DOZENS of jobs will be created at a new hotel to be built on a key regeneration site.

The 122-bed Premier Inn will be built on derelict land off Waterloo Road in Hanley.

It is part of a wider scheme which includes a B&Q superstore, a casino and a cinema, as well as the “golden half-mile” of the town’s ring road.

It is thought that work on the development could begin in the spring.

Whitbread Group, which owns Premier Inn, has applied to Stoke-on-Trent City Council for a licence to serve alcohol at the hotel from 10am to past midnight, and to residents for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A spokesman for Whitbread Group said: “The hotel will have 122 beds and we are looking at creating around 40 to 45 full-time positions.

“We’re delighted to be bringing a Premier Inn to this location and we’re looking forward to being open for business as soon as possible.”

Developer Lear Management had already gained planning permission for the hotel, a Clermont Leisure casino and an eight-screen Vue cinema, and earlier this month councillors also gave the go-ahead for a 75,000 sq ft B&Q store, four restaurants and bars, and five shops.

The shops will have a 500-space car park, with a further 160 spaces for the hotel and casino.

Lear will also build its part of the remaining section of Potteries Way.

The company has already spent £4 million on the scheme, including £1.3 million on a new hostel in Hope Street to replace the Granville homeless hostel, in Century Street.

The £60 million project will create more than 600 jobs in total.

Richard Day, chairman of the City Centre Chamber Of Trade, said: “Creating new jobs in this market is good news for the economy of North Staffordshire.

“ A hotel in this location will help to start regeneration.

“The road link being built will also help to alleviate some of the traffic problems which occur in some of the back streets in Hanley.

“It’s a gateway site to the city centre so it is an important development.  At the moment it’s a derelict site which is not very attractive as people are driving in.”