CONSTRUCTION has started on the biggest ever Travelodge to be built in Glasgow.

The former Charlotte House office block in Queen Street is being converted into a 171-bedroom hotel over 12 floors and will also have a bar/cafe and parking spaces for 18 vehicles.

It's the sixth and largest hotel to be built in Scotland's biggest city by Travelodge, which plans to recruit 25 staff.

Contractor Angus Holt hopes to complete the new £12million development in time for next summer's Commonwealth Games which will enable the hotel chain to offer a total of 600 rooms in Glasgow.

Paul Harvey, managing director for property at Travelodge, said: "We are very excited to be starting on site to build a hotel in such a prime location in Glasgow."

He added: "We have been looking for a new site in Glasgow for some time and our sixth hotel in the city will be a great addition to the Travelodge portfolio and offer consumers more choice for good value accommodation.

"We are hopeful that the hotel, which is our largest in the city, will be ready for the Commonwealth Games."

The 70s office block was previously used by Glasgow City Council and Strathclyde Pension Fund. Five shops will operate on the ground floor with offices using the first floor. The rest of the building will be bedrooms.

Contractor Angus Holt says 95 construction jobs will be created as a result of the ­multi-million pound development.

Managing director Andy Elwell said: "We are delighted to be starting on site to help build more Travelodge hotels today and be creating lots of new jobs in local communities for bricklayers, plumbers and electricians."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk