Work starts on building new Premier Inn in West Bromwich
A new Premier Inn is rising up as part of a major construction project which officials say will transform West Bromwich and create jobs.
Building work has started on the 84-bed hotel and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant off Congregational Way near New Square shopping centre.
Large machinery moved onto the site in recent days to begin creating the foundations for the new development.
Officials from Whitbread, which runs the Premier Inn brand, say they hope the hotel will be open next February.
New Square manager Steve Burr hailed the new hotel and restaurant saying it will welcome visitors to help 'bolster' the town. The project will create up to 41 jobs.
The site, next to the Tesco fuel station, has been empty since building work on New Square was completed around five years ago.
It will be based close to Providence Place which is home to the West Brom Building Society headquarters and BT call centre.
A £5m Travelodge hotel with 78 beds opened on the opposite side of Providence Place, off The Expressway, last May.
There are already two Premier Inn hotels in the town - one based off the High Street at the West Plaza building and a second next to the Ridgacre pub off New Gas Street.
Whitbread project and programme manager, Matt Gent, who is leading the scheme, said: “Construction is progressing well at Congregation Way.
"Our building contractors started work on the site in early April and though it is early days, we are on track to have our new 84-bedroom Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre open by the end of February next year.
"Congregation Way is an excellent location for a new Premier Inn and Brewer Fayre.
"The site is in a prominent location to the town centre, it has excellent transport links and once we are open, the hotel and restaurant will create new jobs and help to support the success of New Square.
"It’s an exciting time for us and I’m looking forward to progressing the build over the summer.”
Mr Burr added: "It’s an exciting time for West Bromwich with work beginning on this new hotel.
"Since New Square opened its doors nearly five years ago, we’ve seen some fantastic commercial development locally and this latest arrival will only further bolster the area’s economic strength."
