PLANS are in place to turn a “tired and outworn” former Bournemouth hotel and turn it into a large house of multiple occupation (HMO).

Bonnington Beach Hotel, on the corner of Tregonwell Road and Priory Road in West Cliff, is currently not trading as a hotel but as an HMO, on behalf of the council, with a licence. 

But applicants Strato Homes Property Management said in a planning application statement to BCP Council it is “aware that there is a breach of planning control” and that they wish to “regularise that situation".

Bournemouth Echo:

A design and access statement added: “The building is tired and outworn and in significant need of repair and maintenance.  

“It would take significant investment in the building to reverse unsympathetic additions and alterations. 

“The building’s presentation detracts from the wider setting of the Conservation Area and the outlook from other surrounding uses including hotels, restaurants and other commercial properties.” 

At present, the building is used as accommodation for language students after the hotel business ceased trading a number of years ago. 

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The applicant added: “This was the only means of generating an income and in 2020 during the pandemic the council’s housing department approached the operators and asked would they be able and willing to accept persons who are in need of accommodation, i.e. persons who would otherwise be homeless.  

“At this time the language schools were closed and people were not permitted to travel.  

“Many hotels had to close. The operators of the hotel accepted the request and provided accommodation for people in need.  

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“The council continue to request the operators to provide accommodation based on the high demand from a variety of sources including those affected by homelessness, asylum seekers and migrants.” 

Initially built in the Victorian period as a residential villa, Bonnington Beach Hotel has seen much alteration and extension over the decades which the applicants said has “completely overwhelmed” the historic character. 

Plans would see the internal configuration of the building, including 20 rooms, a small kitchen and a commercial area, remain as it is as well as the exterior.