Work starts on a new hotel for Dunstable

Work has started on a new hotel in Dunstable that, when finished next May, will create around 40 new permanent jobs.

Funded by Cardiff’s Julian Hodge Bank, the £6.5m Holiday Inn Express will have 120 bedrooms and will primarily serve the business and leisure breaks markets.

Contractors Vinci Construction UK Ltd is building the four-storey hotel on the A5 site of a former rubber factory. Some 60 people will be employed during construction to create a new focal point for this approach to Dunstable.

"This is a gateway development that will bring new life and job opportunities to the town and will form a key part of the overall development of the London Road," said project spokesman Rod Lovell.

The hotel will appeal to the corporate market and as a venue for regional visitor attractions. It will provide breakfast and light meals throughout the day, conference and meeting rooms and a relaxed setting for dinner.

"This will be a high-quality hotel providing accommodation at affordable prices," added Mr Lovell. "When finished, it will form a major element of the developments planned for this part of Dunstable."

Pictured: An artist’s impression of the Holiday Inn Express in Dunstable.