New four-storey hotel planned for Fareham Shopping Centre

Plans for the 83-bed budget hotel at Fareham Shopping Centre were unveiled yesterday.

Fareham Borough Council announced that is working with the centre’s owners, the Roubaix Group Ltd, to bring forward the proposals.

The proposed hotel operator is being kept under wraps.

It is planned to be built on top of the shopping centre, replacing long-term empty office space and adding two extra storeys to the back of the complex.

Councillor Sean Woodward, executive leader of the council said: ‘For a long time now, there has been interest from hotel operators to expand into Fareham town centre.

‘Our joint proposal for a new hotel will help attract visitors and businesses to the town and sends a clear signal of the council’s commitment to and confidence in the future of the centre.

‘It will be great to get a hotel right in the town centre as it is a location really calling for one.’

The proposals come after The News revealed that the council was developing a multi-million pound masterplan for the town centre that would see the shopping centre expanded, with the Osborn Road multi-storey car park, Fareham Health Centre and the Ashcroft Arts centre potentially demolished for housing.

Brenda Clapperton, of the Fareham Society, said: ‘I cannot think that many Fareham residents would object to a hotel in the town, but I am concerned about the associated infrastructure.

‘With the multi-storey car park set to go, where are these guests going to park?’

Chris Beckerman from the Roubaix Group said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Fareham Borough Council to try and satisfy a long-standing requirement for a budget hotel in Fareham’s town centre.

‘If we are successful, adding a new hotel would deliver not just a great new facility but bring more jobs and investment into the town.’

The council’s executive agreed to help bring forward the plans at a meeting on Monday night, but its involvement is still subject to being called in.

A planning application for the hotel will be submitted in spring next year.