PLANS to redevelop Poole’s Seaview Hotel could include demolishing the Victorian building to make way for a new shop and flats.

Owners NewRiver Retail, who purchased the site from Marston’s pub group back in December 2013, had already confirmed that the Ashley Road pub was one of 54 under consideration by the Co-op.

They have now sent out a leaflet to residents detailing plans for the site, comprising a store and 10 flats above. A formal planning application has yet to be submitted to Borough of Poole, but is understood the developers are in pre-application talks with planners.

The detailed leaflet, which include an artists' impression of the shop, promises a “modern spacious facility” with in-store bakery, “more than adequate” parking and the creation of 20 new jobs.

The new building would be at the front of the site, with 20 spaces behind - ten for the shop, with access from Seaview Road, and ten assigned to the flats, accessible from Ashley Road.

Ward councillor Brian Clements said residents had already fed back concerns about traffic on the roundabout, which has attracted criticism for its layout and the number of crossing and bus stops. Pedestrian David Dixson died following a collision with a car there in October last year, and earlier this month a residents' action staged a protest calling for changes to the layout.

“People are worried it will make the traffic situation worse,” said Cllr Clements. "Many people regard that as a dangerous roundabout particularly for pedestrians. They are concerned that the entrance to the shop will be literally facing right on to the roundabout. And cars trying to get in and out might have problems with buses stopping right outside. It is something the planning committee will have to take very careful consideration of.”

A spokesman for NewRiver Retail said: "We have submitted a detailed transport assessment as part of the planning application which fully considers the effects of the proposed development. We will be working closely with the highway authority to ensure that there will be risks to road safety from the proposal."

He said most typical trips to stores of this size tended to be by foot, and they had provided evidence that would be "no unacceptable increases in traffic" and that car parking would be sufficient.