A planning application seeking an extension of the Rabbit Hotel in Templepatrick has been submitted to the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council of Northern Ireland, the Belfast Telegraph has reported.

This £2m ($2.51m) proposal put forth seeks to make changes to existing buildings to create nine bedrooms and also construct a new extension to add 17 more bedrooms.

The property, which was formerly known as the Templeton Hotel, has been operational since 1990.

The current owners, who also own and run the Old Inn, Crawfordsburn Village and Galgorm Resort, bought the Rabbit Hotel in 2019.

This new application revises an earlier approved plan that featured 18 bedrooms made through modifications to existing buildings and a new-build extension.

The site next to the front of the hotel features three unoccupied buildings, out of which two are listed.

The new plan is stated to “represent an important investment by the owners to continue to improve the facilities for its customers”. The extension of the hotel is expected to also create 17 new jobs in the area.

The planning statement also added: “The guest bedroom accommodation and neighbouring uses have previously been found to be entirely compatible and there will be no adverse impact on amenity arising.

“Adequate arrangements are in place to facilitate access to, movement and parking within the proposal.

“The proposal will not have a detrimental impact upon features of archaeological importance, the listed buildings, or their setting.”