POOLE could have a new 125-bed waterside hotel open in time for next summer’s Olympics.

That’s the intention of the developers of Lifeboat Quay, who hope to start work next month to complete the regeneration of the gateway Holes Bay site.

Planners granted approval for the first phase of the multi-million pound development in October last year, which will give the town one of its biggest hotels, a gym, two restaurants and a coffee shop.

Now technical amendments are being sought from Borough of Poole that would allow work to start in September.

“We are working hard to get this show on the road,” said William Marsh, director of Marsh Life, Asda’s development partner for the former Dalgety Mills site.

The long-awaited development includes a Travelodge Hotel with an Anytime Fitness gym above, Harvester family restaurant, Costa Coffee and 86 parking spaces.

“Travelodge is keen to get this open for the Olympic Games. We are hoping to start construction work by the end of September,” said Mr Marsh.

“It has been a complicated site to bring forward and we have got to get it right,” he said.

Plans to regenerate the site with a mixed-use scheme anchored by a superstore, got underway when Asda received planning permission in 2002.

The store opened in June 2004 but the original plans for the site stalled, with lack of demand for leisure and office facilities. Proposals by Barclays to move its headquarters from nearby Barclays House to a new building on the site fell victim to the recession in 2008.

Since then Asda and Marsh have worked to bring forward this mixed-use development.

Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of Poole Tourism Partnership welcomed the new hotel and said it would be ‘great news’ if it was open for the Olympics, with the new Twin Sails Bridge on its doorstep.

“The regeneration of that part of the town is full steam ahead,” he said.

“It’s good news to have a hotel of that standing coming to us. Maybe this is an indication that the economic situation might be improving.”