COUNCILLORS have given the green light in principle for a 163-bed hotel next to the Barbican Centre, after last-minute talks between planning officers and developers saved the project.

Officers had recommended refusal for the scheme opposite the Bar Walls, and English Heritage objected to the use of limestone on its entrance feature.But after talking to planning officers, commercial property company Broadhall proposed cutting the building’s height along Kent Street by one storey to six storeys and made other changes, including using zinc sheeting instead for the Hilton Garden hotel’s entrance.

The planning committee’s decision clears the way for the site which has been derelict for years to come back into use, creating 40 full-time jobs and an unknown number of part-time jobs. Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing said: “We cannot have a big hole in the ground there – we need to be getting on with something. This has an acceptable design. I don’t think we have to build a Georgian replica everywhere in York. The Barbican is relatively modern – we need something that complements it.”

Coun Brian Watson said: “Sometimes I can’t understand English Heritage,” adding that the organisation had wanted something that blended in with the Bar Walls, then objected to the use of limestone on the grounds the hotel was not a church or a council building.

English Heritage has reserved comment on the zinc sheeting proposal until it has seen exactly what the company proposes.

The committee’s chair and vice-chair and the assistant director of planning will now draw up a list of conditions for the scheme before planning permission is finally granted.

Coun Andy D’Agorne said the committee was being asked to sign a blank cheque. He also raised concerns that the extra car traffic would affect local air quality.

Read Full Story at: http://bit.ly/wqjio6

Source: Yorkpress.co.uk