New 115-bed hotel planned for the Eden Project
Plans have been submitted to Cornwall Council for the new building, which has been designed to blend in to the countryside and have high standards of accessibility, energy efficiency and sustainability.
Eden believes the new hotel would be a means to sustain business year round and develop the potential of the wider estate beyond the famous Biomes.
Since its opening in 2001, 16m people have visited the project, spending an estimated £1.6bn within Cornwall.
Eden Executive Director David Harland said: "Establishing accommodation on-site has been an aspiration for Eden since it began and we are now in a strong position to make this a reality.
"The proposed hotel is intended to support Eden's activities, its educational aspirations, its existing and future conference events, weddings, and the annual Eden Sessions series of concerts.
"Many of these events require visitors to arrive the previous evening and then remain on site until the next day or day after. This new accommodation would enable us to meet their expectations and secure Eden's identity as a conferencing and events venue."
Expanding the site's offering
If successful, the project would be funded by the private sector and allow on site partners the Building Research Establishment's National Solar Centre, and Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust's Green Build Hub to offer residential courses.
Harland said: "Both the Green Build Hub and National Solar Centre will be bringing sustainable building technologies and solar energy to the forefront of the visitor experience, and a sustainable hotel that supports the philosophy of all parties is an obvious opportunity to support these aspirations."
The hotel will be designed without catering areas, prompting guests to use facilities at the main Eden site.
In October 2014 Eden opened a new 58 room on site hostel in partnership with the Youth Hostel Association (YHA), aimed at the many school groups who visit the site.
The company is currently in discussion with a number of potential partners regarding the management of the proposed hotel.
