Plans for a new 75 bedroom Travelodge hotel has been granted full planning permission.

The go-ahead for the chain's first hotel in Sandwich, at Discovery Park, was given by Dover District Council.

The hotel is being funded by Maritime Capital Developments, a major investor at the former Pfizer site.

It will be operated under a 25-year lease by Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates 586 hotels in the UK, Ireland and Spain.

Sandwich mayor Jeff Franklin told the Mercury: "This will be a real plus for Sandwich.

"Discovery Park at present has no accommodation so visitors are having to use hotels in Canterbury and Ramsgate.

"This development will probably encourage people to come into the town itself, which is just 10 to 15 minutes' walk away.

"This will also provide new jobs so this will really have a positive effect."

Sandwich Town Council had unanimously voted for the planning application at its July 29 meeting.

Cllr MJ Holloway, DDC cabinet member for tourism, said: “We’re delighted to see this major new hotel investment in Sandwich, providing accommodation for the growing business community at Discovery Park, as well as the local tourism economy of East Kent.”

Tony O’Brien, Travelodge UK development director, said: “Following the success of our Dover opening at St James in 2018, we’re delighted to be opening our first hotel in the area of Sandwich.

"It will feature an onsite restaurant called the Bar-Café as well as a car park.

“We’re looking forward to working with Discovery Park and the local tourism industry to help attract more business and leisure visitors to this part of Kent.”

Toby Hunter, chief executive of maritime capital, said: “From our experience in managing Discovery Park, we knew it was the perfect location for a hotel operator, with the potential for strong occupancy levels from both the business and leisure markets.

“Securing a hotel on site is a key part of Discovery Park’s masterplan to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading science and innovation hubs.

"We look forward to working with Travelodge on this exciting development.

Travelodge in Dover began trading at St James' Retail and Leisure Park in March 2018.

This was the month the new £53 million complex first opened.

It has 108 bedrooms on four floors.