WORK is underway to build a brand new hotel and a leisure club in Basingstoke's Basing View business district.

Since October last year, contractor Willmott Dixon has been working to construct the 153-bedroom property which will include a restaurant, a bar and a coffee shop.

The project is expected to be complete by January 2020.

The £20million investment by Village Hotels is expected to create 230 construction-related jobs over the course of the project and more than 100 permanent jobs when the hotel opens.

Students and apprentices have played a part in the work so far, with Basingstoke council stating that apprentices have clocked up 36 working weeks and 126 hours of work experience.

Councillor Ken Rhatigan, leader of Basingstoke and Deane Boroug Council, and Councillor John Izett, cabinet member for property, paid a visit to the site to catch up on its progress.

During their visit, Cllr Izett and Cllr Rhatigan were told how construction firm Willmott Dixon is aiming to reduce the facility’s carbon emissions using technology such as air source heat pumps, heat recovery systems and LED lighting throughout the building.

Cllr Izett said: “We were impressed with the progress made in building the new hotel and it is already a stunning new addition to the Basing View skyline. The hotel will be a fantastic new facility for the staff and customers of the growing number of businesses based in and around Basing View and is another important step in our regeneration of Basing View in association with the Local Enterprise Partnership and other partners."

Richard Poulter, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the Central South said: “We are delighted to be delivering the new Village Hotel and are committed to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the community of Basingstoke. The new hotel will not only be a fantastic new facility for its customers but also creates jobs and opportunities for the wider community.”

The news comes after it was announced earlier this week that construction company Morgan Sindall won the £19million contract to build Eli Lilly's new British headquarters at Basing View.