THE developer behind a proposed 68-bedroom hotel on the outskirts of a North-East town say their research has proved there is a need for extra capacity in the area, despite fears of lost business from existing hoteliers.

The plans for a hotel on a patch of land next to The Northern Echo Arena on the A66 at Darlington were passed by members of Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee after they heard that the positive attributes of the proposal outweighed the negatives.

Up to 30 full time jobs and 28 part time jobs could be created if the hotel proposed by landowner Phillip Scott is built.

It was revealed at the planning committee that no operator for the proposed hotel has been agreed, but agents for the developer said a number of hotel brands without a presence in Darlington have been approached and expressed an interest in the site.

A number of hotels in Darlington had registered objections to the plans, arguing that the town already had enough beds for visitors and that another new hotel would put some businesses at risk.

Lynn Thomas from consultants Hotel Solutions, appearing on behalf of the developer, said research showed that although there was no urgent need for a new hotel in Darlington, occupancy and rates data showed that existing hotels would not be negatively affected by a new one.

Ms Thomas described the proposed hotel as a ‘limited service hotel’, without a big restaurant or conference facilities, and said similar facilities in Darlington had proved popular with customers.

She added: “This hotel will not be competing with those that offer weddings, big conferences or restaurant meals – it will be attracting transient customers from the A66 and the A1 and those using the arena.”

Planning officer Roy Merritt told councillors: “There is not a crying need for this hotel but demand has been identified.

“It will be a business decision for the developer about whether they take the plunge and build this hotel.”

He added: “This site is outside of the development limits and there would normally be a presumption against it but on balance we feel the negative policy position would be outweighed by the positive economic factors and job creation.”

Councillor Paul Baldwin, chairman of the planning committee, said: “This is a strategic planning decision just as the stadium was. It took a few years but that has shown itself to have a positive future and this hotel could do the same.”