A planning application has been lodged with Dundee City Council to create space for 24 new bedrooms at the Best Western Invercarse Hotel.

If planning consent is granted, the development would increase capacity at the 44-bedroom hotel by more than 50 per cent.

Hotel manager Nathan Dundas told The Courier that the hotel is already experiencing an increase in visitor numbers and expects this to continue as the £1 billion Waterfront redevelopment, including construction of the V&A, progresses.

He said: “It is in anticipation of Dundee picking up with the waterfront redevelopment going on.

“The Woodlands Hotel, which is also owned by Redwood Leisure, has recently had an extension that has been incredibly successful so now we are getting one.”

Designed by Dundee firm ARKTX, the two-storey building will be created at the rear of the current hotel building.

The extension will be constructed from reconstituted stone and will feature a staircase to the north elevation encased in a glass block.

This is intended to create a “lantern” effect in the evening and lead the way to the entrance to the hotel’s ballroom when dark.

The plans will also see the current car park at the hotel increased in size.

Redwood Leisure hopes to begin work on the extension by the end of the year.

Arctx’s proposal states: “It is considered that the proposed hotel extension will provide an excellent standard of accommodation to an already successful and recognised venue within the city.

“The massing and scale of the proposed building is in keeping with the nature and character of the surrounding context and the materials proposed are appropriate to the area.

“The principle and developed design of the extension are in accordance with the polices of the Dundee Local Development Plan.”