Blades get go ahead for Bramall Lane hotel

Sheffield City Council has granted planning permission to Sheffield United for its planned four-star hotel at Bramall Lane.

The 146-room, eight-storey property will include a restaurant, executive suites and a gym.

Work is set to begin in the autumn and the hotel will form part of other development proposals the football club is investigating, including its planned entertainment complex. The £50m scheme, called Blades Leisure Park, would include a 73,000sq ft (6,800sq m) casino, restaurants, pubs, a spa, a health club, a football museum and an indoor sports arena.

“The hotel forms part of the club’s plans for greater diversification into property and leisure,” said chief executive Jason Rockett.

“This is the next stage for what is a very exciting project for Sheffield United and the city. Developing this hotel will allow the club to extend its first-class conference and banqueting facilities to even more people visiting Sheffield.”

The club has also recently announced plans to raise more than £10m through a share issue.

£2.75m will be used to fund the development of the corner stand at Bramall Lane and a further £1m will go towards funding the club’s recent acquisition of the Thames Club in London.