Leeds to get new £30m hotel

Oxford GB has just obtained planning permission to build a new upmarket, £30million, 244 bedroom hotel, right in the centre of Leeds. 

A hotel operator has yet to be appointed but already there has been a strong level of interest.  Once the operator has been appointed it is anticipated that the hotel will take two years to build and will be open by early 2012.

The hotel will be on Portland Street which forms part of the Civic Quarter of Leeds City Centre.  The hotel site will be directly adjacent to Leeds Metropolitan University’s Rosebowl Business and Law faculty; it is within half a mile of Leeds Mainline Rail Station and will also be the closest hotel to the recently announced 12,500 seat concert arena which is planned to open late 2012.

This site is the last remaining city centre development site in the heart of Leeds and the location is strategically located, surrounded by restaurants, bars and offices.  This hotel will be one of only two high-quality hotels in the north sector of the city and will be the closest hotel to the arena.

The hotel will be constructed by GB Building Solutions, the company which has just won awards for its construction of the mixed use developments known as Echo One and Echo Two at the gateway to Leeds on the M1.

GB Building solutions forms part of the hotel development joint venture company Oxford GB, together with Oxford Hotel Projects Ltd, a specialist hotel real estate consultancy.

Simon Wood, chairman of Oxford GB says, “Hotel rooms in Leeds will be in high demand with the development of the 12,500 seat arena and the new University facility. Oxford GB’s aim is to provide a high quality hotel, right where it is most needed.

“Achieving planning permission for a good quality hotel in Portland Crescent means that we can provide much needed hotel accommodation in the heart of Leeds, at a time that will tie in with the increased demand from the new university and the arena.”