PLANS have been submitted to demolish a former hotel which became a major eyesore.

The scheme would replace the former Cliff End Hotel at Boscombe with an assisted living development.

The hotel has been empty since 2002 and was wrecked by a fire in 2012, becoming a blackspot for squatting, vandalism and fly-tipping.

Now its owner, the Gervis Meyrick Estate, has submitted an application to bulldoze the building and replace it with assisted living accommodation.

The estate says the scheme would “create a revitalised gateway to the East Cliff”.

The application is based on designs in a public exhibition last year.

Sarah Hordern of the Gervis Meyrick Estate said: “We were very pleased with the feedback from our consultations and we have listened to the concerns and recommendations of local people.

“Since that work back in September, the team have been refining the plans and we have now submitted our formal planning application.

“With the exception of changes to the access arrangements which were proposed by local residents, there are no major changes to the proposals which we consulted on. We are confident that this is the best possible future for this challenging site.”

The plans would see the early demolition of the existing buildings, which the owner says is essential because of their condition and was “strongly supported” during the consultation.

The Gervis Meyrick Estate says the design incorporates changes to access arrangements which were proposed by residents.

At the display of the plans last year, several residents told the Daily Echo the design was out of keeping with the area, while one said it “looks like an office block”.l

Residents and councillors have been calling for years for the site to be redeveloped, with one calling it “a public hazard, blighting our environment and the reputation of Bournemouth”.

Development was held up by a dispute between the ~Gervis Meyrick estate and previous leaseholders the Boscombe Partnership.

The Cliff End was built in 1887 for the builder H Samuel and was once one of the grandest hotels in the area. It was the first hotel in the town to have colour televisions.