A hotel group has officially signed a deal to open up a new 150-bed venue at the Handy Cross Hub site in High Wycombe.

Legacy Hotels & Resorts has now bought the site at the new development on Marlow Hill and exchanged contracts with Wycombe District Council on Thursday (November 8).

Legacy Hotels & Resorts are one of the UK’s largest privately-owned hotel owners, developers and management companies with a portfolio of branded and unbranded hotels across the UK and southern Spain.

The company's CEO, Andy Townsend, lives in Marlow.

A 150-bed internationally branded hotel is planned for the site to the west of the Waitrose car park.

The site has been sold to the company in partnership with global hotel investors Frank Truman Asset Management. Cllr Steve Broadbent, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration at the district council, said: “We are delighted to welcome Legacy Hotels & Resorts to High Wycombe and look forward to seeing development progress.

“The hotel site was marketed via commercial agents Savills and resulted in a number of strong competing bids from hotel investors and developers.”

Mr Townsend added: “I am delighted that we have secured this project as I have been tracking it for some years and it is now nice to be able to commence bringing our ambitions to life for the site.

“Having lived locally in Marlow for nearly 20 years I feel we have a good handle on the local market and opportunities – what we have planned is an ideal fit for the hub, immediate local area and wider region of South Buckinghamshire. We currently have six new build hotel projects under way in the UK so one close to home is a nice addition.”

Work is also continuing at HxH on Hungry Caterpillar’s new day nursery and the Little Gym’s separate first floor mini-gym space for pre-school children, which are expected to be open for business in the new year.