PLANS for a new budget hotel in Winchester High Street have been meet with optimism – but concerns have been raised about what the lack of additional parking means for the city.

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.

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

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. There are no plans for addition parking.

Winchester city councillor Fiona Mather said she support the plans in principle, but had concerns about the parking issue: "In my experience with Travelodge, I tend to regard them as operations that need both staff and resident parking. I do question how we could provide for parking.

"Travelodge with no parking might have a bit of an impact on the city's nighttime economy."

A transport statement, produced by consultants CampbellReith on behalf of applicants The London Borough of Southwark Pension Fund, says: "No car parking is proposed as part of this city centre development. This is considered appropriate due to the site’s accessibility to public transport and local facilities.

"Staff cycle storage will be provided within the service areas, while the hotel visitors’ parking will be provided along the frontage. It is recognised that the hotel guests might travel by car to stay in the city. Winchester has a number of local car parks located in and around city centre."

The report added: "The nearest car park (Colebrook Street) was quite busy over the weekend, however it still had eight parking spaces available. The surveys recorded well over 200 spaces available within an easy walking distance of the site, which is considered more than sufficient to support a hotel operation of the proposed magnitude."