Plans for a new 83-bedroom Premier Inn in Alnwick have been lodged

Northumberland Estates, acting on behalf of Northern Commercial Properties Ltd, has earmarked a site on part of the Willowburn Trading Estate, off South Road.

The potential development was announced in early August and consultation has since taken place with local businesses and residents, although there will be further opportunities to comment throughout the planning process.

Barry Spall, development planner at Northumberland Estates, said: “Following a successful consultation process we are excited to be able to take this next step on the road towards bringing a popular and high-quality operator such as Premier Inn to Alnwick.

“If successful, the application which has now been submitted, will see some 30 new permanent jobs created by Premier Inn at its Alnwick hotel.

“This has to be good for the town and comes alongside the many other benefits of having more visitors staying for longer periods of time, enabling them to make full use of all the many and varied facilities on offer.”

If planning permission is granted, the new hotel would provide 83 bedrooms on three levels with an in-house bar/restaurant and parking.

The existing vacant and redundant industrial buildings on the site would be demolished and cleared ready for development.

All the new jobs would be permanent positions.

Stuart Rose, acquisition manager at Premier Inn, added: “We’re excited at the prospect of bringing a new 83-bedroom Premier Inn hotel to Alnwick and reinvigorating a currently derelict site.

“Our hotels in market towns like Alnwick perform very well, attracting a high number of business and leisure guests throughout the year and also helping to support the local economy as most of our customers visit local attractions and eat and drink out when they stay with us.

“We are confident we will trade well in Alnwick and Premier Inn’s style of flexible accommodation will increase the choice for visitors wishing to stay in the town and help to market it to people who may not currently visit.”

A new 60-bed Premier Inn in Berwick is to open soon.