AN EXTENSION of 63 new rooms has been proposed for a budget hotel in Cowley.

Premier Inn said it wanted to add a new wing to the its Garsington Road premises, in Oxford Business Park.

The new L-shaped block would be three storeys high and have 69 parking spaces next to it.

It would bring the total number of rooms at the hotel up to 202 and the number of parking spaces up to 256.

The budget hotel is currently split between two blocks, with a Beefeater restaurant in the middle that is used by guests.

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In a letter to Oxford City Council Premier Inn's agent Mark Thackeray, of Walsingham Planning, said the new rooms would create at least 20 jobs, most full-time.

He wrote: "Hotels, by definition, bring visitors into the area, and those visitors bring with them the need and capacity to add to the local economy, spending money on local goods and services, tourist attractions and public transport."

Mr Thackeray said the new rooms could bring more than 20,000 more guests per year to the area, many of whom were likely to eat at nearby restaurants.

The proposals were welcomed by Cowley city councillor David Henwood, who said: "This will offer more jobs and opportunities for people in the area and is not near a residential area, so there are few negatives.

"It's a good sign of Cowley moving in the right direction, because we need more accommodation for business visitors."

The plan for more hotel accommodation is the latest in a series across the city.

In November the Oxford Mail revealed plans put forward by the Firoka Group and Hilton Worldwide to build a three-storey 87-room hotel near the Kassam Stadium.

And in May a planning inspector granted Travelodge permission to build an 83-room hotel near Redbridge park and ride.

There are also plans for hotels to be part of plans for the redevelopment of Oxford Station and of Oxpens, as well as of the Barton Park estate and the Northern Gateway business park.

Giles Ingram, chief executive of tourist board Visit Oxfordshire, said there was a shortage of hotel accommodation across the city.

He said: "The problem particularly is that there is not a big enough mix, with more budget and mid-range rooms needed.

"This new hotel in Cowley will no doubt fill up and be a great benefit to other businesses in the area."

He added: "After a number of years of not seeing much change, we are now starting to see more rooms coming on to the market.

"That will, crucially, mean rooms will be available at peak times and is good for Oxford.

"It may also slow the increase of rates as well."