205 bed hotel next to Leeds's Victoria Gate given the go ahead

Leeds City Council has approved plans for the new hotel adjacent to the shopping centre which includes John Lewis as its flagship outlet.

Hammersons, the developer behind Victoria Gate and the new hotel, said it is currently in discussions with an international hotel brand looking to bring a new boutique hotel to Leeds for visitors and professional travellers.

This latest announcement follows confirmation that the group’s mixed-use masterplan for Birmingham city centre, Martineau Galleries, also received consent this week.

The City Quarters project Martineau Galleries will transform a currently underutilised site in the centre of Birmingham into a thriving new neighbourhood, providing homes, workspace, hotel rooms and a new town square. Consent for a new residential development adjacent to Dundrum in Dublin was also given the green light in December.

The Victoria Hotel site will be situated close to the emerging cultural quarter to the east; home to the Leeds Playhouse, BBC studios, the Northern Ballet and Leeds City College.

A spokesperson said: "The new hotel will enhance both the daytime and evening economies, meeting the need for a high quality hotel, restaurant and bar in this part of the city centre whilst providing an anchor for those looking to enjoy the city’s vibrant retail, leisure and growing cultural offer."

Robin Dobson, UK Director of Development and Project Management at Hammerson said, “Delivering on our City Quarters concept is a key priority for Hammerson and this is our third planning consent in the last twelve months. Not only does this mark an important step in our wider plans to create a thriving new cultural quarter in Leeds City Centre, it also demonstrates progress in our wider strategy to support our existing assets by moving beyond pure retail.”

Friedrich Ludewig, Director at ACME, said: 'We are pleased that planning permission has been granted for the Victoria Gate Hotel. Hammerson and ACME have worked over the last decade to start the transformation of this part of the city centre, creating new links between existing commercial and cultural uses.

“The hotel is a key part of this strategy, creating a bookend opposite John Lewis and the Leeds Playhouse, closing the existing urban gap and creating a visual landmark for the area.”