London.