BRENTWOOD could soon be home to a luxury hotel and spa, if ideas laid out by the leader of Brentwood Council are realised.

Councillor Barry Aspinell wants to see a posh development in the town to, in part, help increase the recreation options available to residents.

It comes as the council’s local development plan, which looks at housing and retail needs in the borough, is set to go out to consultation in the new year.

The council’s administration is keen to see an improved sport and recreation offer as part of it, and Mr Aspinell thinks an idea such as the hotel and spa could play a big part in it.

He suggested sites such as King George’s Playing Fields or the Brentwood Centre – on land owned by the council – as possible locations for the grand idea.

He said: “It’s a big idea and would be expensive, but we own the land and have the vision for it.

“Brentwood is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the county and brings in more money than any other borough.

“This is something we can take advantage of.”

Mr Aspinell said an exact timescale for any development couldn’t be pinpointed, but that if the local development plan was adopted, he’d like it to happen within the next two years.

He confirmed any plan would have to be in partnership with a hotelier and sports bodies from outside the council.