Premier Inn in Saffron Walden has expansion plans for 40 new rooms

The Premier Inn in Saffron Walden is hoping to expand, with plans for 40 new rooms as a result of “considerable demand”.

The 70-room, three-storey hotel in Thaxted Road is proposing a four-storey annexe and conversion of the existing restaurant to create the new rooms as well as alterations to its car park and associated works.

Uttlesford District Council’s (UDC) planning committee was set to agree the plans at a meeting on Wednesday (November 13).

Under the plans, the new annexe would be on part of the rear car park, meaning the loss of nine parking spaces.

This will create 30 new rooms and reconfiguration of the ground-floor restaurant to provide a smaller eatery would create the 10 others.

A UDC planning officer’s report states the council’s economic development team strongly supports the scheme, given the “lack of existing visitor accommodation in the district and very limited supply” in Saffron Walden.

It adds there will be a small increase in staff, up to 10 full-time and 31 part-time workers.

The report adds: “The applicant has made minor changes to the design of the scheme in conjunction with the design officer’s comments. There are no other objections from consultees and the town council are in support.

“The principle of this land use is considered acceptable as it is located on an employment designed site. In addition, as it is an extension to an existing hotel within a settlement boundary, this is supported.

“The council economic development team are strongly in support given the lack of hotels specifically in Saffron Walden and the increased level of spend they bring to the town.

“Despite the increase in bedrooms, the applicant considers that the additional trips generated would be partially offset by the loss of trips to the restaurant.

“This will be reduced in size and its offering will be focused on hotel customers only. This would not extract external trade and the additional parking demands this brings to the site.

“Therefore, the applicant considers that the existing car park can accommodate the increased trips associated with the additional bedrooms.”