PLANS to demolish three “unviable” hotels on East Cliff and replace them with a luxury hotel and two blocks of flats have been revealed.

Representatives from the developers Quantum Group presented plans to demolish Ocean View, Cottonwood and Bay View Hotels on Grove Road and replace them with a four star hotel and two apartment blocks to Bournemouth Borough Council’s Planning Board yesterday evening.

Representatives from the developers told the board the flats would be supported living properties marketed at elderly residents.

David Hines, chief executive of the Bournemouth-based developers, said the group bought the three former Victorian gentlemen’s residences three years ago but despite investment the hotels remain unviable.

He told the board: “We have spent in excess of a million pound in the last three years and we are still losing money.”

Bournemouth Echo: A visual of how the plans could look

Describing the plans as a “huge opportunity” for East Cliff and the rest of the town, Mr Hines said the new hotel would be capable of hosting large conferences and functions.

“It has one room of 4,000sqft without pillars overlooking The Needles across to Old Harry Rocks. I can’t find a room anywhere of that scale on the South Coast.”

Mr Hines said the group would also consider putting up the funds for a cliff lift to be installed near the hotel, subject to agreement from the council and other landowners.

Sam Hobson, lead architect at Quantum Group, said the hotel would consist of 93 bedrooms across six storeys and would be of a modern and contemporary design.

The residential buildings would be seven and 11 storeys high, he added.

The plans also include an underground car park consisting of 227 spaces.

Quantum Group is expected to submit a full planning application for the two and a half acre site later this summer.