AN £80m plan to give the North-East unrivalled hotel and leisure facilities has been revealed.

Businessman Javid Majid said an upgrade and expansion of his Tall Trees Hotel and conference centre on the edge of Yarm, Teesside, should give the region its first five star hotel.

The plan - which would take ten years to complete - includes 250 apartments.

The proposals, by Maher Entertainment, have been submitted to Stockton Borough Council for planning approval. Construction should begin early next year.

Gains for the community include a proposed park-and-ride scheme to relieve congestion around Yarm, and a leisure complex on the site of Saltersgill School, next to Tall Trees, which he is hoping to buy.

Club M nightclub, next to the Tall Trees, is to be demolished to make way for the apartments, which will have individual landscaped courtyards, gardens, tennis courts and supervised play areas for children.

Mr Majid believes his plan offers an opportunity to provide "the kind of world-class hotel and housing complex that will reflect the aspirations of the North-East".

He said: "We think this a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate that our area really is world-class and we hope that others will share our enthusiasm.

"We are confident that there is no other currently developed site within the Tees Valley, and possibly within the North-East, which can offer the opportunity for the range and quality of the facilities we want to create at the Tall Trees.

"We are talking about a standard way above anything currently found in the North-East. It should be remembered that currently the North-East does not have a five-star hotel - what we are aiming for is actually five-star and above.

"We believe this project can make a massive difference to the overall economic regeneration of the Tees Valley, but we also believe there is chance to make a direct contribution that will benefit our neighbouring local community and businesses in Yarm.''

If Stockton councillors give Maher Entertainments the go ahead, the park-and-ride scheme, with parking for up to 250 vehicles, will be the first facility of its kind in the area.

Published: 21/12/2004