New Radisson Blu hotel in Sheffield will boost city centre, says council boss
Council chiefs say the world's second largest hotel chain is committed to Sheffield amid concerns about the economic impact of coronavirus.
Radisson Blu is due to move into block A of Heart of the City II, the area being redeveloped around Pinstone Street, including Palatine Chambers and the old Gaumont cinema.
The 150-room hotel will have a prominent view over the Peace Gardens and the council says it will be the first hotel in Sheffield to pay the Real Living Wage.
Liberal Democrat councillors wanted the work paused, because they are concerned about the economy following lockdown, but council bosses said the scheme would boost the city.
Nalin Seneviratne, council director of city centre development, said: "The Radisson Hotel group has become the second largest hotel operator after Marriott and is still committed to working with us to deliver Radisson Blu.
“We are looking to open in 2023 and the most pessimistic commentators are expecting the crisis to have fully passed by that time. We are some years away from the hotel being completed.
“It's about creating business growth for the city centre and Radisson are paying a big business rate contribution to the city.”
Mr Seneviratne said the council was looking at July for the hotel planning application to be submitted and contracts to be finalised.
He said: “Hotel operators don’t take leases unless you are a capital city or tourism hot spot, so it’s a hotel management arrangement.
“They do bear quite a bit of risk sharing and we are looking to establish a special company to operate the hotel.”