Premier Inn at Kirkgate Market

Leeds City Council submitted a planning application in August for the scheme on the George Street side of the Grade I listed market building.

Now it has been confirmed that the application will be considered by the council's city plans panel at a meeting taking place next Thursday, November 30.

If the application is approved, then it is hoped work will start next year on a scheme that has been designed to complement other hugely-positive regeneration initiatives in the area around the market and beyond.

Ahead of next week's meeting, the council can also confirm Premier Inn as the proposed operator of the hotel. A pre-let lease has been agreed with Premier Inn, which is part of the Whitbread Group.

Premier Inn's customer base is typically split 50/50 between business and leisure guests, with year-round occupancy levels above 80 per cent across its hotel network.

The George Street hotel would create approximately 50 new full and part-time jobs locally once operational, with around 80 jobs being supported during construction.

The site earmarked for the scheme is owned by the council and is currently occupied by a number of vacant low-rise shop units.

The hotel would fill the top five floors of the new six-storey building and would have 143 rooms as well as a bar and restaurant for guests.

The ground floor, meanwhile, would be home to commercial units and a state-of-the-art council-run gym that would improve the local fitness offer for people living in the city centre and nearby communities.

The scheme would be developed by the council with the intention of providing a stylish addition to a part of the city centre that boasts landmarks such as the Victoria Gate retail destination, Leeds Playhouse and Leeds City College's Quarry Hill campus.

It is also hoped that the hotel would help drive extra footfall to the market, already thriving on the back of a multi-million pound investment programme.