A PROPOSAL to build a hotel in Monmouth would boost the local economy by £300,000 and an estimated £900,000 spent in the wider Welsh economy each year.

Whitbread PLC is preparing to lodge a planning application to build a 60-bed Premier Inn hotel on land at Portal Road, behind the petrol station.

The site has been earmarked for development for ten years and is currently owned by Monmouthshire council.

The £5million scheme would create 20 full-time jobs on site as well as an estimated 34 jobs created in the wider economy through suppliers and services.

Peter Lawson, the director of Cardiff-based planning consultants Turley, which is acting on behalf of Whitbread PLC, said the application is due to be lodged with Monmouthshire council next week.

He confirmed that the hotel would include a small integral restaurant but that the site would not feature a separate branded restaurant found on its other sites.

Mr Lawson, who presented the scheme to Monmouth Town Council earlier this week, said it is likely that guests would travel into town for shopping, dining and entertainment.

He said: “Whitbread PLC is extremely pleased with the positive support from the Town Council.”

“They are keen to invest in Monmouth as soon as possible. If the application is successful we would hope to be on site during the summer.”

Richard Pearson, acquisitions manager for Premier Inn, said: “On Monday we gave an update presentation to Monmouth Town Council to ensure councillors are fully briefed on our proposals to bring a new 60-bedroom Premier Inn to Portal Road, Monmouth, ahead of our application going to Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee for a decision.”

“If approved, a new Premier Inn would bring £5 million of fresh investment and 20 new jobs to the local area.

The Monmouth and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce has actively lobbied for the site to be used for hotel development for several years and believes it will help boost tourism in the town.

Once registered with Monmouthshire council a date will be set for the application to be considered by the planning committee.