Winchester new-build
A new hotel is finally set to go ahead more than 15 years after planning approval was first given.
Entrepreneur Geoff Williams is completing the purchase of the Morn Hill site near Winchester and intends to build the 120-bedroom hotel in a £9m scheme.
The new hotel will be within the boundaries of the proposed South Downs National Park, but tourism chiefs said it was needed and would balance the prevalence of upmarket hotels in Winchester.
Williams, who has other hotel interests in Yorkshire, said: "At the moment there is no alternative."
The hotel will be franchised to one of the major international hotel chains and will require about 45 staff.