A MULTI million pound plan for a new hotel has been revealed.

High Street Hospitality has announced it will invest £4.5million in a 1.5acre plot close in County Durham.

The development– which is part of the DurhamGate retail project at Thinford, near Spennymoor– will be the sixth hotel for the expanding hospitality business.

It will construct a 42 bedroomed hotel with restaurant and bar facilities.

Work is expected to start in August and bosses hope the facility will open for business during the summer of 2020.

It will become the third in the company’s Hotel 52 chain– the others being in Whitley Bay and Stanley.

It has also acquired the Sea Hotel in South Shields, carrying out a £1.4million refurbishment; The Parkmore Hotel in Eaglescliffe, which is undergoing a £1million facelift and the Three Horse Shoes in Washington, where there are plans to build 58 bedrooms in the grounds. All three will operate outside the Hotel 52 brand.

Phill Brumwell, managing director with High Street Hospitality, said: “We are delighted to be establishing another outlet in such a great location, we have worked closely with Durham County Council to identify a site close to the Great North Road and Durham’s World Heritage attractions.

“It offers easy access to all the region’s business and tourist centres and during construction and operation the project will create new jobs and opportunities for local people.

"When completed it will be an affordable boutique hotel with high quality food and beverage outlets.”

In addition, the company has also bought 19to21 Collingwood Street in Newcastle and submitted a planning application for £2 million refurbishment to deliver eight floors of leisure facilities designed to appeal to local residents and visitors to the city.

The proposals include a ground floor brasserie, four floors of hotel accommodation, an elegant indoor and outdoor terrace with a half retractable roof on the top floor and basement studios offering karaoke and a sing star booths.

Part of Newcastle-based The High Street Group of Companies, High Street Hospitality has aspiration of creating a chain of up to 20 hotels across the region, each with food and beverage outlets.

With its headquarters in Stockbridge House, the group was established by Gary Forrest in 2006.

It has grown to become a leading financial and property group employing around 350 people – 170 in the hospitality business – in activities including large scale property development and construction, hospitality and leisure.

For more information visit thehighstreetgroup.com or highstreethospitality.co.uk