Increased traffic and lack of parking are among fears after plans were tabled for a five-storey hotel on the site of a car repair lot. 

Developer Eastern Ironworks hopes to build an 82-room hotel plus 6,500sqft of shops and offices on the site of Times Tees Cars site in Station Road, Upminster. 

If approved by Havering Council, the car repair and sales premises would be demolished to make way for five and four-storey buildings, with commercial premises on the ground floors.

The news drew consternation on Facebook, as locals debated the potential impact on the area.

Some commenters and local sources suggested the hotel would be a Travelodge. The hotel chain told the Recorder it could not offer a comment at this time.

Several people queried the lack of car parking facilities, with Anne Marie Castle saying they had “never seen a Travelodge with no parking”. 

They added concerns regarding the effects on traffic, commenting: “What about the proposed quarry near Hacton lane with 96 lorries daily passing through parts of Upminster? Then the new development in Hall Lane? Then the proposal to demolish the old exchange in St Mary’s Lane to develop more flats! How are we to cope with all proposed building works in terms of traffic?” 

Others questioned the need for a hotel in Upminster, with Julia Merritt saying it will be “more like a hostel”. 

Zoe Marable meanwhile said: “Who is going to stay there? Upminster is one of the better areas of Havering, it doesn't need a hotel.” 

The proposal was not without its backers however. Ricky Pike commented: “Fantastic idea. Especially with Upminster Station within walking distance.” 

In a design and access statement in the application, Stockwool, a London-based architecture firm, describes the current use of the site as feeling “temporary...which leaves the flanks of the two buildings either side of the site exposed”.  

It adds the proposal would “significantly” improve the area’s retail offering, and would generate “genuine social value for the area as well as creating substantial improvements to the local built environment through the introduction of new high quality new building, and improved public realm”. 

View the application at the Havering Council online planning portal using the reference P1585.22.