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Leeds City Council has submitted a planning application for the development of Kirkgate Market hotel on George Street.
The site earmarked for the scheme is owned by the council and is currently occupied by a number of vacant low-rise shop units.
According to the council’s plans, the hotel would fill the top five floors of the new six-storey building and would have around 140 rooms as well as a bar and restaurant for guests.
Meanwhile, the ground floor would be home to commercial units and a council-run gym.
The scheme would be developed by the council, with a pre-let lease in place with the proposed hotel operator.
A “high-quality” approach to design is planned, with the aim of creating a “suitably-attractive” new neighbour for the Grade I listed market building.
The hotel would also sit close to landmark locations such as the Victoria Gate retail destination, the refurbished Leeds Playhouse and Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus
The project is also seen as a way of driving further footfall into the market, which is already pulling in more than 400,000 visitors a month on the back of a multi-million pound investment programme.
Leeds City Council said that if the application is approved, then work could start next year.
An initial ‘pre-application’ report on the proposals was considered by the council’s city plans panel on 22 June.
That meeting was followed by a period of community consultation, with the majority of comments received from members of the public being “very positive”.
Groups contacted during the consultation process included market traders, ward councillors and other stakeholders such as Leeds Civic Trust. Letters were also sent to local residential and commercial properties, while an in-person information event was held at the market.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We’re determined to do everything we can to deliver a bright and busy future for Leeds Kirkgate Market while also driving forward the regeneration of the surrounding area.
“These hotel proposals are designed to help us achieve that twin aim, and we have been encouraged by the response we have had to them over the last few months. The submission of the planning application marks another important step in a process that we hope will have a positive and transformative effect on George Street and the rest of the eastern side of our fantastic city centre.”
