Plans for a new four-storey hotel close to the historic Eye of York look set to get the go-ahead from city councillors.

The proposed hotel would be built at the junction of Piccadilly and Tower Street, on a site currently occupied by a filling station and a vacant car showroom.

It would back on to the River Foss and the plans provide for a riverside walk and a walkway under Castle Mills Bridge to the other side of Tower Street.

Heritage groups say the hotel would not be in keeping with the conservation area but officers will advise City of York councillors to give the application the go-ahead at a meeting on Wednesday.

English Heritage has objected to the new plan because it would dominate the Fishergate Tower and Castle Walls "at a point where a more open appearance needs to be retained in the understanding of the historic relationship between these two structures".

York Civic Trust described the architecture as "insensitive".

David Johnson, City of York development control officer, said: "The architect has adopted a contemporary approach whilst using natural materials to reflect the conservation values of the location, ie York stone for the walls and zinc for the roof, which has an appearance close to lead."

He said the hotel would reduce in scale down to three storeys where it fronts Tower Street and two storeys in part on the River Foss so was acceptable in terms of scale.

Its design was in character with the city walls in the area.

He said the developers had offered to provide a riverside walk along the edge of the site which would have a pedestrian and a cycle path.

As part of the overall transport requirements the developer would also be carrying out improvements to the existing junction between Piccadilly and Tower Street.

The developer believed guests would use adjoining public car parks for parking and had agreed to contribute to city parking facilities.

"In general terms, it is considered that this scheme will bring about a very significant improvement to this site which is currently occupied by a petrol filling station and a somewhat rundown vacant car showroom," said Mr Johnson.

He recommended the plan should be approved with various detailed conditions attached.

The application has been submitted by Landmark Development Projects, and comes in the wake of another application by a different developer for a six-storey hotel on the other side of Piccadilly on a site next to the county court.

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