PLANS for a new nine-storey hotel in Bournemouth have been rejected.

The scheme would have seen the two-storey building at 23 Holdenhurst Road, which currently houses La Piccola Italian restaurant, demolished to make way for a 57-room hotel with a new restaurant in its ground floor.

Applicant Graziano Piovan is co-owner of La Piccola.

Borough planning officers rejected the scheme under delegated powers.

A report by officer Charles Raven states: "It is considered that, by reason of the siting, design, excessive scale, height, and site coverage, the development would result in an incongruous feature within the street scene, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the area, whilst also having an overwhelming and overbearing impact on the occupiers of neighbouring properties."

Concern was also expressed over the lack of parking in the area.