Plans for a £5-million extension creating 50 jobs at a Congresbury hotel have been approved by North Somerset District Council.

It means the number of rooms at Cadbury House Hotel Health Club & Spa will increase by 44, taking it up to a capacity of 116.

The rear extension will allow Cadbury House to host more events such as conferences and weddings.

Since its re-opening in 2007, the hotel has hosted a range of personalities notably Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester City football club, Andy Williams from X Factor and Nick Knowles from DIY SOS. More recently Portsmouth FC checked in prior to the club's FA cup reply against Bristol City.

The planning application will be referred to the Government Office South West and if there are no objections work will begin in early summer 2009 and be finished in 2010.

Nick Taplin, managing director, said: "At the height of a recession, I'm pleased the opportunity to create a further 50 jobs has prevailed."

Mark Hands, group general manager, added: "With work taking place at the rear of the hotel will mean minimum disruption so it'll be business as normal during the extension's construction."

The £18.5m transformation of Cadbury House, which employs 200 people, started when the new health club and spa opened in May 2006.

This was followed by the refurbishment of the historic house into a wedding venue, then in 2007 when the new, 72-bedroom, four-star, boutique- style hotel opened.