BUILDING of a hotel at the home of Hampshire cricket remains on target.

Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council Keith House said the Hilton hotel at the Ageas Bowl was still on target to open in the spring next year – a year later than originally scheduled.

This follows a six-month halt in construction work at the 175-bed facility which only restarted in April.

Speaking at the ground itself, where councillors held their full council meeting, Cllr House, pictured right, added that the first nine holes of the golf course should be open by the beginning of next year.

Work at the hotel, which is underpinned by taxpayers’ money, in West End was halted when contractors Denizen went into administration last October.

Following complex negotiations it was announced that Hampshire-based Powells Group Ltd had taken on the project and work restarted.

When complete, Eastleigh Borough Council has promised to buy the hotel for £27.4m.

The council also bought the ground the hotel sits on for £1.1m and the lease of the 167-acre site for £6.5m in 2011.