A former pub in Yeovil could be demolished to make way for a major expansion of the adjacent Premier Inn, should the submitted plans receive approval.
The Airfield Tavern, situated off Alvington Lane on the western outskirts of the town and close to the Leonardo airfield, currently stands next to the existing 20-bedroom Premier Inn. Although the pub, previously operated by Table Table, has been closed to the public for several years, it remains accessible to hotel guests for dining and drinks.
Premier Inn Hotels Ltd has proposed demolishing the pub to construct a two-storey extension to the hotel, which would include a new restaurant on the ground floor. This development would add 58 guest rooms to the existing hotel, expanding its capacity by nearly 300%, increasing the total number of bedrooms to 78.
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The hotel’s reception area is also planned to be extended by converting an existing ground-floor bedroom. To accommodate the new build, the car park will be reduced slightly in size but will still provide 74 parking spaces for staff and customers.
It remains unclear whether the expansion will result in the creation of additional full- or part-time employment opportunities.
A spokesperson from Axiom Architects, representing Premier Inn Hotels Ltd, said:
“The proposed extension will provide the additional capacity required to allow this successful business to continue to thrive. The massing and materials of the extension are designed to match the existing hotel, reinforcing the established character and overall theme of the site. The extension will deliver additional guest rooms, helping to secure the long-term future of the business while enabling it to continue supporting the local economy and providing important services to its customers.”
Located within the River Yeo catchment area, the development will require measures to prevent any net increase in phosphates affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors. To comply, the developer plans to purchase phosphate credits obtained by fallowing agricultural land within the same catchment. This arrangement will remain in place until Wessex Water completes an upgrade to Yeovil’s waste water treatment plant, expected by April 2030.
Somerset Council is anticipated to reach a decision on the planning application within six months. Given the scale and importance of the development, the final decision is likely to be made in public by the council’s Planning Committee South, responsible for major applications in the former South Somerset area, rather than through delegated officer powers.