There are two reasons for reconsidering the decision to allow a further hotel in Piccadilly on the Swinson House site.
First, the city council now has a very good plan for improving the Castle area and the Foss bank.
I was lucky enough to take part in some of the site briefings.
This area, including Piccadilly, will be a much more important access route to the city.
We need some mixed and attractive new developments in the new Piccadilly.
The building of a line of impersonal blocks is hardly a good welcome.
The second reason is that the over development of hotels will make the central city a far less attractive place and reduce choice for residents.
York as a series of suburbs linked to a city centre made up entirely of hotels and short-let apartments is hardly the city of our dreams.
I appreciate that the planning committee may be up against constraints – but at the very least this should be the trigger for a new and more balanced approach to the York city core – to include some affordable housing.
Source: Yorkpress
