Work has started on a new six storey hotel and ASDA Living Store in the centre of the County Town.

The site in St Peter’s Street, Maidstone, will eventually be home to a 111 bed Travelodge hotel.

Councillors in Maidstone agreed last week that conditions of granting planning permission had been met.

This included the toning down of a multi-coloured facia, which will now be green and blue to reflect the building’s riverside location.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) said the building would be a “landmark” structure and praised the planning committee’s insistence on modification.

He said: “Our intervention has improved this scheme no end.”

The ASDA Living Store will create 90 jobs and offer a non-food range including George clothing, jewellery, homeware, music and DVDs, electrical and beauty products.

John Hudson, head of ASDA Living Acquisitions, said: “We are very excited about opening the new Living store in Maidstone.”

The store will use the existing car park which has approximately 270 spaces.

Town Centre manager Bill Moss said: “We welcome both Travelodge and ASDA to the town.

“A hotel of that size is well overdue and ASDA Living will be another strong retailer in the town.”