PLANS to build an 80-bedroom hotel at the Gulliver's World theme park in Old Hall have been given the green light.

Developers were seeking a lawful development certificate for the blueprints which were first submitted more than 10 years ago.

But the council has since confirmed that planning permission still applies to the proposal.

Julie Dalton, director of Gulliver’s, said: “This latest council decision confirms that Gulliver’s has the right to build the second phase of Gulliver’s Hotel at our Warrington park, as submitted with our original planning application.

“It builds on the success of our Gulliver's Hotel, which opened in 2012, and we’re delighted to be moving the project forward. This second phase will boost tourist accommodation in the area and create many local jobs.”

No decision has been made about when building work will begin.

In March 2005, an application was submitted to the council to build the hotel but this was later refused in June 2005

Following an appeal, the plans were approved in January 2007 with the condition that the building work would begin within the next five years.

In January 2011 – 12 months before the deadline – work began on the site which include digging the drain trenches and installation of the pipework to serve both the hotel and proposed heritage centre which was to be built at a later date.

The work is believed to have cost around £12,000.