PLANS to get rid of an 'unsuccessful' leisure centre at the city's Holiday Inn in favour of 64 new bedrooms are set to be approved.

Oxford City Council planners have told councillors to sign off the plans at a meeting next week.

Part of the hotel near Peartree Roundabout would be demolished and replaced with a four-storey extensions - taking its number of rooms up to 218.

The existing fitness suite would be flattened to make way for a block comprising a ground floor, with seven guest rooms, a gym, two meeting rooms, a break-out area, a linen store and toilets, and three upper floors each with 19 guest rooms.

It will also create 10 new jobs, taking the total number of employees to 40.

A number of local people objected to losing a public leisure facility but said the hotel had made it clear the centre was not viable.

In submitting the plans the firm said its occupancy rates for the Oxford Holiday Inn were higher than the national average and there was a need for more rooms.

It said: “For much of the weekday use, the hotel is operationally full and business is sometimes turned away or redirected.

“These figures have been maintained throughout the recession that has affected tourism and business travel as it has other sectors.

“As the recessional effects on tourism reduce, the demand for rooms is anticipated to grow.”

A decision will be made on Tuesday at Town Hall at 6pm.