PLANS for a new hotel near a landmark building in Southampton are set to be approved next week.

A three-storey 73-bedroom hotel could be built in the Compass House carpark in Romsey Road.

As previously reported, plans for a four-storey 101-bedroom hotel at the site were unveiled earlier this year.

But the plans have been changed and are now set to be approved by planning bosses in Southampton on October 15.

The news comes as earlier this year it was revealed that Compass House, once home of Britain’s legendary mapmakers Ordnance Survey, will be turned into more than 260 flats whit shops, restaurants, offices and a surgery also planned for the site.

The new hotel is expected to create 30 new jobs but as previously reported the name of the operator has not been revealed.

The ground floor of the building will have a restaurant, a lounge and a reception, according to the plans submitted by BMR Compass.

The number of parking spaces at the site has been increased from 33 to 34.

Some residents objected to the proposal, raising concerns over the impact the new hotel would have on traffic, parking spaces and the surrounding areas.

But in an official document published ahead of next week's meeting planning bosses said: "In response to these concerns, and also partly due to concerns over the height of the building, the fourth floor has been removed and thus the number of bedrooms within the hotel have reduced from 101 to 73. Council Highways Officers have reviewed the transport related information submitted with the application and do not oppose the scheme on the basis of 33 car parking spaces being provided. "

They described the scheme as acceptable and added: "The level of development proposed will not result in significant material impact on the amenities enjoyed by surrounding occupiers or the character of the area. Approval of the scheme will secure development that will increase the efficiency of this brownfield site, improve the site’s appearance through building design and landscaping,and create employment opportunities. These positive aspects of the proposal are judged to outweigh the impact on neighbouring and nearby residential amenity."

The Planning and Rights of Way Panel will discuss the proposal at a meeting set to be held at the civic centre at 6pm on Tuesday.