New jobs are to be created if plans to extend and revamp a Dundee hotel as part of the new waterfront development are approved.
The Premier Inn chain plans to add 109 new bedrooms to the existing 40-room hotel on Riverside Drive to accommodate the flood of visitors expected when the V&A museum opens in 2018.
In addition the car park is to be reduced by 15 spaces, going from 113 to 98.
Work on the new hotel would involve the demolition of existing structures to build a new four-storey block.
A planning statement submitted to Dundee City Council by parent company Whitbread read: “Evidently, the site has not been upgraded or updated for a number of years.
“The extension design is bespoke and will not resemble standard Premier Inn designs, observed in other parts of the UK, nor the existing hotel.
“The design will be modern and in keeping with the design aspirations of Dundee City Council, for the waterfront’s regeneration.
“The proposed extension will be constructed using a combination of steel and concrete podium at ground-floor level, with timber frame technology being utilised for the upper floors.
“The building will be clad externally with custom metal cladding with aluminium windows.
“Whitbread seek to source new staff locally. It is envisaged that staff numbers will increase from 15 to approximately 28.
“Whitbread’s approach is to fully involve Job Centre Plus in its recruitment drives, so as to target job opportunities at unemployed local residents.
“The proposed extension to the hotel will provide additional accommodation for visitors to Dundee in both the leisure and business sectors.”
The plans are part of Premier Inn’s expansion drive, aiming to create at least 1,000 new bedrooms per annum across the UK.
Riverside Drive’s Premier Inn is said to be one of the company’s best-performing facilities of its kind in the region and would create 13 new jobs if the expansion is given the green light.
Dundee Council Leader Ken Guild said he is not surprised that businesses are keen to invest in the waterfront.
He said: “The waterfront is shaping up great so far and it is no surprise that a company such as this one want to expand.
“We want to create a good mix of residential and commercial properties at the waterfront.”
Premier Inn had not commented by the time of going to press.