In a bid to achieve four-star status, Hatherley Manor Hotel in Gloucester, UK, has unveiled an ambitious scheme to create a £3m ($US4.6m, €4m) spa and health club after winning planning permission from Tewkesbury Borough Council.

The plans are part of an ongoing investment strategy, which has seen at least £100,000 ($US154,000, €136,000) a year spent on improvements to the 51-bedroom hotel since 2007. These sums have paid for structural improvements, upgrades to bedrooms, the wedding suite and technology.

“The brief we have is to add something valuable to what we already have,” the hotel’s manager Steve Trowbridge told local media Southwest Business. “Ultimately what we want is a facility that has an intimate pool (12m by 6m), at least six spa treatment rooms, a thermal suite with an ice room and an executive gym so we can target a local membership of about 400. We also want it to be a successful day spa.”

Part of the building will have a seeded roof and there are also plans for a rooftop whirlpool and seven additional bedrooms overlooking the 17th century manor’s walled garden. A ‘secret garden’ will also be introduced to the property.

Originally discussed back in 2002, the plans to build a spa were shelved. Now, however, the investment money will come from the business itself.

“we have a very good, strong local business and clients for conferences, events and weddings,” added Towbridge. “What has been hard is attracting the leisure market. People on a tour of the area have no reason to stay on. The spa will give them that reason to base themselves here.”

Construction will take place in Q4 2015, during the winter, to minimise any impact on the hotel’s wedding trade.

The hotel’s sister property, St George’s luxury hotel in Llandudno, Wales, has a four-star rating.