WHEN deciding where to spend their holidays, people these days can dream of palm-lined beaches, bustling city breaks and... Bicester.

With the town's various tourist attractions growing by the day, it seems hotel developers are scrambling to bag a spot in Bicester.

In recent years no fewer than five hotel plans have come forward for the town, with two – including a hotel at Bicester Heritage – in the past month.

The historic vehicle and aviation hub, built at the former RAF Bicester site, recently submitted plans for a 344-room hotel and conference centre.

Oxford Mail: Bicester Heritage managing director Dan Geoghegan

Managing director Dan Geoghegan said currently visitors to both Bicester Heritage and nearby attractions tended to only stay for the day because of a lack of accommodation.

Bicester Heritage plans to change this by giving people the chance to stay longer and contribute more to local businesses and night-time economy.

Mr Geoghegan said: "The development of a landmark hotel and conference centre for Bicester will bring not only new facilities to the region but provide a catalyst for skilled employment and business – not to mention a boost to Bicester town-centre visitor numbers.

"Oxfordshire has a shortage of high-end hotel accommodation and conference facilities of any scale and this flagship scheme will fill that gap."

The hotel is just the latest addition to the historic site which Bicester Heritage has brought back to life over the past five years from its derelict state.

As well as its 344 rooms it would also have a four-floor glass atrium, restaurant, gym, spa and bar, and will be designed by British architects Dexter Moren Associates.

Oxford Mail:

Bicester Heritage said the 35 businesses at the site already contribute an estimated £25-35 million per year to the local economy, and a high-end hotel would add even more to these economic gains for Bicester.

Elsewhere in the town, plans have been submitted for a two-storey extension to the Premier Inn off the A41 Oxford Road.

The hotel chain has plans for an extra 57 rooms to be added to the west of the site, bring the total to 140.

The planning application states: "For an extension, this is a fairly significant increase in rooms and will therefore contribute significantly to the council’s aim to attract more visitors to the area to stay overnight.

"The Premier Inn is close to Bicester Village which is very popular with overseas tourists and visitors travelling across the UK.

"Increasing the hotel provision within close proximity of Bicester Village is likely to encourage visitors to stay overnight for convenience.

"Visitors staying overnight rather than just visiting during the day will have direct benefits on the local economy through incidental spending, for example in close-by restaurants and further spending at Bicester Village."

It also added that the growing number of visitors to Bicester Village 'has in some cases led to further development proposals to cater for the demand of the visitors'.

The plans follow approved proposals for another hotel, with up to 149 bedrooms, to be built within a mile down the road at the Bicester Gateway business park – expected to open next year.

The 53-bedroom Bicester Travelodge, in Pioneer Square, opened just two years ago to keep up with local tourist demand.