A PLANNED expansion of a Kinver hotel could bring more than 200 jobs to the village and see the historic venue transformed into one of the most luxurious getaways in the Midlands.

Dunsley Hall Hotel and Restaurant has become one of the biggest private employers in the Kinver area since Terrie and Wilf Beardsmore converted it into a plush boutique hotel from a private residence four years ago.

But the couple, who run the hotel with their son Simon, are set on boosting the hall’s fortunes further with a £5m expansion which would see an extra 23 bedrooms added plus a luxury spa and self-contained suites overlooking the hall’s Victorian walled garden, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, private cinema, and better banqueting and conferencing facilities.

After a series of setbacks in the planning process, South Staffordshire’s regulatory committee has now given the thumbs up in principle to the scheme which would make the hall the only five star boutique hotel and spa in the area.

A final decision has yet to be made, however, as talks continue to take place on how to improve the design to reduce concerns raised by English Heritage that the proposed extension of the grade II listed building would be out of scale and would harm the character of the historic property.

But Terrie said: "We’re working with the planners to make sure we’re doing it right. It’s agreed in principle. It’s going to be a fantastic opportunity for the village. It would be the most luxurious hotel in the Midlands. I want to put Kinver back on the tourist map.”

The delays mean the hotel will not now be revamped in time for the 2012 Olympics as Terrie and Wilf hoped but they are determined to plough ahead with the project which would see the workforce increase from 17 full-time staff to 73 and 15 part-time staff to 141.

“We’re all very excited, “Terrie added.