£6m hotel scheme gets underway in the Black Country
CONSTRUCTION work has started on a £6m hotel development in the Black Country.
Budget hotel chain Travelodge is building the facility close to one of the country’s top visitor attractions.
The 1.5-acre vacant site next to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley was once occupied by the famous Royal Brierley Crystal factory.
The site will be transformed into a 78-bedroom hotel, bringing 25 full and part-time jobs once open. More than 80 jobs will be created during construction.
Bromsgrove based property developer and contractor Hinton Group marked the start of work at a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Cllr Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley’s planning and economic development leader, Hinton Group director Andy Elwell, and development director Jon Hinton.
Cllr Ahmed said the hotel was a welcome boost to the ongoing regeneration of the town.
“Dudley Council has helped to secure millions of pounds in investment for Dudley borough over the past five years and this development is the latest move in growing our already thriving visitor economy,” he said.
“We know that people who visit Dudley town enjoy its many attractions such as Dudley Zoo, The Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust and I’m confident that the new Travelodge will make it even easier to plan and enjoy visits to the area.”
The development is being forward funded by Aviva, which bought the land from Dudley MBC. When the build is complete, Aviva will grant a head lease of the property back to the local authority. Then Dudley council will grant a lease to Travelodge and will act as landlord at the site.
Hinton Group is also working on new schemes in West Bromwich, Telford and Bromsgrove.
Mr Elwell said: “Due to the mining nature of the area, we have been carrying out extensive groundworks, including drilling and grouting ahead of commencing construction.
“I’m delighted to announce that construction of what is a much-needed facility for the centre of Dudley, as the town continues its regeneration, is now underway. It is in an ideal location to encourage tourists and visitors to the town’s key attractions, and provide business visitors with good quality hotel accommodation. We expect work to be completed in Q2 2017.”
Travelodge’s UK development director Tony O’Brien said: “The deal structure works extremely well for all parties. Dudley MBC receives an income stream and a hotel in a key, strategic location; Hinton Properties gets a forward funded development; Aviva gets a safe, long-term income from a top quality, local government covenant and Travelodge gets a hotel in a superb location.”
