Premier Inn to anchor Preston scheme

Developer Kubik Design has signed Premier Inn, the Whitbread-owned hotel chain, to anchor its £25 million scheme in Preston.

According to Property Week, Premier Inn will develop a 136-bed hotel at the Gateway scheme in the city centre, which also includes 18,000 square feet of retail space.

Tim Mulholland, director at Kubik Design, told the news provider: "The scheme will also provide Preston's first purpose-built serviced apartments, offering 74 apartments available on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis."

Planning consent for the scheme, at the junction of Fox Street and Ringway, was given earlier this month.

Work is expected to start on the Harrison Ince-designed project later this year.

Earlier this month Whitbread announced that it is to acquire 21 Express by Holiday Inn hotels from Mitchells and Butlers, in exchange for 44 of its pub restaurants.

The hotels will be rebranded, taking the number of Premier Inn rooms to more than 38,000 across 550 hotels.