TRAVELODGE has been confirmed as the hotel chain set to move into the controversial development at Regal House, in Twickenham centre.

The expansion of the huge 1960s office block in London Road, dubbed 'the ugliest building in Twickenham', was refused by Richmond Council last year, but its decision was overturned by the government's planning inspectorate last month.

The budget chain said it would pump £7.5m into the 111 bed hotel, creating 30 new jobs. A spokesman said they were liaising with the local Job Centre Plus, with the aim of helping long term unemployed people back into work.

Work on the building, which until a fortnight ago was home to some council services, as well as private offices, will begin this summer and the hotel will open in Autumn 2011. The Twickenham branch is part of the company's plans to create 20 new hotels, with 3,500 rooms, across London in time for the Olympics.

Campaigners had hoped the building, by Twickenham Train Station, would be demolished, and slammed the inspector's decision to give the hotel the go-ahead following a lengthy appeal hearing.

The hotel's spokesman said the hotel would be good for Twickenham because rugby fans would be able to spend less on accommodation, meaning they would have more to spend in the town. She claimed the company's research showed the average customer spent £36 a day in locals shops and restaurants during their stay.

Managing director for development and international Paul Harvey said: "We are extremely pleased to have secured planning permission at such a key site in Twickenham. There is currently no hotel accommodation of any kind in the town centre and we believe the Travelodge will be a great addition to the town, providing much needed, affordable accommodation for the many visitors Twickenham receives.

We want to give travellers every reason to visit Twickenham and stay longer – we see increasing the availability of low cost accommodation in the area as being central to achieving this objective."