“We do not have enough hotel space in the city.”

These are the words of the Wiltshire Council leader, reacting to the proposed new development in the city centre.

A 96 bedroom hotel - with cafe bar and flexible retail space - is planned for Fisherton Street.

An application has been submitted (ref: PL/2022/02221) and is currently under consultation for 30-36 Fisherton Street.

The application was made by CHG Developments (Ryde), but it is understood that the site will become a Travelodge Plus hotel, if it is approved.

“I think it will be great to see Travelodge coming and opening. There have been a number of people saying that hotel spaces in Salisbury are lacking. As a principle, and subject to planning issues, I would welcome a Travelodge,” Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council and cabinet member for economic development, told the Journal.

“There needs to be more. There needs to be a certain amount of hotel space. There was a study a little while ago that concluded that we need more hotel space in Salisbury.”

Two years ago, a survey revealed that Salisbury was in need of more hotels and bed and breakfasts.


Read more: More B&Bs and boutique hotels needed in Salisbury study reveals


In February 2020, before the Covid pandemic, a survey from business consultant Hotel Solutions concluded that there was “little evidence of excellence” in Salisbury’s hotel scene.

The survey added that the establishments were the most affected by the nerve agent attacks in 2018.

The report also claimed that customers were being turned away from hotels during the busier side of the year, May until September.

It recommended that 4-star and 3-star hotels across the city expand, upgrade or rebrand.

The study, funded by VisitWiltshire and Wiltshire Council, described this as a “clear gap” in Salisbury’s tourism market, adding there is a “clear shortage of all types of accommodation” between April and October.

The city has since been hit by national Covid lockdowns, during which many hotels and hospitality businesses were forced to close, sometimes for months on end.

The redevelopment of the site has been in the pipeline for the last few years.

In 2019, an application (ref: 19/07427/FUL) was put to the council to demolish the site and construct a new hotel, gym and library, which was approved with conditions.

The new planning application is a revised scheme based on this previous application.

The site was formerly the British Heart Foundation charity shop.

If plans are approved, it is believed the hotel will offer 30 full-time positions.

The consultation deadline is May 5. To view the planning application in full, click here.

The Journal reached out to Travelodge in March, who responded that they would make an announcement on this “very soon”.

The company has since been approached for comment but did not reply.

Get more Salisbury news

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.