THE Premier Inn hotel chain has unveiled plans for a £6.5m hotel and residential development in the heart of Chipping Norton.

Speculation grew after three sites on Spring Street, formerly owned by Oxfordshire County Council, were fenced off a fortnight ago.

Then Premier Inn owners Whitbread confirmed it was in the early stages of preparing plans for the 70-bedroom hotel.

Ben Copithorne, representing the developers, said last week: “I can confirm that the site has been purchased from the council by Whitbread for a potential new Premier Inn.

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“It’s early days and we will be working up a planning application now that we have acquired the site and started initial pre-application discussions with West Oxfordshire District Council.”

The hotel will be built on the former ambulance station, Castle View Care Home and Chestnuts building, all of which were sold by the county council for an undisclosed fee. Two of the buildings will be demolished but Chestnuts will remain and will be converted into flats next to the hotel Mr Copithorne added: “We are hoping that we can bring a new 70-bedroom Premier Inn to the site, together with the retention of one of the character buildings for residential redevelopment.

“We would demolish and clear the former ambulance station and care home to make way for a high-quality new development and overall regeneration of the site.”

Richard Pearson, acquisition manager for Premier Inn, said: “We’re looking to invest more than £6.5m in bringing a new Premier Inn to Chipping Norton as part of a wider regeneration of the former ambulance station and care home site previously owned by Oxfordshire County Council.

“It’s early days but, subject to planning permission, the new hotel would provide approximately 70 bedrooms and 30 new jobs and we will be working hard to prepare our planning application over the coming weeks.

“We’re hoping we can play a part in returning this site into productive use and deliver some important investment and jobs locally.”

Town mayor Mike Tysoe said: “It’s going to cause angst in some areas and delight amongst others.

“The town’s hotels might be concerned but the town generally will welcome it because it should bring more people in, which means more money and more trade.”

Asked if the Premier Inn would be a suitable type of hotel for Chipping Norton Mr Tysoe added: “I stayed in a Premnier Inn the other day and it was very clean and comfortable.”

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