New jobs as hotel near Market Drayton set to expand

The owners of Goldstone Hall Hotel have been granted planning permission to provide additional accommodation by creating a new annex.

The scheme would see the hotel provide an additional four bedrooms in order to meet demand and help sustain the business.

It is also expected to create three additional jobs for employees required to oversee and service the additional guests who will occupy the proposed accommodation.

The proposal received backing from the parish council and a member of the public who wrote a letter in support of it.

A document in support of the application states: "This application seeks permission for additional accommodation at the long-established Goldstone Hall Hotel and thereby enhance the future and sustainability of the business.

"This prestige country house hotel generates significant local employment and income within the local economy and more widely throughout Shropshire.

"The expanding reputation of the hotel and restaurant, coupled with increasing occupancy levels, are expected to lead to an increase in genuine leisure consumption. In turn this will bring non-residents discretionary spend into the local economy.

"There is future potential for further additional facilities such as a spa and self-catering accommodation which will, in turn, add further employment, bring additional visitors to Shropshire and provide a local amenity.

"Funding for the proposed development will be primarily delivered through the business which operates as a partnership."

The document states the hotel is open 364 days a year and takes residents on that basis with an average occupancy rate in excess of 75 per cent and is fully occupied 60 per cent of the time.

It adds the hotel hosts about 80 to 90 weddings a year plus numerous corporate meetings, birthdays, funerals and similar events in addition to everyday lunches, afternoon teas and dinners.

A report by Shropshire Council case officer Karen Townend said: "The proposed additional guest accommodation and staff accommodation is considered to be acceptable as an extension to the existing business and ancillary staff space.

"The scale of the staff accommodation is considered to be justified on the basis of the business needs and is considered to be necessary to support the functioning of the hotel.

"The additional guest accommodation provides additional bedroom space for a well established hotel and provides alternative accommodation to the currently available hotel rooms."