A new “Travelodge-style” hotel is expected to be built beside the Mermaid pub on Yarmouth Road in Ipswich.

The 28-room hotel is expected to be approved by members of the borough’s planning and development committee today.

It would only provide rooms – residents would be able to eat in the popular Mermaid pub on the other side of the car park.

The application has been lodged by the Mermaid’s owner Marstons after an earlier proposal was rejected for not being of high enough quality.

Officers say that the new proposal is of good quality and would enhance Yarmouth Road.

Although it is in an area that is at risk of flooding, the building would not increase the flood risk and would have built-in protection.

The Mermaid opened two years ago and has become a popular pub for its food, especially its family carvery.

As well as the new hotel, Marstons would also create another 28 car parking spaces in addition to the 60 that are already in place at the pub.

In its submission to planners, Marstons’ planning consultants have said the hotel would mainly be aimed at the short-stay market with some of the rooms being earmarked for families.

If the proposal is given the go-ahead by today’s meeting, the borough will be keen to see work start in the near future and for the new hotel to be operational next year.

Although it would increase the number of beds available in the town, it is not on the same scale as the new Travelodge or Premier Inns that have opened in the Waterfront area of the town over the last two years.