A new four-storey hotel which looks set to be built on Green Belt land could bring £4 million into the St Albans economy and create 100 jobs, a developer has claimed.

Revised proposals for a 150-bed hotel near the Noke roundabout were accepted by St Albans City and District Council last Monday night.

Developers are aiming to open the hotel by mid-2017 and councillors from the Planning Referrals Committee approved the plans which developers say will reduce the building footprint compared to the original blueprints.

When built, the four-star Hilton Doubletree Hotel will include a Spa and Fitness Centre with a swimming pool, a 24-hour business centre and meeting rooms.

The conference centre is expected to have a capacity of 450 people.

Managing Director of 51 Pegasus Nicola Bond said: “It is estimated it will bring in £4 million into the St Albans economy every year.

“That is through a combination of things, including the money we will spend with suppliers in the area and the salaries that will be paid to the hotel staff.

“There will also be the money which visitors spend when they go into the city.”

The new hotel could create up to 100 jobs and Ms Bond said people in the area would be employed to work in the hotel.

She added: “We are also working with Oaklands College. They have got a great back of house hospitality and catering facility and we hope to work with them in terms of work placements and apprenticeships.”

Councillor Brazier told the committee: “Very exceptional circumstances are considered to outweigh inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The very exceptional circumstances are the need for a hotel and conference facility of this size and the economic benefits of the proposed development.

“With employment opportunities, it would facilitate tourism in the city and the district.”

But George Old, Chairman of the Chiswell Green Residents Association, questioned the business case for a hotel in Chiswell Green.

He said: “I don’t think it should have gone through in the first place.

“A lot of the hotels in the area say they are struggling to fill the rooms.

“There is already a hotel on the other side and they want to put another hotel on the opposite side of the road to me that seems a bit stupid. I don’t think it will get that much business.

“It is unnecessary.”