Cannock-based Pritchard Group has been given the green light to build a £45m hotel and ‘Employment and Innovation’ centre on the Stafford Road in Wolverhampton.

The 12 acre Citygate Plaza scheme near junction 2 of the M54 includes a 60-bed Travelodge hotel complex, restaurant and office space.

Situated to the rear of the site, will be a 210,000 sq ft business 'hub'.

Fred Pritchard, chief executive of Pritchard Group, said: 'There is huge demand for more hotel accommodation in the area and, as it will be an ideal place for business people to meet in a central location, our scheme will also attract day visitors to the locality. We hope to start in the spring with a view to completing by 2011.'