Dozens of luxury holiday lodges could be installed on the grounds of a Cheshire hotel, creating 18 new jobs and adding almost £1m-a-year to the local economy.

Plans have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning department for 67 lodges, including a reception building and bar on the grounds of Carden Park Hotel.

Located 14km from Chester on Broxton Road, the hotel and its adjoining golf course opened in the 1990s. It has now submitted plans for what it called ‘high quality, luxury’ lodges.

The hotel currently employs 524 people and has an annual wage bill of £9m. Planning documents said that if the new lodges get the go ahead, an extra 18 people would be hired.  It added that additional visitor spend in the local and wider economy was estimated to be around £943,734 each year.

A design and access statement submitted in support of the plans, said the scheme would enhance the role of Chester as an 'international tourist and visitor destination'.

It said further employment would be created in the local area to support local business and services, including the employment of local contractors and tradesmen as part of the development process and then through the ongoing operation of the site.

It said it would also support the vitality of the borough’s other town centres through 'encouraging greater visitor numbers' and would bring regeneration benefits particularly through the redevelopment of brownfield land.

It said: “A development of this nature, comprising high quality holiday lodge accommodation at an existing visitor destination undoubtedly requires a countryside location.

"First and foremost, the lodge development will be fundamentally linked to the existing Carden Park hotel and golf course complex in being entirely reliant on its existing facilities, services, infrastructure and the overall branding of the Carden Park country estate."

No date has yet been set for a decision.