Green light for £20m George Hotel refurb
Approval has been granted for the overhaul of the Huddersfield landmark into a 91-bedroom hotel, to be operated by Radisson RED.
As revealed by Place Yorkshire last month, Morgan Sindall is working with the council on the project. The contractor has been appointed in a pre-contract service agreement, and will work on further building design work over the coming months.
Queensberry is the project’s development manager, and Bowman Riley the architect and heritage advisor.
Adjacent to Huddersfield’s railway station, the George was the first building on St George’s Square in 1851, and is renowned as the birthplace of rugby league.
In March 2020, Kirklees Council purchased the grade two-listed building to secure its future and incorporate the building into the Huddersfield Blueprint regeneration programme.
Of the planning verdict, leader of Kirklees Council Cllr Shabir Pandor said: “Today is a significant milestone for the George Hotel. Huddersfield town centre has long needed a high-quality hotel and Radisson RED is a stand-out international hotel brand known for its eye-catching style and excellent customer service.
“Alongside our wider Huddersfield Blueprint plans and Our Cultural Heart, the George will act as an impressive gateway to the town centre and continue to grow our profile as an attractive destination for tourism and business.”
The hotel’s historic façade will be preserved along John William Street, but with a new structure replacing the existing internal structures behind.
Kirklees said that a historically unimportant three-storey block, which faces towards the railway station, is in poor condition and requires dismantling. It will be replaced by a similar sized and more sympathetic block using quality materials and a similar colour palette to the rest of the structure.
Morgan Sindall is contractor and Queensberry the development manager. Credit: via Counter Context
As part of remodelling, the ground floor will house the hotel’s reception lobby, lounge and a 70-seat restaurant and bar. There will also be a large conference-style room for hire and the lower ground floor will provide a 100-cover banqueting suite for business events, receptions and weddings.
Ben Hall, Yorkshire area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re thrilled to have been appointed to work on what will be a significant new addition to the town. Our business has strong local connections with Huddersfield having completed many projects here over the years, and we look forward to helping to grow the local economy and bring a skills boost to the area through our work on this fabulous new hotel.”
Radisson RED is also the operator of the redeveloped North Western Hall, close to Liverpool Lime Street, which reopened in 2022
Andrew Davison, project director at Queensberry, added: “The building has significant history and this sympathetic redevelopment will secure its long-term future, whilst also acting as a catalyst for wider investment and regeneration in the great town of Huddersfield. The Radisson brand is a very fitting custodian.”
