A controversial planning application for a 15-storey hotel complex was approved by council planning chiefs this week – despite one member branding the plans an ‘overloading of horribleness’.
Opinions of members of Leeds City Council’s city plans panel seemed divided on the design, with some calling the building ‘ugly’ while others believed it to be ‘innovative’.
Members were told the black render-covered structure would house a 205-bed hotel, meeting rooms, a bar and restaurant areas.
The part 15-storey building would also include an eight-metre tall digital advertisement screen on the north side.
Plans for the building, which would sit next to the Victoria Gate car park, were discussed by the panel at a meeting last week.
Coun Dan Cohen said: “I think it’s a really ugly building, and it sits next to buildings that were supposed to be visually stunning and a statement pieces.
“It’s like an overloading of the senses of horribleness. It’s an ugly building that’s bookending an architecturally busy area.
"We can do much better.”
Fellow Conservative councillor Graham Latty praised the plans, however, adding: “There is only one thing wrong with it, and that’s that is shouldn’t be there.
"But Leeds should have a building like this, and I will support the application.”
Coun Kayleigh Brooks said: “It is innovative. The use of window sizing to make a pattern like that, I think it makes it very attractive.
“I’m not sold on the screen, but the building is high quality. It will have a positive economic impact on the area and increase footfall.”
Coun Elizabeth Nash said: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it reminds me of Hunslet grange – we couldn’t get that down fast enough. I can’t support it – it is too high in that location.”
The plans then went to a vote and were approved in principle by the panel, which delegated a final decision to council planning officers.
