A GRIMSBY hotel could soon have a large extension which aims to create 20 new jobs.
The owners of The Humber Royal, in Littlecoates Road, have applied for a 40-bedroom extension to meet a growing demand for hotel accommodation.
The prospect of a boom in offshore wind turbine energy, operated from Grimsby Docks, has fuelled demand from contractors.
The hotel has also enjoyed hosting an increased number of wedding celebrations, with three over the bank holiday weekend alone.
Icon Hotels is seeking planning permission from North East Lincolnshire Council planners.
The extension would be made up of five floors; the first, second, third and fourth containing ten bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.
The ground floor would host a new restaurant with seating for about 60 guests, and it would have an external terrace. There will also be a new bar area, with two meeting rooms.
The owners said the hotel, which was built in the 1960s, will be made fit for the 21st century and create a better impression for visitors to Grimsby.
The Humber Royal gained four-star accreditation last year and has enjoyed high occupancy levels, as reported.
General manager Anne Bennett said the extension would boost occupancy every day of the week.
She said: "Grimsby has been crying out for extra hotel accommodation.
"There is a shortage in the area.
"It is important to keep expanding otherwise visitors will look out-of-town, to the Louth and Scunthorpe areas.
"We would not be considering expanding unless we knew the demand was there.
"The prospect of a growing wind energy sector is a big contributing factor in our planning for the future.
"The extension will help with the impression people have of the hotel which visually, from the outside, is not pretty.
"This will help with the view of the hotel."
She added the new restaurant and bar will be open to non-residents and members of the public could be invited to suggest ideas for a theme for the venues.
If planning approval is granted later this year the hotel extension could be completed within 18 months.
The extension at the front of the hotel would result in the loss of four parking spaces.
Last year, a planning inspector turned down an appeal from the firm following an application to North East Lincolnshire Council planners for a five-storey block with 18 apartments.
Residents were concerned about the visual impact on their properties and warned of the increase in parking in the streets around the hotel.
There are currently 111 parking spaces, including disabled parking at the front of the hotel for guests and visitors.
But Littlecoates Road resident Len Holman, 80, who spearheaded the opposition to the five-storey apartment block, claimed the parking figures submitted by the owners did not add up.
He welcomed the extension and said it will be a big improvement for the area and for business.
Mr Holman said: "It is a big improvement on the visual aspect, which is good.
"I am more than happy with it and would like to see the hotel do well.
"But what bothers me is the parking.
"They say there will be ample parking.
"But when you look at the design it looks like they are losing about 30 spaces.
"Reading the Grimsby Telegraph, we are number six on the list of speeding hotspots in the borough.
"This will make matters worse and risk accidents because there will be more people going in and out of the hotel car park looking for places to park."
He recommended the firm reinstate the car park at the rear of residents' properties in Littlecoates Road.
"It was used previously as an overspill car park.
Mr Holman said: "It would create as many parking spaces as they have at the front of the hotel and solve their problems. I don't understand why they don't open it up again."
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