Green light for £20m George hotel Huddersfield refurb and Radisson Red relaunch

Plans for a £20m refurbishment of the George hotel in Huddersfield have been given the go-ahead by the local council's planning committee, with the hotel set to be operated by Radisson under its Radisson Red brand.

The approved plans for the 91-bedroom boutique hotel form part of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint regeneration plans. 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.

The original building will be refurbished almost entirely in its current state. The hotel's historic façade will also be preserved along John William Street, but with a new structure replacing the existing internal structures behind.

The council added that a "historically unimportant" three-storey block, which faces towards the train station, was in "poor condition" and requires dismantling, and will be replaced by a similar sized and "more sympathetic" block.

The hotel was the first building on St George's Square in 1851. In March 2020, Kirklees Council purchased the Grade II*-listed building.

Leader of Kirklees Council councillor Shabir Pandor said: "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."

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for regeneration, added: "Our goal from the outset has been to do this historic building justice, not just as a key part of Huddersfield's heritage but also as a major economic driver in the town. I'm thrilled that our plans have been approved."

Adela Cristea, vice president, business development UK & Ireland at Radisson Hotel Group, said: "We're proud to build on the success of Radisson Red and continue its UK expansion with this impressive project. We're delighted to partner with Kirklees Council and bring a new chapter to one of Huddersfield's most iconic buildings by introducing the bold and vibrant brand to the town."

Morgan Sindall has been appointed in a pre-contract service agreement and will be working on further designs for the building work over the coming months, while Queensberry has been appointed as the project's development manager, with Bowman Riley as the architect and heritage advisor.

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."

Andrew Davison, project director at Queensberry, added that the "sympathetic redevelopment" of the hotel would "secure its long-term future, while also acting as a catalyst for wider investment and regeneration in the great town of Huddersfield".