A NEW hotel and business park in Ardleigh could create as many as 300 jobs.

Chester Jervis, who owns Colchester Golf Range, in Old Ipswich Road, Ardleigh, has re-applied for permission to re-develop the range with a 58- bedroom hotel and 4,000 square metre business park.

Tendring Council rejected the scheme in March because two technical documents, relating to traffic and drainage, were missing from the submission.

Mr Jervis has now resubmitted the plans with the accompanying documents. He said the golf range had been there for about 24 years, but was no longer viable.

He said: “We have had positive feedback and it is now a matter of waiting.

“We are hoping it could create between 200 and 300 jobs here.”

Mr Jervis said a number of hotel chains – both national and international – were interested in the site, but he was unable to say more until the application was decided.

“There wasasurvey three or four years ago that said there wasarequirement for a budget hotel for Colchester and the surrounding area,” he said.

Mr Jervis said the hotel would serve visitors to Colchester, those travelling to Harwich and people in the area.

He added he believed it would likely be presented at Tendring Council’s planning meeting in October.

Tendring Council will have the final say.