Fareham Borough Council has revealed plans to work with Roubaix Group Ltd, owners of Fareham Shopping Centre, to bring a popular hotel chain to the town.

The decision taken at Monday's meeting of the council's executive will see the two partners developing plans for a four-storey, 83-bed hotel at the rear of Fareham Shopping Centre.

However, civic leaders are remaining "tight-lipped’’ on the actual chain they are in talks with.  

Built on top of the shops and replacing long-term empty office space, the hotel will result in two extra storeys at the back of the shopping centre.

Executive leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Sean Woodward, said: "For a long time now, there has been interest from hotel operators to expand into Fareham town centre.

"Our joint proposal for a new hotel will help attract visitors and business to the town and sends a clear signal of the Council's commitment to and confidence in the future of the centre."

Although terms of the project are still in the process of being discussed with a hotel operator, a planning application is expected to come forward during the spring 2017, and would enable work to proceed on site towards the autumn 2017.