PLANS to transform a derelict Bournemouth hotel into a luxury hotel and apartment buildings have been presented to planners.

Representatives from 5plus Architects shared their vision for the Belvedere Hotel site at a council planning meeting.

The hotel hit news last month when seven people, believed to be rough sleepers, were rescued from the building after a fire broke out.

Currently the plans include an 11-storey hotel with a rooftop bar, restaurant and spa as well as 70 high quality apartments at the site in Bath Road.

It also includes a basement car park with 90 spaces.

Speaking at the meeting 5plus Architects founding partner, David King-Smith, said: "This site is currently an eyesore and it clearly needs something to happen on it because it is such a key location in the town.

"It is such a strategic tourist site and there is a great opportunity here for a really good piece of architecture.

"Our plan is to take inspiration from other quality architecture in the town to create something great at this site."

The plans are only in the early stages and the presentation on Monday was to give the planning board an opportunity to view the scheme and to give feedback before it goes out to public consultation in August.

Currently there is no word on who the hotelier might be on the site.

At the meeting some concerns were raised about the height of the building - despite the fact that the architects had already revised their plans from a 15-storey building.

Cllr David Smith said he was concerned about the height of the hotel in the "context of St Peter's Roundabout".

"There are quite low buildings on all sides of the roundabout. Do we want to make it too big and chunky in the context of the other buildings on that roundabout?

"I feel like we pushed the boundaries of height with the Berry Court development and this is considerably higher."

However Cllr Bob Chapman said he was pleased with the direction of the plans.

"What we have right now at that site is pretty grim," he added.

"I'm very impressed by what I've seen from the design so far and think it's certainly going in the right direction."

During the meeting Mr King-Smith said that if all goes to schedule and planning permission is granted then work on the site could start in the Spring of next year.