Premier Inn owner Whitbread has been granted planning permission for a four-storey new-build property at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes.
The hotel will overlook the lake and will feature 120 rooms, as well as Whitbread’s Cookhouse and Pub restaurant concept, with a “light and bright glass frontage” and outside seating.
The Willen Lake park and visitor attraction is managed by The Parks Trust, and the group’s head of property Ben Allot said that the trust had been “working hard to improve the visitor experience at what is one of Milton Keynes’ most popular leisure destinations”.
“The new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant will attract new visitors and will be an important contribution to the city’s visitor economy,” continued Allot. “The rental income from this venture goes directly back into the charity to support its important work, caring for Milton Keynes’ parks. This work is financed by The Trust’s endowment fund which enables the charity to make investments which provide the income to maintain and improve the parks.”
Premier Inn already operates a property at Willen Lake, and said that it “anticipates reviewing its current position” on the existing hotel, adding that “Part of the reason for submitting the proposals for the new hotel is to enable Premier Inn to modernise its accommodation in this sought-after location, including being able to offer more family rooms, as well as to have a Whitbread brand food and beverage offer”.
Commenting on the news Jamie Baker, Development Manager at Whitbread, said:
“A brand new, purpose-planned and purpose-built Premier Inn will make a massive contribution to the facilities and attractiveness of Willen Lake. The designs for both the hotel and family restaurant really connect with the lake providing striking views and what will be a fantastic place to meet, eat, drink and relax.
“ Getting the green light to invest into and improve this part of Milton Keynes is more important now than ever and I’m pleased the Council has supported our vision and proposed investment.”
Premier Inn recently announced a shake up of its room rate products in the light of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis. Two new rate choices have been launched to provide “added flexibility to guests making future post-lockdown travel plans, as well as those with existing bookings”.
