Global operator to run new Paignton hotels

They would reportedly provide around 150 jobs and bring in more than £5m a year

The developer behind two new hotels at Paignton has struck a deal with a global hotel operator to run them.

Work is expected to start this month to build a £14m 161-bedroom hotel on the site of the former Park Hotel overlooking Paignton Green.

The Fragrance Group has revealed it will be run by Accor Hotels under the 4-star Mercure brand.

The previous hotel buildings at the site on Esplanade Road have been demolished and cleared after the development was given planning permission in November.

Councillors were told the hotel will create 100 jobs and attract an estimated 95,000 guests a year, bringing an annual £2m spending boost.

Another planning application has gone in on behalf of the developer for a 117-bedroom hotel on the neighbouring seafront site of the closed Lighthouse nightclub.

Subject to planning permission being granted, that hotel would be run by the same operator under its Ibis Styles brand.

The deal was revealed on behalf of the Singapore-based Fragrance Group by consultant Martin Rogers at a meeting of Torbay Council’s planning committee.

He said it was hoped the contractor would start construction work on the Park Hotel site in October.

Mr Rogers was speaking in support of an application by the group for a new hotel up to six storeys high on the site of the Corbyn Head Hotel at Torquay.

The controversial plan was narrowly approved by the committee after a three-hour debate.

Mr Rogers said the two Paignton hotels would provide around 150 jobs and bring in more than £5m a year in visitor spending.

The Fragrance Group is planning a fourth hotel at the Palace Hotel in Babbacombe, Torquay, as part of an overall £100m investment in Torbay.

A planning application has been submitted to demolish the closed hotel on the coastal plot and replace it with an 11-level 248-bedroom hotel and 38 houses.