Plan to build a Victoria Gate Hotel with 205 rooms in Leeds to be decided

Ambitious plans for a new 205-bedroom hotel next to the Victoria Gate shopping centre in Leeds have been recommended for approval.
How the proposed Victoria Gate Hotel would look.How the proposed Victoria Gate Hotel would look.
How the proposed Victoria Gate Hotel would look.

The Victoria Gate Hotel would be built on a temporary surface car park next to Victoria Gate, Hammerson's retail and leisure destination in Leeds.

The plans are now set to be considered by councillors at a planning meeting in Leeds next week.

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According to the developers, the scheme was supported by more than 80 per cent of those who took part in a public consultation, with 86 local residents and businesses writing to the council in support of the scheme before plans were submitted last November.

One business said the new hotel would be "a fantastic addition to the area," while another one said it would be a "great opportunity to gain more visitors to the area and provide hotel accommodation at this side of the city".

Robin Dobson, UK Director of Development and Project Management at Hammerson said: “These plans for a new, contemporary hotel represent the next step in our wider regeneration plans for the east of Leeds City Centre. Over the last few months we have spoken to hundreds of local people about our plans and have been encouraged by the positive response. People see this new hotel bringing real benefits to the area.”

At the early stages of the project councillors raised concerns over the height of the building and a proposed display screen which would feature electronic adverts.

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Hammerson said it has listened carefully to public and council comments and has made improvements to the scheme including creating more landscaping and a recessed digital advertising screen.

Its scheme is also backed by Leeds Civic Trust, whose director, Martin Hamilton, said its features would "complement the existing parts of Victoria Gate".

The Victoria Gate Hotel is one of the first schemes Hammerson is bringing forward as part of its City Quarters concept which aims to create vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods surrounding its existing destinations.

Two planning applications relating to the Victoria Gate Hotel will be considered by councillors at the Leeds Council City Plans Panel meeting at 1.30pm on Thursday January 30.

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