EVERY day dentist Dr Altaf Hussain passes a landmark Huddersfield building on his way to work.

Like many others in the town he fell in love with it. Now he’s bought.

The 37-year-old who lives in Halifax is the new owner of the iconic George Hotel.

When the 60-bedroom hotel went on the market earlier this year many feared for its future.

But the speed of the sale in these tough economic times surely speaks volumes about the potential of this Grade II listed Victorian building.

Dr Hussain says he is keen for structural work on the exterior to start as soon as possible and wants to sit down with council leaders and Acumen Architects to plot the way forward.

All of that is good news for those who see the George as something of a talisman for the health of the town’s economy and its progress towards regeneration.

We wish Dr Hussain well and hope that his vision for the George is one that will see it back in business as a flagship hotel.