Aparthotel approved despite ambulance access fears

Plans for an aparthotel have been approved despite concerns additional traffic could delay ambulances getting to York Hospital.

St David Aparthotels' plan would convert 24 Gillygate into visitor accommodation with seven suites housing up to four guests each.

Seven objectors claimed the development would cause traffic problems in an already congested street and have an impact on traditional accommodation providers.

But City of York Council planning officers stated the proposals would support tourism in the city and levels of noise generated by guests would be acceptable in a central area.

The company's plans stated it had a track record of creating high-quality visitor accommodation which blended the convenience of a hotel with the flexibility of apartments.

The accommodation is set to be named Gillygate By The Walls, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The building currently houses an empty shop on the ground floor which will be retained for commercial use and the first floor contains vacant residential flats.

The proposal would see the back of the ground floor converted to house two studio apartments and storage space, laundry facilities and vending machines.

The first floor would house two studio apartments and one duplex with access to the roof space above.

There would be a further two studio apartments in the second floor roof space.

Guests would be expected to abide by a code of conduct which prohibits parties and events and there would be no bar, restaurant or public floor space.

However, objectors claimed it was not unknown for up to six cars to be stood waiting at local takeaways, causing delays which the aparthotel would worsen.

They added it could also delay ambulances travelling to and from the hospital on Wigginton Road.

Objectors also argued it would be difficult to control any nuisance behaviour at the site and guests would struggle to find parking nearby.

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