The building of two landmark hotels in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot is coming a step closer with planning applications for the two multi million pound regeneration projects being formally lodged.
Although Teignbridge Council is focused on tackling the local impact of Coronavirus, its property team is still striving to make sure the district has the infrastructure to flourish in the years to come by taking forward major job creating, regeneration and development projects.
Teignmouth’s tourism industry will prosper from the building of a 68 bed Premier Inn and Beefeater restaurant in Brunswick Street while a new 72 bed Travelodge Hotel with restaurant in Halcyon Road will boost the business sector in Newton Abbot.
Each town’s traditional building characteristics are retained in the contemporary designs being submitted for each hotel. The specifications agreed with both operators mean that both hotels will be built to a higher standard than that required by current building regulations. Both developments recognise the importance of sustainability through incorporating numerous energy reduction measures.
Plans for a hotel in Teignmouth have been in place since the Local Development Order was agreed in 2016 which set out the regeneration goals for the area and which were supported by local people. The planning application has now been published and before it is formally considered, residents will have six weeks to comment on both the detailed plan and the design, an extended period due to current coronavirus restrictions.
In Newton Abbot, the site is earmarked in the local plan as the target area for town centre redevelopment and the planning application is expected to be published next week on the Council’s website and be available for comment for around eight weeks.
Cllr Alan Connett, Teignbridge Council’s Executive Lead for Regeneration and Development said: “These two developments reflect our commitment to supporting both towns to secure prosperous futures and I am delighted that we have operating agreements in place with two of the country’s leading hotel operators.
“As well as regenerating key sites, much needed employment opportunities will be created during construction. When open for business, both hotels and accompanying restaurants will create important job opportunities. We will be working sensitively, taking account of the relevant coronavirus guidance but want to avoid delaying the planning process for these vital projects.
“The need for hotels in both Teignmouth and Newton Abbot has been discussed for some time and I hope that residents unable to leave their homes due to the Government’s current restrictions will take the opportunity to look at the plans online and see how well the design of each fit in with the surrounding buildings.”
Both projects are progressing on a self-develop basis, meaning that the Council will construct the hotels to a specification agreed with both hotel operators. It has agreed at least a 25 year lease with both the premier inn and with Travelodge.
It is submitting applications now to ensure that contractual planning time frames are met. Residents can see the plans and comment on the Teignmouth application here. The application for Newton Abbot’s Travel Lodge will be published on the council’s website next week.
Cllr Connett added: “Subject to planning permission being given and we avoid any coronavirus related delays we anticipate construction starting towards the end of this year and both hotels opening for business in the autumn of 2021.”
