PLANS for a 40-bedroom hotel alongside the A64 have been given the go-ahead.

Sandburn Hall, near Flaxton, has applied for planning permission to extend existing buildings to form a two-storey 40-bedroom hotel with single-storey staff offices and welfare accommodation.

The hotel will include two L-shaped wings extending either side of a central entrance reception and contain a range of standard double and twin rooms, larger family, luxury and wheelchair accessible rooms and two honeymoons suites.

The works would also include excavation to create attenuation lakes for drainage and amenity purposes north of the complex and a comprehensive landscaping scheme.

A spur would be constructed off the existing access road to direct visitors to the hotel and associated parking areas.

In addition the on-site parking would increase by 58 spaces to 238 in total.

It was also expected that the full-time employees would increase from 43 to 60 and part-time from 37 to 50.

Hayley Abdelsattar, Sandburn Hall director, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our business and feel this will be a great addition to our existing facilities and for Ryedale in general.

“We will now start work on the plans in more detail with work expected to start next spring, with the hotel opening in summer 2020.

“We feel hotel style accommodation completes the ‘Sandburn Hall’ product for our leisure customers, especially those attending events held in the Grand Function Hall.

“It will also be a welcome boost to Ryedale tourism and we will be working with local attractions and Visit Ryedale (Welcome to Yorkshire) to help bring visitors to the area.

“The character of the development will be in keeping with the rest of Sandburn Hall and will have a beautiful backdrop of a new lake for any guests staying in the hotel.

“Sandburn Hall is a local family-run business and we are proud to be creating new jobs for local people and benefitting the local economy.”