Plans to turn Nottingham’s historic Guildhall into a multi-million pound hotel creating hundreds of jobs have been tipped for approval.
Earlier this year, a joint venture between Locksley Hotel and the Ascena hotel group lodged proposals with Nottingham City Council to create the hotel, which would feature a total of 160 bedrooms, a fine dining restaurant, wedding and conferencing facilities and a spa.
Originally built in 1887, the Guildhall has had a number of uses, including as a magistrates’ court, police station and fire station.
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The Burton Street site is owned by the city council and has stood empty for a decade. The authority had been based at the building between 1996 and 2010, until it moved to new offices in Loxley House.
The city council’s planning committee is now due to hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday to discuss the hotel proposals, which could create over 250 jobs.
And a report prepared by the authority planning committee ahead of that meeting has recommended that the plans be approved.
According to the plans, drawn up by RPS Design Group, a five-storey extension would be built to the rear of the building, as well as a new 13-storey building.
The bedrooms would be set across these buildings, with the Grade II-listed Guildhall housing 39 bedrooms and the new extension accommodating a further 20 bedrooms.
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The proposed 13-storey tower would feature 101 bedrooms as well as a rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace.
A glazed link would also be created between the Guildhall and Fire Station House.
Ascena was named as the operator of the proposed hotel towards the end of last year.
The firm already owns and runs a number of luxury hotel and restaurant facilities in Birmingham and the South West, one of which is the Birmingham Michelin-starred restaurant Opheem.
Speaking back in December, John Wilby, Ascena’s project lead for the Nottingham hotel, said: “It is a landmark development for the city and a key destination for people across the East Midlands.
“The Guildhall is an amazing building and we are naturally delighted to be working with the city council.”