Premier Inn Hotels Ltd has submitted an application to upgrade its site near Lymington by increasing the total guest rooms from 20 to 57.
It follows what bosses describe as a “considerable increase” in demand for budget accommodation in that part of the Forest.
The company wants to convert part of the hotel’s restaurant into ten bedrooms and build a two-storey extension containing a further 27 rooms.
Plans to triple the number of bedrooms at a New Forest Premier Inn have been unveiled (Image: Premier Inn)
A planning statement that accompanies the application says the restaurant is no longer viable, resulting in a requirement to reduce the number of covers from 200 to 44. It will also have a smaller bar.
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The statement says: “The restaurant has shown a continued shortfall in demand.
“The applicant therefore seeks to reconfigure the hotel bedroom and restaurant offer on the site to ensure its success and future viability.
“This development will provide an additional 37 hotel bedrooms, ten of which will be located in the converted restaurant and 27 in the new annexe.
“The annexe will be set back within the site. It’s been designed as a continuation of the existing hotel, creating a unified appearance.
“Additional bedrooms would meet Premier Inn’s operational requirements at the location and go some way in helping to address demand.”
An aerial view of the Premier Inn at Silver Street, Hordle (Image: Axion Architects)
The statement says the proposed development at Silver Street, Hordle, complied with the national planning policy framework.
It adds: “The hotel is a well-used facility providing overnight accommodation for tourists and business travellers.
“There is demand for additional hotel bedrooms which would create additional employment opportunities during the operational and construction phases, as well as supporting third party suppliers.”
If the scheme goes ahead, the proposed annexe will be built on brownfield land.
The statement says: “It would make more efficient use of an existing hotel site without needing to expand into the surrounding countryside or require the removal of any trees.
“The extension of the hotel would create new jobs both in the construction and operational phases and support third party suppliers.”
A design and access statement that also accompanies the application adds: “The proposed conversion and annexe will give this successful business the additional capacity required to ensure it continues to thrive.”
