Stansted Airport: Travelodge proposes Uttlesford District Council partnership to build new hotel
Travelodge wants to partner with Uttlesford District Council to open a new budget hotel for Stansted Airport.
The local authority is one of 10 targeted in Essex as part of nationwide expansion plans for 300 new sites.
The hotel chain has written to 220 councils across Britain, including Uttlesford and nine other districts in Essex, to propose a joint development partnership "that can act as a catalyst to stimulate regeneration and facilitate further growth".
Travelodge operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK with 12 in Essex, including Harlow, Dunmow and Braintree.
The letter sent to Uttlesford and the other Essex district councils outlines "the pivotal role that Travelodge has been playing for the last 10 years" supporting regeneration and creating jobs. It estimates up to 275 new roles could be generated by its expansion in the county.
In 2022, Travelodge opened six new hotels, three of which were local authority partnerships in London's Docklands, Wimbledon in south-west London and Braintree. The group is also constructing two more with councils in Colchester and in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Some of the new Travelodge hotels in this programme have been built on surplus local authority land, with funding directly from the council or via the Public Works Loan Board or third-party resources.
On completion, local authorities have the choice to retain ownership of the hotel and receive an annual rent or to sell it with Travelodge as its operator.
Steve Bennett, Travelodge's chief property and development officer, said: "In the current climate, local authorities are under extreme pressure to invest in their economy and support regeneration projects.
"This is why we have written to 10 local authorities across Essex to offer our support as we have a requirement to double our Essex portfolio with a further 10 Travelodge hotels across the region. Our target locations include Brentwood, Epping and Stansted Airport.
"This expansion programme could represent a multi-million investment for third-party investors and create 275 new jobs.
"In addition, our research shows that, on average, Travelodge customers will spend at least double their room rate with local businesses during their stay; this can be an annual, multi-million-pound boost into each local economy."
In July 2021, the former Travelodge in Birchanger Lane near Stansted Airport became an Ibis Budget hotel with a 25-year lease. It is not accepting bookings currently.
