THIS is the £40m hotel and apartment block developers want to build on the site of the derelict Belvedere Hotel.

The Belvedere, off Bath Road, has been derelict for two years and was being used by rough sleepers until June, when it caught fire.

Now developers have revealed their plans to demolish the hotel  and build an 11-storey, 131-room hotel and a 66-unit apartment block, complete with a rooftop bar, central courtyard and tree-lined esplanade at St Peter’s Roundabout.

Michael Bibring, co-founder of Fresh Lime Developments, said it was “an opportunity to create a fabulous hotel for Bournemouth”, describing it as “a very exciting project” and promising a hotel of four plus stars.

“We want something that will change the hospitality scene in the town,” he said. “With the ongoing infrastructure there’s a great opportunity to continue what is happening already.

“The kind of hotel we’re looking at - it’s a very high quality hotel,” he added. “With a great restaurant and a roof top bar which I think will be sensational because of the views out to sea. This will be a landmark with great architecture. People will arrive into Bournemouth and think ‘wow’.”

It is hoped the hotel will create around 160-70 jobs in the town.

Mr Bibring said feedback from the consultation held in August had been “overwhelmingly positive”, despite two comments from residents concerned the development would overshadow homes nearby.

He said he hoped development would create some healthy competition among existing hotels.He said: “[Consumers] want great quality and we’ll be providing a very high quality offering.”

Providing planning permission is granted this side of Christmas demolition could begin as early as January, he said.

David King-Smith, of 5plus Architects, told the Daily Echo the building would be an interpretation of the town’s Victorian influence but with a contemporary look, in an effort to provide “a memorable moment between the town and the sea”.