HOPES of a Travelodge hotel opening in a community have been ditched in favour of plans for a block of 42 flats.

Eastcote Residents’ Association (ERA) has expressed its dismay over the news and called on Hillingdon Council to reject the proposal when it is put in front of a planning committee tomorrow (Thursday).

Many shopkeepers in Field End Road had rallied in support of the previous plans for a budget hotel to occupy the derelict Initial House office building, which they thought would boost local trade.

However, receivers Savills rejected the hotel idea and described it as ‘unviable’ – despite Travelodge expressing an interest in running it.

Instead, a development officer from Savills told the Gazette the firm was determined to win permission for the three-storey block of flats so that it could find a buyer for the site.

Stuart Jones said: “The interest from Travelodge doesn’t make it viable. The flats plan is the only one we want to take forward.”

However, ERA business liaison officer Ian Parkinson has led calls for the unsightly 1960s office building to be revived as a hotel.

He told the Gazette: “They can take their poorly designed rabbit hutch away and leave our high street alone.

“We want diversity and to encourage economic growth, but if they take the biggest potential commercial site and convert it to a residential building you will lose that potential forever.”

Savills was brought in to manage the sale of the site at 150 Field End Road last year, after the previous owners went into administration.

Several planning applications have been submitted over the years in hope of reviving Initial House but none were granted permission. Previous designs included a six-storey block of 70 flats, withdrawn in 2007.

Mr Parkinson has called on councillors on the north planning committee to again reject the latest flats plan when it is discussed at Hillingdon Civic Centre.

“The developers of Initial House have relentlessly pushed to maximise their profit at the expense of our high street,” he said.

“The government wants to create jobs. Well here we have a multinational company that wants to invest millions of pounds in Eastcote.

“Will Conservative Party councillors let them build flats instead?”

l Check out our website, www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk, for the result from tomorrow night’s meeting and let us know what you think.