Construction work has started on a new 80-room Travelodge at Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside.
Union Property Development Ltd is working with main contractor, Esh Construction, to transform an existing office building on Silver Fox Way into the hotel.
Formerly known as Cobalt 3.3, the two-storey office accommodation will be re-modelled into 68 rooms while an adjoining lightweight steel frame extension will be constructed to create 12 further rooms. A bar café and reception will feature on the ground floor.
The location boasts transport links to the A19 for business travellers and is ideally situated for leisure travellers given its proximity to coastal towns Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, and Cullercoats.
Newcastle-based developer Union Property has brought the £3.6 million project to fruition. Peter Carruthers, Consultant Project Director at Union Property, said: “With construction rebounding from lockdown restrictions, we have several projects underway and are as committed as ever to delivering our development pipeline.
“The building is currently under-used and its conversion to a hotel will provide much needed additional hotel capacity to Cobalt Business Park and the wider area. This is our third development for Travelodge, and we are especially pleased to appoint Esh Construction to work with us once again.”
Esh Construction was appointed as the design and build contractor in November 2020 and will work in partnership with Wake Morley, Portland Consulting Engineers and kyoob to deliver the project. Gary Dobson, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “This is our second development on behalf of Union Property, with our commercial build division recently commencing work on a £10 million retail scheme based at the entrance to Hexham.
“New developments like Cobalt – the jobs it will create and the boost to the local economy during the build and on completion – will play a key part in the region’s recovery from the pandemic. We look forward to working with Union Property and the project team to bring this underused building back to use.”
Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “We are delighted to be working with Union Property and Esh on a further Travelodge hotel development which is located in the UK’s biggest business park, Cobalt Business Park. This is our seventh hotel in Newcastle and it will also be the first budget hotel to be located at the business park; providing much needed great value accommodation to visiting business and leisure travellers.”
Travelodge is also working with Union Property and Esh Construction on a 69-room hotel with an on-site restaurant called the Bar Café at Hexham in Northumberland.
Work on the Cobalt development is expected to complete late 2021.
This is our second development on behalf of Union Property, with our commercial build division recently commencing work on a £10m retail scheme based at the entrance to Hexham. New developments like Cobalt - the jobs it will create and the boost to the local economy during the build and on completion - will play a key part in the region’s recovery from the pandemic.”
