A number of new hotels could open in Suffolk, as Travelodge looks to double its hotel presence across the county.

With the hotel company looking to expand the seven hotels in Suffolk that they already operate, they are aiming to open new hotels in Lowestoft and Southwold.

As the group "is actively searching for a further nine sites across the county", according to the company, a spokesman said: "Travelodge’s Suffolk’s expansion programme could represent a multi-million pound investment for third party investors and create 225 new jobs across the region."

An additional hotel in Lowestoft would complement the pre-existing Travelodge on Leisure Way.

The chain, which opened the £2.3m Lowestoft Travelodge on Leisure Way in 2009, has said they want to open a second hotel in Lowestoft.

A company spokesman said they were also targeting Southwold with what would be the first branded budget hotel in the town as part of their expansion plans.

Coastal sites at Aldeburgh or Felixstowe are also being searched for possible locations.

Further possible sites in Suffolk include Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Martlesham, Newmarket, Saxmundham and Sudbury.

With Travelodge planning to expand further in Suffolk, Steve Bennett, chief property and development officer, said: "At present there is a shortage of good quality and great value accommodation.

"Therefore to fulfil this growing demand we are actively looking for a further nine hotel sites, which includes a fifth location in Ipswich, and second hotels in Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft.  

"For five of these target locations it would be the town’s first Travelodge hotel which would help attract new business and leisure visitors to the area. These locations include: Newmarket, Martlesham, Southwold, Sudbury, Aldeburgh, Felixstowe and Saxmundham."