THE face of central Kendal is set to be transformed as two major development projects come closer to reality.

The plan for a hotel development at the Westmorland Shopping Centre at the northern end of the town centre is set to go before planners within the next few weeks, and building work is also poised to start, possibly within a month, on the construction of the new Travelodge hotel which will see a major revamp of the K Village complex.

Striking new visualisations of the proposed development at the Westmorland Shopping Centre have been released, with the images displaying a transformed complex with a modern outlook which will change the face of the south end of the town centre.

Planning permission has already been submitted for the development and is expected to go before South Lakeland District Council's planning committee next month.

However, it is possible in view of the lack of objections, the plan may be approved by SLDC via the delegated procedure, preventing the need for it to go before the planning committee which would hasten the commencement of work on the project.

"The planning application is in the final stages and we are hoping for a positive decision soon," said a spokesperson for agents Hough Tullett.

And the town's hotel capacity is set for another boost with the news that work is shortly to begin on the main hotel element of the new Travelodge at the K Village.

“Since being granted planning permission in November 2018, work has been progressing well at K Village," said a spokesperson for developers Lou Kendal Ltd.

"The strip-out of the ground floor is nearing completion and contractors for the hotel element of the re-development will be onsite within the next 4-7 weeks.”

SLDC planners approved the plans, which include a 69 bed Travelodge and 88 new one-bedroom apartments, last November.

The news comes just days after organisers of the Kendal Mountain Festival appealed for more people to provide accommodation for the growing numbers of visitors attending the event, which continues to go from strength to strength and provides a major boost to the local economy outside the main tourist season.