BUSINESSMAN Richard Carr has revealed his vision to refurbish two Sandbanks hotels and turn another one into flats.

The proposal is a revised scheme to the one put out to consultation at the end of last year.

It includes:

The demolition of the waterfront Haven Hotel at Sandbanks and the construction of a 10 storey apartment block of up to 260 properties on the three-acre site

A 7,000 square foot restaurant called the Jurassic Eye at the top of the building offering 360 views

A new 190 bed hotel on the site of the Sandbanks Hotel

A new 45-apartment hotel and spa on the current Harbour Heights Hotel location at Canford Cliffs

Mr Carr has been drawing up the schemes on behalf of the owner of all three properties, John Butterworth of FJB Hotels.

Speaking to the Echo he explained that changes were made to the scheme following the consultation last year.

Originally the plans included a 20-storey tower at the Haven Hotel site which has now been halved.

Two levels have also been removed from the Sandbanks Hotel scheme – which would now only be six-storeys high.

The Harbour Heights plans also include a six-storey building – but developers have promised to keep the “much treasured” ground floor restaurant and terrace.

“We have really tried to listen to what the residents and planning officers have had to say and think we have come up with an excellent scheme which will breathe some life back into these buildings,” said Mr Carr.

“All three of the buildings have really come to the end of their economic life cycle. The Haven Hotel was built in the 1920s and the original Sandbanks Hotel building dates back to the 1800s.

“The shareholders at FJB want to create some new brands for the future which will improve on the offering which already exists.”

If planning permission is granted the Haven Hotel site, which sits right at the Sandbanks peninsula, will be sold to and developed into a £200m apartment complex.

The apartments will all be under 1,000 square feet, which Mr Carr said will help keep down prices in such a sought after location. They are expected to cost around half a million ponds.

“Of course because of the location we realise that some of the apartments will be used as a second home or holiday home but the aim is for them to be used by local people,” added Mr Carr.

The current ground level of the hotel will be used as an under croft car park with around 350 spaces with apartments on the above levels.

The funding for the Sandbanks Hotel and Harbour Heights schemes would come from the redevelopment of the Haven site.

The 190-bed Sandbanks Hotel will be marketed as a family hotel with a spa and swimming pool.

According to architect Bradley Cheer, of Arc Architecture, the hotel is supposed to look like three washed pebbles – inspired by the pebbles which can be found washed up on the surrounding beaches.

It will also have undercroft car parking for around 220 vehicles.

The Harbour Heights site will be transformed into an apart-hotel, explained Mr Carr.

Of the 45 two-bedroom apartments 19 of them will be available to hotel guests and the other 26 will be sold on the open market.

However all apartment owners will be able to make full use of the hotel services available including the spa, swimming pool and gym – as well as cleaning service and food.

And despite the fact his most recent development plans for a flat scheme in Bournemouth were turned down by borough planners Mr Carr seems confident the Sandbanks scheme will be successful.

“I think the local authority is looking forward to the development,” he added.

“If all this goes ahead, it will leapfrog Poole to having the best hotel offering in the country.

"This would be a massive investment for Poole and indeed the wider conurbation to put it where it needs to be. It would be a huge shot in the arm for tourism.

“Most people realise these establishments need to be renovated and this scheme would allow that as well as giving a huge boost to the Poole economy.”

Following the final consultation event on Thursday, which gave residents a chance to see the final draft of the scheme, Mr Carr and his team will be submitting the three planning applications to Borough of Poole in March.

If approved building work could start as early as next year.