A four star Aldridge hotel has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the business and facilities and create new jobs in the process.

Fairlawns Hotel and Spa in Little Aston Road has put forward proposals to introduce new accommodation cabins, two new padel courts, a leisure retreat and play area, extend its swimming pool, create a new entrance and additional parking.

The facility currently boasts 59 rooms with six suites along with a restaurant, bar, pool, gym and spa indoors as well as a tennis court, fitness course and woodland nature walk outside.

It’s workforce stands at 150 members of staff but an additional 24 full time equivalent jobs will be created if the proposals are given the go-ahead.

Bosses said they wanted to enhance business, which is owned by the Pette family, as well as secure its long-term future with the expansion – which will be carried out in four phases if approved.

Walsall Council planning officers are expected to make a decision on the application in June.

In a statement within the proposal, John Pette said: “As a family we have run the Fairlawns a hotel, restaurant, events and leisure venue since 1984.

“We had the opportunity to purchase the site in 1998 and since then our key focus has always been to take the long view; to consider what we do well, and how we can improve on that, and to identify opportunities that allow us to flourish and grow.

“We have always tried to be focussed on making sure the things we do today are the right thing for us, our community and our customers in the future. Something evidenced today around our business.

“We serve our staff through being a positive employer of 150 local people. We want to protect jobs through proactive investment and development and the proposed development plans would enable us to secure and grow employment in the area.

“With the council’s historical support, we have already been able to fulfil some of our potential; evolving the fabric and facilities of the business from a ‘restaurant with rooms’ in 1984 into the more significant venue you see today.

“But we think there is more potential at Fairlawns and for the area in which we live. Each of our previous development projects have been important to the sustainability of our business and helped us develop a healthier business case.

“We would not be operating the Fairlawns today had we not had that support. We want to take steps now to secure our venue’s future once again.

“Some of the plans demonstrate defensive investments that reinforce our position, give our team the best tools to do their jobs, improve access for all our guests and protect the business that already exists.

“Others more ambitiously evolve our business offering by opening our facilities to newer markets.

“Both investment types are aimed at securing the venue’s future relevance and developing its potential within Walsall, and we see these plans as integral to our future competitivity and sustainability; we also need to operate on an even keel with other venues who have opened or are opening facilities like these in the future.

“In short – our vision, as manifest in the proposed masterplan – aims to enhance our existing business, strengthen its role in the community, grow employment, improve access and ensure that it remains relevant to our customers in the future.

“We aim to do this as responsibly, respectfully, proactively and ambitiously as possible within our community and environmental context.”