Plans have been put forward to redevelop a temporary surface car park into a new flagship hotel in Leeds cultural quarter.

Hammerson is proposing to build a new 205-bed hotel adjacent to its iconic 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.

This announcement follows the recent submission of mixed-use planning applications for Martineau Galleries in Birmingham, the Goodsyard in Shoreditch and a residential development adjacent to Dundrum in Dublin.

A public consultation was held last month on the Leeds proposal, in which 92% of respondents said they supported the plans and believed that the proposals would support the continued growth of the city and cultural quarter.

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The building is designed by ACME, the same architect that planned and delivered Victoria Gate. The facade draws design cues from Leeds' rich textile industry heritage creating a close visual relationship with the rest of the development. Alongside 205 spacious rooms, an on-site gym and conferencing facilities; a new contemporary bar and restaurant on the ground floor will 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."

(CM/MH)