A DEVELOPER has expressed its "disappointment" that plans to build a hospitality training centre on Bournemouth's seafront were rejected.

In 2015, Chesham Estates was granted planning permission to build a "hotel school" on the site in Priory Road, next to the Bournemouth International Centre.

However, the deal later fell through, and the council has subsequently launched a plan to fund the development of a hotel on the site, which would be operated by a private client.

Julian Seabrook, managing director at Chesham Estates, said: "Chesham Estates successfully completed all the conditions of their development agreement with the council and some work started on site but, to our great disappointment, action was taken on behalf of the council to withdraw from the agreement.

"The actual construction work was therefore halted towards the end of 2015"

The proposals were discussed at a recent cabinet meeting where councillors raised concerns about the cost of funding the construction under the current plans.

Mr Seabrook said that: "Councillor John Beesley, leader of the council, was involved in the project and there was a disagreement with him over one matter which we thought had been resolved.

"Otherwise we remain in the dark as to why this cancellation action was taken on behalf of the council just when we were about to start work toward the end of 2015."

Chesham Estate has been working on plans for the site for several years. In 2011 its initial plans were rejected, but subsequent submissions in 2012 and 2015 met with approval.

Bournemouth council has long backed the idea of a hotel on the site with facilities to train hospitality and tourism students.

When the Echo asked why the bid had been rejected we were directed to a cabinet report from March this year.

It states: "This agreement was subject to the satisfaction of a number of preconditions, including securing a satisfactory planning consent, entering into a design and

build contract for the construction works, obtaining funding for the development, procuring a guarantee and entering into a hotel management agreement.

"Unfortunately, by the end of the summer in 2015 it became clear that the development was not progressing within the anticipated timescales.

"As a consequence, a termination notice was served on September 17, 2015, bringing the agreement to an end.

"Following the termination of these contractual arrangements, the council commenced a new procurement in February 2016."