A WINCHESTER business chief has given her backing to plans for a new budget hotel in the city.

Catherine Turness, Winchester Business Improvement District’s (BID) executive director, also said she would be willing to help find tenants for the shops also included in the plans.

As previously reported, plans have been submitted to develop a currently-vacant High Street unit into a 62-bed Travelodge hotel, as well as three new retail units.

It would occupy the former Next store at the bottom of the High Street, next to Rick Stein’s upmarket restaurant and a short walk from the cathedral and Winchester Guildhall.

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If approved, the site would undergo extensive redevelopment with ‘dramatic’ changes to the visual appearance.

The plans would keep the ground floor of the site as retail outlets, with the hotel sitting above and access via a foyer in Market Lane.

The hotel would occupy space that was previously the second floor of Next and storage space.

Responding to the plans, Ms Turness said: “Tourism research has suggested for some time that there has been a need for more hotel beds in Winchester and clearly the BID would encourage a facility that allows visitors to stay longer and spend more in city centre businesses.

“As per the current plans submitted, the BID would like to see the ground floor remain as retail and note that the applicant has carried out research on possible tenants.”

But she added: “I would expect that these would be national chains – this can be very frustrating for independent businesses as they tend not to get considered for units on the High Street.

“We have suggested to the applicant that we would be pleased to work with them to help identify tenants for the site.”

Despite initial support for the plans, lodged by The London Borough of Southwark Pension Fund, concerns have been raised about the lack of parking for the new hotel.

However, a transport statement submitted with the plans argued that the city’s current facilities are sufficient.

The project has been designed by architects Haskoll and a decision on whether to approve the plans is expected in March.