New Premier Inns crucial to Midlands growth strategy for Whitbread
A NEW hotel in Walsall forms part of a crucial Midlands growth strategy for operator Whitbread.
Work on the new 100-bed facility is well under way and once complete, the Premier Inn venue will be the largest hotel in Walsall town centre. The hotel will be complete with a large Brewers Fayre restaurant.
The construction of the hotel is part of a wider £50m redevelopment scheme.
The works follow a joint land agreement between Walsall Council, Whitbread, Urban Splash and the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency.
John Bates, Head of Acquisitions (UK and Ireland) for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Walsall Waterfront is an ideal location for Premier Inn and we can’t wait to open.
“It forms part of our expansion plan to increase the number of Premier Inn bedrooms across the UK by 50% in five years, and marks a significant step forward in achieving this.
“The Midlands is very important to our nationwide growth and, as well as this exciting new hotel at Walsall, we will now be developing new Premier Inns at Longbridge and Redditch.”
The scheme is the latest in a series of new investments at the Waterfront site and follows the completion of other work in the area including landscaping improvements , commercial space and new homes to the south of the canal.
Hopes are high the scheme will stimulate further investment into the town centre.
Cllr Adrian Andrew, Walsall Council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It’s brilliant to see such progress. As we’ve said before, this the latest chapter in a story that is seeing investment in Walsall and new jobs created.
“This is a £10m investment and a massive vote of confidence into Walsall town centre. Yet again, we are bucking the trend with new investment.”
Nathan Cornish, of Urban Splash, said: “This is a significant milestone in the redevelopment of Walsall Waterfront. It’s an integral element to our proposed scheme and we are very much looking forward to seeing it through its development phase.”
Over £15m has been invested in Waterfront South by the HCA to build 320 new homes over the past two years in conjunction with Jessup Build Design.
Stuart Buckley, Homes and Communities Agency development manager, said: “The HCA is pleased that our land disposal to Urban Splash is unlocking further development at Walsall Waterfront, attracting investment from the likes of Whitbread and boosting local economic growth.
“The HCA has put significant funding into providing high quality homes on the south of the scheme and our land is now being used to bring about wider economic benefits for the town centre.”
