GB Building Solutions is planning to commence works this month on the £21m building scheme of 206-bedroom, 14-storey hotel, which has been designed by architect Dexter Moren Associates and will include a destination rooftop bar.
The site of the planned hotel is next to Leeds Metropolitan University's Rose Bowl conferencing facility and close to the 13,500 capacity Leeds Arena, which has hosted celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen and Sir Elton John.
Following the guarantee of £4.8m funding from the local enterprise partnership in addition to private funding, which was the result of GB Group’s collaboration with Leeds and Partners, the city's inward investment organisation, the scheme’s go-ahead has been ensured.
Brandon Riley, director of hotels at GB Group, said: "This project is a great example of how the public and private sector can work together in partnership to achieve a common goal. We are delighted to be in a position to move forward with our plans for this exciting new investment.
"The new Hilton Leeds Arena will provide a fantastic boost to the visitor economy in addition to driving regeneration and job creation."
It is expected that around 100 long-term jobs will be created by the completion of the project in 2016, with the potential to create hundreds of temporary jobs, mainly in the construction sector.
Although, initially GB Group will have the ownership rights of the hotel, which will be operated as a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property under a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide, upon its opening, it will be managed by hospitality specialist Redefine BDL.
Rob Palleschi, global head of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, commented: "We're delighted to bring another hotel to the city of Leeds.
"Our brand has strong ties with the entertainment industry, so we're particularly excited to be locating so close to one of the UK's most sought-after new venues.
"With Hilton Leeds City also undergoing a £4m refurbishment this signing underlines our ongoing commitment to the Leeds market."
Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Group, said: "This is a key development for us, and marks an important milestone in our evolution from a developer contractor into a property owner investor.
"We are thrilled to have secured the go-ahead and funding to deliver this ambitious scheme at the heart of one of the UK’s most exciting cities, and look forward to working closely with our partners to build what will become the premier destination for business and leisure in Leeds."
Photo: GB Group
