Barberry Developments and Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel chain, today announce the start of demolition work to make way for a £6 million Premier Inn hotel and restaurant in Stourbridge town centre – part of an £8 million mixed-use development.
The scheme, which will include the 80-bedroom hotel, a Brewers Fayre restaurant, a drive-thru unit and 122 car parking spaces, is a joint venture between Worcestershire-based developers Barberry Developments, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, Premier Inn’s parent company, and Cox Hire Ltd.
The four-acre site, just off Birmingham Street, was used for many years by Cox Hire Ltd, which has relocated to Netherton.
DSM Demolition, who recently pulled down the multi-storey car park on Stourbridge Ring Road to make way for a new Tesco supermarket, will carry out the demolition work.
Construction of the Premier Inn hotel is due to start in autumn 2013 and will be completed by spring 2014.
Barberry managing director Jon Bellfield said: “The town centre site is an ideal location for the mixed-use scheme and it is well positioned to explore the Black Country and surrounding countryside. The scheme will create new jobs, attract additional visitors and support key businesses in the area.
“We look forward to delivering this development in conjunction with Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants and Cox Hire Ltd, which includes plans for a pedestrian link to be created across Birmingham Street.”
John Bates, head of acquisitions UK and Ireland for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Premier Inn is one of the UK’s most successful businesses and we are expanding across the country to meet increasing customer demand for our high-quality, great value product.
“We are working with Barberry to deliver a great development in an excellent location for a new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant. This new hotel in Stourbridge complements other hotels we are soon to open at Dudley, Birmingham New Street Station, Birmingham Longbridge, and Worcestershire County Cricket Club further strengthening the employment and visitor economy of the region. I look forward to opening our doors to our Stourbridge customers in spring 2014.”
The scheme was granted planning permission by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants consulted more than 70 neighbours about the plans and the local community was overwhelming in favour of the new development.
Barberry Developments, which is celebrating its 30th year, is currently in discussions with potential drive-thru operators.
Jon Bellfield added: “We would also be interested in talking to more owner-occupiers that have over an acre of land on arterial routes, to develop similar mixed-use schemes.”
