News Articles | March 16, 2022

Travelodge comes to Braintree

Official ribbon-cutting ceremony at Braintree Travelodge

Travelodge has officially opened its first hotel in Braintree and its 14th property in Essex. This is the company’s first hotel opening of 2022 and boosts the group’s network to 594 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain. This 70-room hotel includes an on-site restaurant, called the Bar Cafe, and on-site car parking. It is prominently located in the town centre and was developed and funded by Braintree District Council, which has retained the completed development.

This scheme is a great example of brownfield development and town centre regeneration, bringing an under-utilised town centre site into beneficial use and occupation. The project is a mixed-use development, comprising of a ground floor car park, health centre (with a lease guaranteed by the NHS) and the Travelodge hotel on a 25-year term, with no breaks.

The scheme was constructed on behalf of the Council by Kier Group, who did a great job of developing the hotel through the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition to creating new jobs within the local community, this regeneration development provides the Council with annual income via business rates and rent. In addition Travelodge customers will spend on average double their room rate with local businesses which equates to a multi-million boost for the local economy. All in all, this new Travelodge hotel opening is a win-win for all parties.

Braintree Travelodge was officially opened by the Chairman of Braintree District Council, Cllr Sue Wilson (left) and Steve Bennett, Travelodge Chief Property & Development Officer

This deal is Travelodge’s 21st Local Council partnership deal which led to the group opening its first hotel in Braintree town centre and supporting local regeneration.

With the material downturn in High Street retailing leading to millions of square feet of vacant space, much of this will need to be repurposed and Travelodge is transacting and seeking more Council-partnering deals.