A fourteen-storey hotel which was described as ‘ugly’ when it was narrowly voted through by the council’s planning committee has opened next to Walthamstow Central Station, following a prolematic build process.

The Travelodge Hotel, which cost £9million and now towers over Hoe Street and Selborne Road, begun trading on Friday, two years after it was initially expected to open.

In 2013 contractors Solum Regeneration halted works twice over safety concerns.

First, a brick fell onto a car parked below and then neighbours complained about scaffolding falling onto rail tracks.

The company and its supporters believe the 107-room hotel will boost the economy in the borough.

Walthamstow Travelodge is being managed by Bhavin Desai, who started his career as a receptionist in 2008.

He has recruited a 19-strong hotel team from people who live locally.

Mr Desai insisted the hotel was good for other businesses.

“By attracting new visitors to the area, we will annually boost the local economy by £2 million, as our research shows the average Travelodge customer will spend on average £36 in local businesses during their stay,” he said.

Mayor of Waltham Forest, councillor Terry Wheeler, and Travelodge revenue director, Tom Edwards opened the hotel.

Mr Edwardssaid said: “There is a desperate need for good quality accommodation within the area and our new hotel is centrally based to offer the best value to business and leisure customers.

Councillor Wheeler said: “This is a great chapter in the ongoing story of regeneration in the borough.

“This hotel will help support the local community and will make it easier for people to accommodate their visitors.

“It is ideally situated close to three train lines in the heart of Walthamstow and will encourage visitors to London to stay here, to the benefit of local businesses and the night-time economy.”