Hammerson submits plans for 205-bed flagship hotel

Hammerson, which owns and manages Victoria Leeds, has submitted plans for a new 205-bed hotel adjacent to its retail and leisure destination, Victoria Gate. The Victoria Gate Hotel is part of Hammerson’s City Quarters concept, which will create “vibrant” mixed-use neighbourhoods surrounding Hammerson’s existing flagship destinations in the UK. The concept will see Hammerson transform many of its city venues beyond pure retail into successful neighbourhoods providing homes, workspace, hotel space and accessible public realm. The submission follows on from a public consultation held last month where the response to the new hotel was “overwhelmingly positive”. Hammerson said 92% of respondents said that they supported the plans and believed that the proposals would support the continued growth of the city and cultural quarter. The building will be designed by ACME and will feature 205 spacious rooms, an on-site gym and conferencing facilities; a new contemporary bar and restaurant on the ground floor will also welcome both guests and visitors to the city. The hotel will support 50 full and part-time jobs on completion, whilst up to 980 jobs could also be supported during the construction period. Robin Dobson, UK director of development and project management at Hammerson said: “Hammerson has a successful track record of creating vibrant continually evolving places in and around thriving European Cities, and we are delighted to continue this journey with a prestigious hotel, restaurant and bar for this iconic destination. “This is an important next step in our City Quarters concept, which will see us develop the area into a thriving cultural quarter adjacent to Victoria Leeds.It is hugely encouraging to have received such strong support for the proposals, and I would like to thank the local community for sharing their thoughts with us ahead of submission.” Friedrich Ludewig, director at ACME, added: “We are delighted that the application for the Victoria Gate Hotel is ready to be considered by Leeds planners. The layout of the windows in the facade will create a striking impression of a diamond pattern visible from afar, and the open ground floor will create a welcoming counterpoint to the new entrance of the Northern Playhouse opposite.”