A national chain has revealed its intention to build an 108-bedroom hotel on the west Norfolk coast.
Whitbread PLC, the parent company of Premier Inn, is in talks with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk over the proposed development in Hunstanton.
The multi-million-pound hotel would feature more than 100 bedrooms, including ‘Premier Plus’ rooms, a restaurant and on-site parking.
The proposed site in Southend Road is currently home to the council-run Seagate East Car Park, next to the existing Honeystone Public House car park which would be unaffected by the plans.
A formal planning application is yet to be submitted while early discussions between planners and designers continue, although one is expected to be put forward in the autumn.
Paul Smith, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said: “Hunstanton is one of the UK’s best-known seaside destinations and a place we’ve wanted to bring Premier Inn to for some time. It attracts visitors from across the East of England and beyond, yet it does not currently offer any branded hotel rooms to visitors.
“We believe a Premier Inn in Hunstanton would be a great addition to the town’s tourism offer, providing visitors with the quality, value and reliability they expect from the UK’s leading hotel brand while helping to support local businesses, jobs and year-round economic activity.
“The Southend Road site presents an excellent opportunity to bring Whitbread’s significant, multi-million-pound investment into the town and create new accommodation that can support both leisure visitors and those travelling to the area for work.
“We are looking forward to continuing our discussions with the council and local stakeholders as we develop our plans.”
The news comes as Whitbread continues to identify other sites for Premier Inn locations across the country.
The chain currently runs close to 850 hotels nationwide.
It also comes as the borough council reaches the final stages of its consultation process on its proposed masterplan for the town.
Cllr Simon Ring, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, added “This is huge news for Hunstanton, the culmination of years of discussions between the council and Premier Inn, and I’m so proud the agreements are finally in place, subject to formal planning consent.
“The exciting opportunity we’ve unlocked for Hunstanton is a major investment in the year-round local visitor economy and jobs, that will complement very well the existing offer in Hunstanton and our emerging Masterplan vision that’s currently out to consultation with the community.
“Through increasing overnight visitor stays and bed spaces, surrounding cafes, restaurants shops and tourist attractions will benefit from increased footfall and spend.
“The detailed designs of course will come out through the usual planning process and consultation. But the sheer fact the UK’s largest hotel chain wants to invest in Hunstanton is a vote of confidence in the resort’s future, placing us alongside Norfolk’s other big visitor destinations, and this investment and new facility will hopefully act as a catalyst for further money, guided by our masterplan.”
