Plans to ‘Chelsea-fy’ Huddersfield’s George Hotel have been criticised.

The Examiner today outlined new plans to transform the iconic hotel in St George’s Square.

The new-look hotel will boast 30 bedrooms, 11 apartments, a basement spa, a rooftop terrace and a dental surgery.

Owner Altaf Hussain has submitted a change of use and listed building consent application to Kirklees Council.

The proposal could see canopies installed around some of the exterior windows, with the colour yet to be confirmed.

Chris Marsden, of Huddersfield Civic Society, said: “I have mixed feelings about it.

“It’s got the potential of being re-opened as a hotel which is very encouraging, but the attempt to ‘Chelsea-fy’ it with canopies on the exterior is concerning.

“The rooftop conservatory needs more detail about it and I think overall it lacks a design philosophy.”

Take a picture tour around the hotel from when current owner Altaf Hussain bought it last year by clicking below

The Civic Society met last night to discuss the application but they would welcome an opportunity to meet the owner to discuss the plans.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said he did not think a dental centre had a place in the George Hotel.

He said: “I’ve always fought and will continue to fight for a proper purpose for the George Hotel.

“All sorts of uses could be found to make it viable without the need for a dentists, it’s supposed to be a hotel.

“He bought a hotel, if you pay for an iconic building that is a hotel that is enormously expensive to keep it is your responsibility to do that. It isn’t up to the community or taxpayers of Huddersfield to give an indirect subsidy through the planning system for commercial advantage.

The George Hotel is in one of England’s finest squares, this is an important and iconic building and it needs to be handled sensitively.

“I think trying to get a dental centre in there to turn a profit is misjudged.”

Plan for George Hotel revealed - and it includes new rooms, a spa, apartments and a rooftop restaurant: see more here

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