A BUDGET hotel at Teesside International Airport is hoping to double in size, under new plans.

An application has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for a 36-bedroom extension to the Stanwick House Hotel.

The hotel, which used to be the crew quarters for an airline operating from Teesside, has new owners who are keen to expand.

If approved by councillors in the next few months, there would be a two-storey extension providing the new accommodation.

Planning officer Adrian Miller, who is dealing with the application, has met officials from Fitwide, the firm which has made the bid.

He said: "It is a relatively small building and it is felt that there is a shortage of budget accommodation on the airport site."

If the application is successful, it would be a small part of major expansion plans for the airport.

The five local authorities which owned Teesside recently sold their controlling interest to Peel Airports.

The Manchester firm will invest £20m in the site over the next five years, refurbishing the main terminal and hopefully doubling passenger numbers.

Last week, budget airline bmibaby confirmed that it had chosen Teesside to be its fourth hub, with two aircraft based at the airport.

The move will initially create 50 jobs, but hundreds more are expected to follow if services are successful.