PREMIER Inn is coming to Chipping Norton after plans for a 72-bed £6.5million hotel in Spring Street were granted.

West Oxfordshire District Council's planning committee gave the development the go-ahead at its meeting on Monday after officers had recommended approval subject to a number of conditions.

The site is expected to create 20 full and part-time jobs and create secondary economic benefit of an estimated £1.1million. The site will also provide publicly available car parking in Spring Street.

There had been 25 representations received against the development, stating it was too large and out of keeping with the area. Another said the town was not a tourist destination and additional accommodation was not needed.

However, the planners had stated: "The proposal would remove substantial derelict buildings which are a focus for anti-social behaviour and bring about redevelopment with a much more appropriate building. Whilst the constraints associated with the location in the AONB, Conservation Area, and proximity of other heritage assets are noted, it is considered that the benefits of the scheme would outweigh any harm to these designations."

Conditions of approval included a full ecological mitigation strategy to be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to commencement of development, including any works of demolition or site clearance. This is in response to concerns for foraging birds and bats on the site and is in accordance with regulations including the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

A further condition prior to commencement requires evidence of written consent to discharge surface water into the adjoining field ditch to the west of the proposed development site and a management plan setting out the maintenance of the drainage asset to be submitted and approved to ensure flooding is not exacerbated in the locality.

The applicants have also agreed to the resurfacing of the footways immediately at the junction of Church Lane and Spring

Street, to include the provision of dropped kerbs and tactile paving and to provide a build-out to the footway at the junction of Church Road and Spring Street to improve pedestrian visibility and the provision of dropped kerbs with tactile paving.

John Bates, Head of Acquisitions (South) for Premier Inn, said: “Getting the green light for a new Premier Inn in Chipping Norton is great news and we’re looking forward to investing into the town. Our application was shaped by detailed public consultation and we’re grateful to everyone who took part and contributed to the plans. We’re excited about breathing positive new life into the old Spring Street site and getting going with construction in the near future.”