Premier Inn set for spring start
PREMIER Inn’s plans to bring a 50-bed hotel to Melton are set for the green light later today (Thursday), with building work due to start by spring.
The hotel chain wants to redevelop the former Melton Working Men’s Club in Norman Way, saying it has identified the town as ‘a growing rural tourist destination’.
The development, which will create about 25 jobs, has been broadly welcomed since the initial plans were unveiled in October.
Supporters include the Melton Chamber of Trade which has had long-standing concerns about a lack of hotel facilities in the town centre. The chamber also believes the Premier Inn wouldn’t conflict with other hotels on the edge of town and would be complimentary to the growing town’s needs.
Melton Council’s development committee will decide whether to approve the scheme later today.
In its application on behalf of Premier Inn, agents Hinton Properties, said the hotel will ‘provide affordable overnight accommodation’ over three floors. The hotel would have a ‘small food and beverage offer’, reception area and off-street parking.
John Bates, head of acquisitions in the UK and Ireland for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Premier Inn is one of the UK’s most successful leisure businesses. Our product is a hit with our customers, our financial results are very strong, and we are expanding aggressively across the country.
“We want to add Melton to our network of Premier Inn hotels and our investment will create jobs, support local businesses and help to promote the town to business and leisure visitors. I hope local councillors back our vision for regenerating this key site.”
A planning report to the development committee recommends for the hotel development to be approved, subject to conditions.
The report says: “The redevelopment of the site for a hotel will ensure the continual vitality of the town centre by encouraging visitors to stay overnight and providing a much-needed facility.
“It has been identified that Melton has a shortfall of bed space and the proposal would support the town centre master plan objectives.
“There’s potential for the restaurants and bars in the town centre to benefit from this development, supporting the evening economy while providing job opportunities with the day-to-day running of the facility.”
l Another new retail development, near the hotel site in Norman Way, will also start to take shape in coming months.
Four retail units with associated parking are to built on land sandwiched between North Street, Jubilee Street, Charlotte Street and Norman Way.
One of the retail units will be occupied by the veterinary group Vets4Pets and be used as a new veterinary surgery.
No other names have yet been confirmed though it’s understood Majestic Wine - the UK’s biggest wine retailer - has shown interest in taking one of the other three units, the largest on the site.
Building work is set to begin this month, with the whole development hoped to be completed by April.
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Weather for Melton
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
