Stoke-on-Trent City Council has granted planning permission for a 104-bed hotel in the city centre – which will create 30 jobs.
Members of the planning committee today gave the green light for the development on Clementsons Mill car park, on Clough Street. No objections were received to the plans, which propose a six-storey hotel with bar and restaurant, 64 parking spaces, and a flexible space for businesses or an ‘apart-hotel’ on the top floor.
Applicant Visk Ventures Ltd told the committee they are in talks with two potential operators, with both very keen to take on the development and move to the city centre.
Following an hour-long discussion, councillors voted to approve the plans. They agreed the development was a high-quality scheme which would improve the hotel offer in the city centre, showed how strong private sector confidence is in the city and would further bolster the area’s economic strength.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, transport and heritage, said: “Having a lack of a good range of short stay and hotel accommodation in the city centre has been something which has held us back in the past. We have a Premier Inn which is currently expanding due to its popularity, work due to start imminently on a Hilton Garden Inn and now this development.
“These developments will not only change the city centre offer and the skyline for the next 50 years or more, they will also give a massive boost to our visitor economy and enable more people to visit and stay. This is great news for our businesses, not just in the city centre but for Stoke-on-Trent overall. The developments are also creating new jobs for our residents, so it’s a good, positive story all round.
“This is sending out exactly the right message – that Stoke-on-Trent is open for business, that we are an attractive investment opportunity for developers and a unique visitor destination, too. Having private developers and investors wanting to invest and build in our city is exactly what this administration is working hard to achieve – a progressive, developing and vibrant city for everyone.”