PLANS for the UK's first floating hotel are being drawn up in time for the region's hosting of the Tall Ships Race 2010.
Hotel chain Premier Inn is hoping to extend its current hotel in Hartlepool Marina by putting an extra 54-bedrooms on the water.
The hotel will be a design first for the UK and Premier Inn will be the first hotel chain to pioneer the technology.
Once complete, the new and existing facilities will have a combined total of 114 bedrooms, bringing additional business and leisure visitors to the town.
And once operational, the floating hotel will create approximately 25 new jobs, while a total of 76 people will be employed at the hotel and restaurant facilities.
Mark Anderson, property director for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, which is Premier Inn's parent company, said: "Our existing hotel at the marina is a very popular location with guests and our proposal to develop a floating extension will build on the success of the site."
The plans have been submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council and are expected to be debated in the next 13 weeks.
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