AN AWARD-WINNING Craven hotel is to create 35 new jobs with the creation of a new state-of-the-art health spa.

A ground-breaking ceremony has been held on the site of the Coniston Spa, at the Coniston Hotel.

It is due to open in the autumn and will feature a 15-metre swimming pool, gym and treatment room, in addition to an outdoor spa pool.

It will be next to the hotel, off the A65 at Coniston Cold, where it will have views over the lake and countryside and be open to both hotel guests and day visitors.

It will also include a dance studio and relaxation and dining areas and will have a limited membership, which will be on sale from the spring.

Michael Bannister, chairman of The Coniston Hotel, named Large Hotel of the Year in the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be able to make this announcement right at the beginning of the new year.

"It’s going to be an exciting 2015 for all involved in the development of the spa and the hotel, and we’re expecting that before the end of the year we will have created a fantastic new facility for our hotel guests and local residents, and one which will not only create many new jobs but will bring more visitors to this part of the Dales for years to come.”

The spa is being built by Mark Green of Yorkshire-based Curveline Design and leading spa consultant Nicki Kurran, who has previously worked with Champneys and The Dorchester.

East Lancashire-based Barnfield Construction has been appointed main contractor and Yorkshire Bank is backing the project.