GB Group has secured public and private sector funding for a £32m exclusive hotel development at the heart of Leeds city centre, the closest to the newly opened flagship Leeds Arena.

GB Building Solutions will start work this month on the £21m building contract to create the 206-bedroom, 14-storey hotel, which will include a destination rooftop bar. The site, directly next to Leeds Metropolitan University's Rose Bowl conferencing facility, is just 300m from the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena, which has already hosted the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Sir Elton John.

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The GB Group worked closely with Leeds and Partners, the city's inward investment organisation, to secure £4.8m funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in addition to private funding, to ensure the scheme's go-ahead.

Brandon Riley, director of hotels at GB Group, said: "This project is a great example of how the public and private sector can work together in partnership to achieve a common goal. We are delighted to be in a position to move forward with our plans for this exciting new investment. The new Hilton Leeds Arena will provide a fantastic boost to the visitor economy in addition to driving regeneration and job creation."

It is anticipated that up to 100 long-term jobs will be created when the hotel is up and running in 2016, with the potential to create hundreds of temporary jobs, primarily in the construction sector.

The GB Group will retain ownership of the hotel, which will be operated as a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property under a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide. Once open, it will be managed by hospitality specialist Redefine BDL.

(CD)