Unanimous backing for boutique hotel plan

PLANS FOR a new 168-bed boutique hotel within York’s medieval city walls have been approved.

The venue at the Banana Warehouse will be operated under the Tribute brand, which is part of the Marriott portfolio, and has been granted approval by York Council.

Developers have pledged that the 200 jobs created as part of the hotel’s construction will go to local companies and support apprenticeships and training for residents.

The hotel will be built next to the Hampton by Hilton, which is under construction. The meeting heard that the Hampton site is a “significantly bigger building” which was granted permission in February 2019.

A spokesperson for the developer, Axcel Group, told the committee: “We’re very confident that the scheme before you will make a positive contribution towards the city centre in many ways. Tourism uses in the Castle Gateway area are encouraged.”

Coun Andy D’Agorne said he “very much welcomed” the new hotel development.

He added: “We should note the retention of the facade of the Banana Warehouse – although not a listed building it does very much reflect the history of the city.

“We’ve sadly lost the building opposite which was the aeroplane factory, but this does help to reflect the totality of history, to retain some facades.”

Coun Tony Fisher told the meeting it was “crucial” that the new hotel did not obscure views in the city, and added: “I think it will actually improve the views from certain historic areas.”

But Coun Pete Kilbane said: “I’ve got a lot of sympathy with the objectors who say that the last thing York needs is another hotel.

“What it does need is facilities for York people – the suggestion of a cultural quarter. But of course we don’t have a Local Plan that we can hang these things on.”

The plans were unanimously approved.