A SIX-storey budget hotel with 104 bedrooms could be built near Taunton's train station.

A planning application is due to be submitted within weeks for the building at Firepool Lock between Taunton Station and the yet to be completed Northern Inner Distributor Road.

The proposals drawn up by property investment company Uavend Ltd are up for public consultation.

Simon Allen, investment adviser to Uavend, said: "Currently the site has permission for a seven-storey office block and residential and this is lower than what's been approved.

"Our research has shown there is a demand and this is a reasonable location between the station and a potentially busy road once it's completed.

"We hope to submit a full detailed planning application within two to three weeks."

The triangular-shaped half-acre site was previously used as a railway goods yard, but has been vacant for a number of years.

A statement on Uavend's website says: "Taunton is undergoing extensive regeneration as part of a multi-million pound investment programme.

"This has brought considerable change to the town and includes the development of the Firepool Lock area.

"We believe that there is a need for a new hotel accommodation within the Firepool Lock area and this site is ideally located for this purpose.

"It is proposed to develop the site as a hotel, providing much needed additional visitor bed-spaces, close to the station and town centre."

The hotel would also include 37 parking spaces, a restaurant, cycle store and landscaping and planting.

Access would be from the £22 million NIDR, which will run from Staplegrove Road to Priory Avenue once completed.

A public consultation is running until Tuesday, May2 - click here to give your views.