Ambitious plans are being drawn up to transform a 50-acre former factory site into a £150m hotel and restaurant complex - potentially creating more than 500 jobs.

Whitehaven Developments is in the early stages of drawing up plans for the former Alcan Pechiney site at Lillyhall.

The project could include a budget hotel with up to 80 bedrooms and a restaurant, a 10-pump filling station with car wash facilities and a drive-through coffee shop and office space.

The company plans to complete more design work and early consultation and submit a planning application early next year if feedback is positive.

If that application was given the green light, demolition and improvement work to existing buildings could take place late next year.

Whitehaven Developments, a remediation specialist, acquired the site from Rio Tinto Alcan in 2014.

Simon Towers, managing director of Whitehaven Developments’ parent company NPL, based in Glasgow, said: “We would stress these are early thoughts and there has been limited release or consultation on the specific ideas. Overall if similar plans were to come to fruition, it would represent more than £150m in investment on the site.”

The company has been maintaining the site while regeneration ideas have

been considered.

Mr Towers said: “It builds on the positive developments in the immediate area, not least of which is the college and of course the wider Lillyhall estate, which is home to hundreds of jobs.

“We have yet to consult with any potential end-users. This process would follow the initial studies now under way in terms of demographics.”

Mr Towers said the company had had some contact with Allerdale council about the project.

“The council is very proactive and positive about attracting investment, provided it is high quality and the right development for the area,” he said. “Our aim is to reconvene with the council once our studies are concluded.”

Alcan Pechiney, formerly Pechiney Aviatube and before that High Duty Alloys, made aluminium parts for the aerospace industry.

The factory closed in 2007 when production was transferred to France.