- Leisure Development - Sheffield, Exciting Five Star Development To Boost City Hotel Cluster
Date: 17 Sep 2007
Sheffield is to get its first 5-star hotel in a major £38 million development which will complete the transformation of one of the best-known areas of the city.
The 198-room Crowne Plaza Hotel is one of the key features of plans submitted today which will also include a 161-room Express by Holiday Inn hotel, bars, and restaurants close to the existing 145-year-old Holiday Inn Royal Victoria.
The project, set to boost the number of hotel beds available in the city by 18 per cent, has been developed by a local company Beck Conroy Consulting, who own and operate the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria.
The new hotels will be built on the Smithfield site on a car park adjacent to the Holiday Inn Royal Victoria. The site, borders the River Don and Victoria Station Road and the Inner Relief Road.
The project is enhanced by a footbridge connecting the rapidly changing north and south banks of the River Don, to complete the Victoria Quay's corridor. The development utilises the nine arches beneath Victoria Station Road, creating a selection of quality, restaurant outlets, to create a secure, experience destination close to Sheffield's emerging Central Business District
The hotels will significantly enhance the Cities ability to attract national and international conferences by developing a strong hotel cluster around Victoria Quays.
Over 100 new jobs will be created through this development, which will provide a significant employment boost to the City and will benefit the local supply chain.
The Smithfield site is currently used by market traders and a Sunday car boot sale. The city is currently sourcing a new space for the car boot sale and is committed to finding a suitable place before the development is on site. An alternative site for the market traders is also currently being looked at.
The proposals have been four and a half years in the making and are as a result of intensive discussions between Beck Conroy Consulting and city planners and the brand owners InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) .
Plans for the development were formally submitted today and will be heard by city planners before the end of the year. Work on the first of the new hotels is expected to start in spring 2008.
Hermann Beck said: "A city is always judged on the brands it can attract so to add two new hotels under the IHG banner will be fantastic for Sheffield. In addition, the development of an exclusive Crowne Plaza Hotel will enhance the range of provision available in the city and will be vital in attracting major conferences to Sheffield.
"It is a very exciting time and we are looking forward to taking these plans forward to help put Sheffield well and truly on the map as a key conference and tourism destination venue."
Councillor Tim Rippon, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Culture and Planning said: "As the Inner relief opens we have the opportunity, through downgrading Exchange St, to re-connect the Victoria Quays with the city centre, reintegrating the historic waterside from the Quays and down towards Nursery St and beyond.
"The addition of the Crowne Plaza and Express by Holiday Inn hotels will boost the emerging Central Business District as well as extending the city centre together with retail and leisure offerings. The hotel development will complement the plans for the Wicker and West Bar areas which have already been announced."
Hermann Beck
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