DETAILS of a major new hotel development for the centre of York which could bring 50 new jobs to the city have been revealed.

If approved, the scheme would see the construction of a three-storey, 26-bed hotel and restaurant in St Maurice’s Road, in the shadow of the historic bar walls.

While the cost of the project is unclear, the scale of the development has been revealed in a number of architectural sketches and plans.

The hotel would be situated on land which is currently a car park, directly in front of the walls, close to the junction of St Maurice’s Road and Monkgate.

Greg Morgan, designer of the building and director of York-based MoMo Architecture, said: “We would hope that what is being offered is a building that will add to York’s architectural heritage. We were inspired by a hotel in Toledo in Spain where people go for the surroundings, not the hotel itself.

“It’s a modern design but it has respect for its surroundings in its context.

Mr Morgan said the design of the hotel meant people walking along the bar Walls would be able to see themselves reflected in its windows.

“They will be able to see the only thing they can’t see when they are on the walls – that is the walls themselves,” he said. Mr Morgan admitted that the design of the building, and its proximity to the walls, would be likely to draw comment from some.

Nearby Jewbury resident, Robert Palmer, wrote to City of York Council to say the proposed building was too large for the site and would obscure views.

He said: “It is a boring design of little architectural merit which is out of keeping with the buildings in the immediate vicinity, particularly those that are listed.”

He also raised questions over traffic congestion. The application is expected to come before City of York Council’s Planning Committee for a decision in October.