Sites under construction include new build hotels led by Whitbread’s in-house construction team or by external development partners, as well as extensions to existing Premier Inn hotels.

Work represents more than 4,500 rooms scheduled to open from 2020 up to the end of the 2022-23 financial year.

Whitbread’s development team has been working closely with its construction partners to put in place additional measures on sites to protect workers and the general public.

Alex Flach, UK Development Director at Whitbread, said: “Despite the challenges currently facing the hospitality industry, our ambition to continue to grow the Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn brands has not changed.

“That starts with making progress with our construction sites across the country and bringing new hotels to the locations our customers want them.”

Whitbread is also preparing to resume work at its four construction sites in Scotland once the Scottish Government confirms it is safe to do so.