City planners green light new four-story, 120-bedroom Premier Inn hotel in Milton Keynes

It will cost millions of pounds and create between 60 and 70 new jobs, they say.

The hotel, which will overlook the lake, will include a family Cookhouse and Pub restaurant that will seat more than 200 people.

Whitbread already has a Premier Inn hotel at Willen Lake, next to a Greene King pub and restaurant.

The future of this hotel, called Premier Inn Milton Keynes East Willen Lake, will be reviewed once the new facility is built, said a spokesman.

"Part of the reason for submitting the proposals for the new hotel is to enable Premier Inn to modernise its accommodation in this sought-after location, including being able to offer more family rooms, as well as to have a Whitbread brand food and beverage offer," he said.

Whitbread designed and developed the new hotel in conjunction with The Parks Trust as part of the the overall improvement plan for Willen Lake.

Jamie Baker, Development Manager at Whitbread, said: “A brand new, purpose-planned and purpose-built Premier Inn will make a massive contribution to the facilities and attractiveness of Willen Lake.

"The designs for both the hotel and family restaurant really connect with the lake providing striking views and what will be a fantastic place to meet, eat, drink and relax. Getting the green light to invest into and improve this part of Milton Keynes is more important now than ever and I’m pleased the Council has supported our vision and proposed investment.”

Ben Allot, Head of Property at The Parks Trust, said: “Willen Lake is managed by The Parks Trust. We have been working hard to improve the visitor experience at what is one of Milton Keynes’ most popular leisure destinations. The new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant will attract new visitors and will be an important contribution to the city’s visitor economy.

"The rental income from this venture goes directly back into the charity to support its important work, caring for Milton Keynes’ parks. This work is financed by The Trust’s endowment fund which enables the charity to make investments which provide the income to maintain and improve the parks.”

Whitbread say the hotel will have a bespoke design to reflect the site’s setting. The adjacent single storey Cookhouse and Pub restaurant will have a light and bright glass frontage and outside seating area for customers.

The hotel will be built off Brickhill Street. A customer car park will provide 157 car parking spaces.