A £25 million hotel and apartment scheme has been given the go-ahead to be built in the centre of York.

City councillors approved the Piccadilly Riverside scheme for a 140-bedroom hotel and a five storey block of eight apartments on the site currently occupied by the 60-space Piccadilly Car Park and Infinity motorcycles accessory shop.

Ravi Majiphia, speaking in support of the applicants Northminster Ltd, pledged that the scheme would recruit local people and use local traders wherever possible.

Mr Majiphia said his company already ran another hotel in York. He estimated the construction would create 100 short-term jobs and the hotel and apartments 40 to 50 jobs once built.

The site, 46-50 Piccadilly, has been owned by key figures at Northminster for many years.

The same company won a York Design Award for its £5 million conversion of 34 Piccadilly from a former 1920s car showroom into 10 luxury apartments.

The official North Yorkshire Police response to the public consultation into the scheme said that the hotel would be “extremely attractive for visiting hen and stag parties”.

“The management and control of this hotel will have to be extremely robust to reduce the opportunity and likelihood of unacceptable behaviour by guests,” it added.