WORK is well underway on the construction of a new Premier Inn at the former Wessex Hotel site in Bournemouth.

Developer Inland Homes says the new 105-bed hotel represents the first phase of the overall development, which they were given planning permission for in 2017.

They have released computer generated images of what the five-storey hotel will look like once completed.

Two apartment blocks, matching the height of the hotel, will also be constructed on site.

Vicki Noon, sales and marketing director at Inland Homes, said: "Inland is proud to be delivering the redevelopment of the former Wessex Hotel, which will form an integral part of the regeneration of Bournemouth.

"This development has all the attributes that will make it a great place to live, combining high quality homes and a hotel facility within an attractive coastal setting.

"We are excited for the local residents of Bournemouth to see the next stage of the development progress."

Eventually, the West Hill Road site could include 94 one, two and three-bedroom apartments for private sale.

Last month Inland Homes submitted revised plans to BCP Council, in a bid to change the style of the roof of the apartments – allowing them to fit six more flats in.

Under the existing proposals, developers have permission to build 88 flats.

The revised plans are likely to go before BCP Council's planning committee in the next few weeks.

The Wessex Hotel was originally built in 1891 under the name Hawthorns Hotel, before changing its name at the beginning of the 1960s. It was the regular venue of the Wessex Dance Club for 27 years, and the home of Bournemouth’s second biggest ballroom, before its closure in 2016.

Demolition of the hotel took place last year.

Children from St Michael's CofE Primary School, Bournemouth, recently donned safety gear and joined the construction team at West Cliff Road, to learn all about building site safety.

Teacher Amber Ingham said: "My team and I were so impressed with the lengths that the West Cliff Road site team went to in order to accommodate all of the children on our visit. The set up was so engaging and every child had a fantastic time.

"The children have been so inspired since the trip, that many of them have expressed how much they would like to be operatives working on a site in the future."