A prestigious hotel operator is set to bring a new luxury spa to Dorset’s royal village, creating new jobs.

The Dorset Echo understands that Monart, a luxury spa resort in Co Wexford in Ireland, have revealed plans to expand to the UK and open a smaller sister property in the UK in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate controlled by the Prince of Wales.

Monart Spa, part of the Griffin Group which is owned by the family of former Wexford hurling boss Liam Griffin, has formed a partnership called Poundbury Spa with the Duchy and Dorset housebuilding company CG Fry, which is developing Poundbury, a new development on 400 acres of land owned by the Duchy beside Dorchester.

The Griffin Group, run by Michael Griffin and Liam Anthony Griffin, currently own three properties in Ireland which include the Ferrycarrig hotel in Wexford and Hotel Kilkenny and the Monart Spa resort near Enniscorthy.

The proposals will see a large Spa occupy part of the Poundbury flagship building, the Royal Pavilion, which will also include 20 luxury apartments.

Under the proposals, Monart Spa will seek to include naturally-filled oasis pools with deckchairs allowing visitor to switch off and truly relax.

Alongside this, the development also offers a gym as well as thermal suite and treatment rooms offering a variety of treatments.

The Dorset Echo has learnt that a new company, Monart International, has been set up for the UK venture.

Commenting on its expansion to the UK in a Companies House record, Monart said that it was receiving a loan from the existing Monart company “to enable it to develop and operate a deluxe destination spa facility in the UK”

“Monart House Hotel Ltd would also gain prestigious reputational benefits from the globalisation of the Monart brand.”

The group made €15.4m profit in 2016 after reversing an impairment of assets which were devalued in the recession with a turnover of €22.8m in 2016 with the group employing about 450 people across the three properties.

A spokesman for the Duchy of Cornwall confirmed that a luxury spa would form part of the Royal Pavillion which is due to open in early 2019 however refused to confirm that Monart was opening up there.

The Griffin Group which owns Monart also refused to comment.

Cllr David Taylor, Mayor of Dorchester, said: “I would welcome any new leisure business to Poundbury and something which brings investment and benefits the local community.”