Hotel and coffee shop plan for disused land

BUT DEVELOPERS APPEAR TO VEER OFF PADEL CENTRE

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

A sketch of the aerial view of a potential development on Embankment Road

DEVELOPERS want to build a Travelodge hotel and a Starbucks coffee shop on disused former playing fields in Plymouth which have been a magnet for travellers.

Bristol-based property company Loc8 has been in talks with Plymouth City Council about plans for the patch of land on Embankment Road, next to the River Plym and the former Laira bus depot.

The land has been used in the past by Travellers as an unauthorised encampment and eviction action had to be taken.

But Loc8 envisages a five-storey, 88-bed Travelodge, a drive-thru Starbucks, EV charging points, more than 100 parking spaces, and a cycle hub.

The company, which was also behind the redevelopment of the former Mega Bowl site in Plympton, had also been considering a drive-thru KFC fast-food restaurant, but have dropped it, and appear to have also binned plans for a five-court indoor centre for the fast-growing racket sport padel.

The former Prince Rock playing fields have been earmarked for redevelopment since 2018, when plans for an 80-bed Travelodge, plus a Greggs, KFC, Costa Coffee and even a pub were submitted.