Evans sticks with GMI for Dakota York
Leeds-based Evans Property Group has picked GMI Construction as principal contractor to build the 140-bed Dakota York hotel, due for completion in spring 2028.
Set within the medieval city walls and near to York railway station and Lendal Bridge, this will be the sixth Dakota hotel to be delivered by GMI, building on projects in Manchester city centre, Manchester Airport, Leeds, Glasgow and Newcastle Quayside.
The development occupies a 0.7-acre site and combines Dakota’s distinctive industrial-inspired design style with architectural features that reflect the city’s character, including red-brick façades, bronze-effect detailing and a courtyard. The hotel will be accessed from both Rougier Street and Tanners Moat. A series of terraces will also provide panoramic views across the city.
The hotel is targeting BREEAM Excellent and will incorporate air source heat pumps to support lower-carbon heating, alongside electric vehicle charging points and facilities promoting more sustainable travel.
The demolition phase is now complete with main works commencing, marking a key stage in the delivery of the new hotel.
The wider project team includes KPP Architects, structural engineer JPG Group, planning consultant O’Neill Associates, heritage specialist Montagu Evans, employer’s agent Rex Proctor & Partners and commercial property adviser CBRE.
Ed Weston, GMI’s regional director for Yorkshire, said: “This is a highly prominent and constrained city-centre site, surrounded by neighbouring buildings and shaped by York’s historic character. With the demolition phase now complete, our focus is on progressing the new hotel.
“We will bring our understanding of the Dakota brand and the experience gained across the previous five hotels to deliver a distinctive new destination for York.”
Marc Banks, development director at Evans Property Group, said: “This development represents the next chapter for the Dakota brand and a significant investment in one of the country’s most popular and historic destinations.
“Our ambition has always been to create a hotel that is unmistakably Dakota while responding positively to the character and heritage of York. We believe the finished development will become a distinctive new addition to the city’s hospitality sector.”
