PLANS for a 120-bedroom hotel and restaurant may be given clearance this week.

The three-storey Sleep Inn hotel, single-storey restaurant and parking for 107 cars is proposed to be built at the southern end of the Newton Park Services site, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, near the A1(M) and A167 interchange.

Sedgefield Borough Council granted planning permission for an 83-bedroom hotel on the site last month, believing that a 37 bedroom extension was to be the subject of a separate application.

But a report to the council's development control committee says: "Following discussions with the applicant's agents it is now apparent that although the proposed development was intended to be implemented in two stages, both phases of development were the subject of the single application."

The site, which includes a McDonald's drive through restaurant, petrol filling station and lorry park, has been earmarked to provide a full range of facilities for the motorist.

The report also said: "From an overall design perspective, it was always the intention to encourage hotel development in the south east corner of the site."

No objections have been raised to the hotel proposal and council members will be asked to approve the application.