THE owner of a town centre hotel wants to create 31 new bedrooms and a larger entertainment space.

Leisureplex Hotels Ltd has applied for listed building consent to alter the Norfolk Royale Hotel, on Richmond Hill.

The company acquired the 95-room, four-star hotel earlier this year for an undisclosed fee.

If approved, the interior of the hotel would be remodelled to create a large entertainment area and new en-suite bedrooms in ‘poorly utilised’ areas of the building.

This would be done by adapting larger rooms and using unoccupied space.

Some windows would be replaced as a part of the revamp, which the applicant says would ‘reinforce the symmetry’ of the front of the hotel.

A major part of the plans involve knocking down ‘several walls and partitions’ to create expanded entertainment space.

A design and access statement submitted to the council says: “The applicant’s business model involves the provision of a significant element of on-site entertainment.

“It is therefore important for the entertainment spaces to be capable of hosting all guests in one room.

“In order to enable this at the Norfolk Royale, it is proposed to knock through several walls and partitions in the existing basement functions rooms to create one large entertainment area.”

The application also details plans to create a dining room that can seat all guests at any one time.

“The current restaurant is not nearly large enough to allow this and it is therefore proposed that the existing dining area will be significantly expanded into the existing courtyard, towards the swimming pool and the western boundary,” the applicant said.

The existing glazed roof over the pool and restaurant will be replaced as a part of this work.

The statement says this roof is ‘difficult to maintain’ and ‘creates internal environments which are difficult to control'.

This extension will enclose the current pavilion building with access to the below-ground parking and will be covered with a simplified flat roof.

A new access route from the car park to the reception will also be created.

The application concludes that the plans ‘will enhance this heritage asset and ensure ongoing vitality and viability of an historic building and an important local business.’

It said: “We believe that there exists no material reason, policy-based or otherwise, for the proposal to be refused consent and we sincerely hope it can be supported by the Local Authority.”

The plans, lodged earlier this month, are yet to be decided.