Gregory Projects Ltd has acquired the former bowling alley at Tower Street in Harrogate with a view to transforming the disused site into a new mixed use development.
The successful Leeds based developer is preparing a planning application for a 78 bedroom hotel and restaurant together with 6,960 sq ft of retail/leisure space on the ground floor. It hopes to submit this within the next twelve weeks with a view to delivery by Easter 2013.
In a significant mark of confidence for the West Park site, operator Travelodge has already agreed terms to lease the hotel and restaurant over a 25 year term. Travelodge already operates a hotel on Parliament Street.
Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director for Travelodge Hotels, said:
Our existing Harrogate hotel performs strongly all year round and we have long been on the look out for a suitable second site.
The former bowling alley acquired by Gregory Projects is the perfect location for us and we are delighted to be playing a leading role in revitalising Tower Street
Richard Tovey of Gregory Projects, said:
The bowling alley on Tower Street closed down in July 2009 and the site owner had been unable to attract another occupier despite a thorough marketing campaign.
Over this period the buildings deteriorated and are now a bit of an eye sore. We are pleased to have acquired the site based on the support of Travelodge which has given us the confidence to progress an exciting new leisure and retail attraction for the area.
The existing multi storey car park adjacent will benefit the development and we anticipate strong occupier interest in the ground floor as Harrogate is currently a thriving town from a retail and leisure perspective.
Agents appointed to market the property are the Leeds offices of Jones Lang LaSalle and Lambert Smith Hampton. Smith Cole Wright acted on behalf of Travelodge.
If the DMO, tourism and business tourism can fill it I am all for it as it adds to our offering and bed spaces. However right now the big hotels are struggling to fill the rooms they already have so adding another 78 bedrooms ontop of the 107 premier inn ones may not be such a bright idea.