Clayton Hotels is investing £6m in Gwrych Castle in Abergele, Wales, to transform it into a country house hotel.

The Grade I-listed building will comprise a five-star, 90-bedroom hotel featuring a health and beauty spa and a restaurant, as well as banqueting, wedding and conferencing facilities.

Welsh Assembly culture minister, Alun Pugh, has welcomed the move, saying: “Local residents have witnessed a unique historical building slowly falling down as a result of years of neglect under overseas ownership.

“Clayton Hotels’ plans will fully respect the unique architectural features and it’s anticipated to create more than 100 jobs, boosting the local economy.”

Gwrych Castle will be the Yorkshire-based hotel operator’s flagship property. Subject to planning, completion is expected to take two to three years. The company is also considering other country house locations throughout the UK.

Chair Kris Clayton said: “I formed Clayton Hotels to provide people with the ultimate country house hotel experience. The castle is a superb example of romantic architecture and it will provide the area with the very best that the hotel and leisure industry has to offer.”