BUDGET hotel company Travelodge says it has not given up hope of building a hotel in Chesham after having a planning application turned down by councillors.

Travelodge wanted to build a 70-room, five-storey hotel in Station Road at the cost of £10million.

The plans were refused by Chiltern District Council's planning committee on Thursday night however, due to the “overbearing impact” it would have on nearby listed buildings.

Its design was described as being “completely alien and detrimental to the architectural character of the locality”.

The lack of car parking facilities was another major factor in the decision.

But the hotel chain said it would go back to the drawing board and come up with a different design.

Nick Dines, communications officer for Travelodge, told the Bucks Free Press: “Obviously we are disappointed, we wanted to bring a substantial investment to Chesham and we will be talking to the developer about a new design.

“We think Chesham is a perfect location for a budget hotel and the area is in need of one.”

Mr Dines refused to rule out the possibility of any new planned hotel being built elsewhere in the town.

“We have to take stock and see where we go from here,” he said.

Cllr Peter Jones, a member of the planning committee, said: “We are not opposed to the idea of a hotel, but it's got to be right.

“There were serious concerns about the size and shape – that's the main thing that needs to be put right, because it was going to be in such a prominent position.

“There is no doubt we don't have anything like as many overnight-stay hotel beds as we'd like, and it would be better for the local economy if there were.

“But that doesn't mean we have to throw the rule book away and say, 'We want a hotel, let's build one'.”

Chesham has been without a hotel since The Crown Hotel in Market Place closed down.