IPSWICH: A new 87-room hotel could be built near the town’s Waterfront after Travelodge submitted a new application.

It wants to build the hotel in Duke Street, next to the Loch Fyne restaurant on the site of the former Kenning’s car hire centre.

The application has been received by the borough’s planning department and is expected to be discussed by councillors early in the autumn.

If it is given the go-ahead work on the project is likely to start early next year.

A spokesman for Travelodge said: “After looking for a new site in Ipswich for over five years, we are extremely pleased to have identified this prominent site.

“Travelodge is committed to investing in Ipswich and subject to planning the contemporary hotel will have a Bar Caf� and parking facilities with the view to be on site in early 2011.

“The hotel will have fantastic views of the harbour due to its prominent location on Duke Street and will offer rooms from �19 as well as creating jobs in the town.

“We want to give travellers every reason to visit Ipswich and stay longer – we see increasing the availability of low cost accommodation in the area as central to achieving this objective.”

The planning application says the proposed development would create eight full-time and 18 part-time jobs, with a full-time equivalent of 14 posts.

The application comes after earlier proposals by Travelodge for the Waterfront area of the town failed to take off.

Ipswich councillor with responsibility for economic development Richard Atkins welcomed the fact that Travelodge remained committed to coming to town.

He said: “I have not seen the details of this application, and whether or not it will be approved is a matter for the planning and development committee.

“But I think there is an acknowledgement that Ipswich needs more hotel rooms in the town centre – offering something for all budgets.

“Travelodge is an expanding company with a national reputation and it would certainly be good to see it developing a hotel in the Waterfront area of Ipswich – although I cannot comment on whether it should be on that site.”

The application also proposes a 58-space car park for guests which would be accessed from Duke Street, whose junction with Fore Street and Fore Hamlet is currently being remodelled.

The site is currently used as a temporary car park and is opposite new halls of residence currently being built for students at University Campus Suffolk.