Developers want to demolish former Bournemouth hotel and build block of flats

MS Residential is seeking permission to redevelop the Chequers Hotel site in West Cliff Road to build a five-storey block of 24 flats.

The application becomes the fifth submitted for the site in the last seven years.

The hotel falls outside of the Poole Hill and West Cliff designated conservation area but has been included in plans to extend its boundary.

Bournemouth council has twice approved plans for a four-storey building and refused five and six-storey schemes due to their “excessive” scale, decisions which have been backed by inspectors when they were appealed.

If approved, the latest application would allow a five-storey block of 24 flats, including seven holiday lets, to be built.

The majority (15) of the flats would have two bedrooms with the plans also including two one-bedroom, six three-bedroom flats.

Twenty-one parking spaces would be provided.

A statement submitted with the application says the replacement building would “revitalise” the site and provide “much-needed” housing.

“The site is ideally located for additional housing stock, being located within the town centre, providing a range of services, shopping needs and sustainable transport,” it says.

“The proposed redevelopment is compatible with the character of the adjacent Poole Hill and West Cliff conservation area whilst safeguarding against any possible concerns in regard to neighbouring amenity.”

It adds that the building makes a “minimal” contribution to the conservation area and that the new block would create a “harmonious” presence and be a “marked improvement” to the appearance of the area.

In 2017 a cannabis factory was discovered at the hotel during gas leak investigations.

Developers have previously said that it would be "uneconomic" to carry out the renovations required to bring the hotel up to modern standards.

Planning officers at BCP Council will consider the latest application for the site in the coming weeks.