Developers Skelwith Group has submitted plans for a £30m five-star hotel and spa development in Whitby, North Yorkshire, to the town council.

The 42-bedroom hotel will be set in the 80-acre Raithwaite Hall estate, recently purchased by Skelwith, and, If approved, the will feature, a fine dining restaurant, a bar, a 180-seat conference area and a 6,000sq ft (557.4sq m) spa. The grounds also include 10 existing cottages, which are being let out to visitors. David Andrews, chief executive of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, said: “Consumers are continually seeking higher standards of accommodation and the this is exactly what the area needs.

"It’s good to see developers backing the future strength of the Yorkshire Tourist economy, as the Skelwith Group have done with both this and the Flaxby development.” Skelwith Leisure, a division of the Skelwith Group, is developing the Whitby site and is also actively looking at other acquisitions to boost its leisure portfolio. The project is expected in be completed early 2010.

Skelwith is also redeveloping the £100m 300-bedroom Flaxby Country Club, located between York and Harrogate, which is expected to open in 2011.