HOTEL owners have unveiled proposals for a major expansion in Barrow which could create eight jobs.

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The Duke of Edinburgh, at the junction between Abbey Road and Rawlinson Street, has revealed plans to build nine en-suite bedrooms by moving into the attic of the adjacent Cooke's Building, home of Signal Film & Media.

A planning application has been submitted to Barrow Borough Council and the expected cost of the development is £300,000.

Lancaster Brewery, owner of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, is celebrating its tenth year of ownership in 2016 and has just completed an overhaul of the main bar area.

Matt Jackson, director, said: "We keep saying the Duke's finished and we can now look at other things, but we're working with the fantastic people from Signal Films, who have the Cooke's Building next door, and it looks like we're going to take over their enormous, empty attic space and create another nine bedrooms.

"They will all be luxury, ensuite rooms; individually designed, air conditioned and just add to the quality accommodation already available at the Duke."

Once the expansion is finished, the hotel will create eight roles, joining the Duke's current payroll of 44.

The hotel has pledged to use Barrovian builders and tradespeople during the 12-week construction period.

The application to Barrow Borough Council's planning committee is to change the use of the 301 sq m attic floor from business use to hotel use and carry out refurbishment.

The application also covers creating access from the third floor of the adjacent hotel as well as internal and external alterations.

Lancaster Brewery hope to be starting the project in the next eight weeks.