THE UK's largest operator of hotel bedrooms has targeted Okehampton as a potential site for business.

Premier Inn has recently released its latest 'target town' list and included among the names of potential places to set up a new hotel are both Okehampton and Tavistock.

In the two towns the firm is looking to create a stand-alone business with a target of around 60 rooms.

Premier Inn is aiming to develop eight-million square feet of new hotel and restaurant space over the next five years to achieve a target of 75,000 bedrooms by 2018.

John Kinsey, director of the hotels and hospitality Team at JLL in Exeter, who is the retained agent for the South West for Premier Inn, said: 'The new list for the town requirements for the continued growth of Premier Inn includes both Tavistock for 60 bedrooms and Okehampton for 50 to 60 bedrooms.

'This underlines the growth of not only the brand Premier Inn which announced that it wishes to grow in bedroom numbers from 55,000 to 75,000 over the next three to four years but also the strength of Tavistock and Okehampton.

'This is really good news for both towns not only with the jobs that will be created during construction but also from the full and part time jobs that will be established within the hotels.'

Mr Kinsey said the company was in discussions with a couple of sites in West Devon but was still on the look out for places which would fit the right requirements.

He said: 'If we can find the right place for Premier Inn then it will move quickly. For Tavistock and Okehampton to be put on Premier Inn's new town requirement list as part of its plans for 20,000 bedrooms in the UK shows it has confidence in the area.

'Before a town goes on the list a lot of research has already been done and the company feels that both Okehampton and Tavistock are part of a major pipeline for people travelling to and from the South West.'

He added that if sites were found soon and planning permission achieved then the inns could be built within 12 months and open between 18 months and two years.

Both up-to-date hotels would represent between £3.5-million and £4-million of investment by Premier Inns and each hotel would employ between 30 to 40 full and part time jobs.

Chair of Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade Donna Tombs felt that having a Premier Inn hotel in the town could have positive knock-on effects for other businesses in town.

She said: 'If it was to open a hotel in Okehampton itself, it sounds like it could be very good news indeed. There was talk a while back that if the parkway rail station at the business park got the go-ahead, there was a hotel chain interested in opening up there.

'Hopefully if Premier Inn does find a site it would actually be closer to the town centre.

'Wherever it ends up, it would be great to see many new jobs created. If the hotel was on the edge of town that could reduce the positive knock-on benefit for businesses and night-time trade in the town. It would obviously not be so good for the town's pubs and restaurants if the hotel were out of town.

'If it could be in town then it would be fantastic. I would have thought the vast majority of the members of the chamber of trade would be for it. There would be the odd bed and breakfast business which might not be that keen, but they are doing so well I can't see it having too much of an effect on their business.'

Cllr Philip Sanders, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: 'If we were to be approached by a hotel chain, we would welcome it.

'We recognise that both Tavistock and Okehampton currently lack this facility and it would clearly be of benefit to our business and tourism industries.'

What are your thoughts on Premier Inn potentially opening in Okehampton? Get in touch and let us know at timesletters@ tindlenews. co.uk or send us a letter at Okehampton Times, The Ockment Centre, North Street, Okehampton, EX20 1AR.