Planning permission has been granted by Nottingham City Council for a £100m redevelopment of the city’s Guildhall to turn the vacant building into a hotel. 

The planning application was submitted by a joint venture between Locksley Hotels and hotel group Ascena in May 2020, detailing plans for a 162-bed, four-star hotel, with rooftop restaurant, spa and wedding and conference facilities. 

John Wilby, project lead for Ascena, said: “After it has sat vacant for the best part of a decade, we’re pleased to have hit this significant milestone in breathing new life into it. The development will not only bring jobs to the area but will also help elevate the city as a tourist destination.” 

The Guildhall building itself will house the hotel following a restoration of the Grade II listed building and Fire Station House, while more modern extensions at the back of the building will be demolished and rebuilt. 

The existing courtrooms in the building will be converted into bar and restaurant facilities, retaining original listed features.

Cllr David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “I’m very pleased that these exciting proposals to turn Nottingham’s Guildhall into a high-quality hotel have been given the go ahead. It’s something we have been keen to happen for a long time and our planning officers have worked with the developers to help them shape a development which respects the history of this grand old building and bring it back into use.”