Plans to build a five-storey 131-room Travelodge near Watford General Hospital have been submitted.

The application, which also includes ground floor shop spaces and new public realm around the hotel, has been added to the Watford Borough Council planning portal today (December 4).

It forms part of the Watford Riverwell Development’s ‘neighbourhood square’, which aims to “knit together” the wider 1,000-home project’s residential component, a rebuilt hospital, and its other uses.

(Image: Watford Riverwell/Watford Borough Council/Daniel Watney) Earlier this year, the Watford Observer reported that Travelodge appeared to already be lined up to run a hotel built as part of the scheme through a pre-let agreement. The planning documents submitted today confirm that the chain would occupy the completed hotel.

If approved, it will be built between Schrodells Road and the new multi-storey car park. Public realm space would take up the southwest of the site.

Watford Riverwell is being delivered in stages by a joint venture of Kier Group and the borough council. The team carried out a consultation, seeking residents’ views on how the ‘neighbourhood square’ should be designed, over the summer.

(Image: Watford Riverwell/Watford Borough Council/Daniel Watney) Travelodge had first shared its intention to open a new hotel in the town back in March 2023.

At the time it’s chief property and development officer, Steven Bennet, said: “Adding a Travelodge hotel can be a catalyst to attract new businesses to support regeneration, bring vacant buildings back into economic use, as well as attracting thousands of new overnight visitors to the area and revitalising high streets.

“In addition, our research shows that, on average, Travelodge customers will spend at least double their room rate with local businesses during their stay.”

As a whole, the neighbourhood square is expected to provide seating an entertainment space, a convenience store, as well as food and drink offerings. During the consultation residents were asked what they would most like to see out of a farmers’ market, restaurants, shops, outdoor cinema, performance space, children’s play area, or other options.

The planning application is currently ‘pending consideration’, with a consultation phase set to last until Christmas Day.