BUDGET hotel chain Premier Inn is to open a new hotel in Bangor.
It is investing £7 million in the 85-bedroom on the site of the former Bangor Leisure Centre at Castle Park Avenue.
It is hoped the four-storey hotel would be operational by 2018.
The proposals, which also include a restaurant, will create 30 jobs the company said.
It will be the eighth Premier Inn in Northern Ireland if given the go ahead.
The chain has more than 700 hotels across Britain making it the biggest hotel brand in the UK.
There are also plans by Magherafelt based developer Conway Group to construct a block of apartments on the site, which has been vacant since 2013.
Premier Inn acquisitions manager Matt Aubrey said: "Working with our development partner, Conway Group, we have submitted plans for a brand new 85-bedroom Premier Inn in Bangor.
"If approved, the new hotel will deliver £7 million in fresh investment, 30 new year-round jobs and attract new visitors to the area. We look forward to Ards and North Down Borough Council’s decision.”
Des Taggart of Conway Group said it was just the latest partnership for the firm with Premier Inn.
"We are delighted to continue our excellent and long standing relationship with Premier Inn Hotels through this proposal having already successfully developed their hotels in Lisburn and Derry / Londonderry.
"We are also currently working on the delivery of additional bedrooms at the Premier Inn Hotel on Waring Street in Belfast city centre," he said.
"The new Premier Inn Hotel in Bangor will be a fantastic addition to the area and will boost the local economy as well as supporting the ongoing regeneration of the town.’’
Conway Group also has plans to spend £2m to develop 14 luxury apartments on the site overlooking Castle Park and Bangor Castle.
It is estimated that both the hotel and apartment schemes will support 80 jobs during the building phase.
