PLANS to develop part of a Bournemouth hotel into holiday flats have been refused.

Developer Trouville Hotel LLP had hoped to be given planning permission to convert Trouville Lodge, next to the hotel, into 13 self-contained holiday lets.

But, on Monday, BCP Council refused the application.

Planning permission for a six-storey block of 35 residential flats and 10 holiday flats on the hotel car park site has already been granted.

And in October plans to redevelop the Priory Road lodge into holiday lets was submitted.

In a planning statement the firm said the viability of the site as a hotel was declining.

“The hotel currently provides bed and breakfast accommodation with 19 bedrooms,” it said.

“Despite investment, occupancy rates have declined year-on-year and room rates have subsequently been reduced to assist booking numbers.

“Maintenance costs for the upkeep of the building have increased and without continued uptake or financial reinvestment, the condition of the building will degrade to the detriment of the area.”

It described the planned holiday flats as “spacious” and “stylishly-furnished” and that the scheme would provide more money to spend on the upkeep of the building.

The redevelopment would have involved the demolition of the existing extension to make way for a new two-storey replacement.

Two other applications change the use of the wider hotel site have been submitted in recent years.

In January this year, Bournemouth council approved plans to build the six-storey block of 24 studio flats, 17 one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats along with underground parking provision for 54 vehicles.

In 2014 a similar application was also given the green light by the council.

Plans for an 88-bedroom extension to the hotel were approved on appeal in 2011 after the council had rejected the development.