Property and construction consultancy Wakemans has been appointed on the development of a new £5 million Travelodge in Birmingham.

The hotel will be an integral part of Newhall Square, the new "urban village" being developed by RO StBernards, which will link the city centre with the Jewellery Quarter.

Wakemans is acting as tenant's agent on the 100-bedroom hotel, which will be located on the corner of Newhall Street and Charlotte Street and will face across a new public square towards the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

The five-storey hotel has been designed by Associated Architects, appointed for the entire Newhall Square development.

Newhall Square is a £65 million mixed use scheme incorporating up to 30,000 sq ft of offices and workshops and 25,000 sq ft-30,000 sq ft of restaurants and bars, plus 235 studios and apartments and underground car parking.

The old Science Museum building has been demolished to make way for the development, which will be completed in 2010.

The 2.34 acre site lies in the heart of a conservation area, and the new development provides for two listed buildings to be retained.

The 18th century Whitmore Warehouse and one of the former exhibition halls will be focal points within the scheme. The heritage of the area will also be preserved thanks to a major public arts programme that will use materials salvaged from the former Science Museum.

"There is strong demand for budget accommodation because Birmingham is continuing to enhance its reputation as a major conference centre while also establishing itself as a popular short break destination," said Wakemans regional director Shaun Baugh.

"The Jewellery Quarter is a major visitor attraction and has been crying out for a hotel, so the new Travelodge is ideally located to meet this need, especially as it is just a short walk from mainline and metro stations."

This latest Birmingham hotel is part of Travelodge's growth strategy, which will see the brand invest £3.5 billion as it targets a 10 per cent share of the total UK hotel market.

Travelodge has invested £11 million in Birmingham in the past year alone and will plough a further £45 million into an additional 1,500 rooms - approximately 15 hotels - by 2020.

Meanwhile, William Ashley Homes has acquired a key one acre site in Selly Oak for its latest development in Birmingham.

Work has started at Norton Place on 18 apartments and one house beside the vicarage and churchyard of St Mary's Church.

Ashley has spent nearly three years developing the project and obtaining planning permission.

Marketing manager Alexandra Downes said: "Norton Place is named after one of the former owners of the site.

"There is a very strong demand for property built to high specification that is outside the city centre but very accessible.

"We expect Norton Place to be very popular with those familiar with Selly Oak and the development is ideal for a wide range of purchasers including adult sharers, young working or professional couples, down sizers and individuals looking for a good, long term investment."

The first properties will be available next spring.