THE company behind redevelopment plans for the Knoll Hotel site at Studland say they have made every effort to meet the previous reasons for planning refusal.

The Kingfisher Resorts statement comes on the eve of this week’s Dorset Council planning meeting (Jan 10) where officers are again recommending refusal – largely on grounds of the impact on the local environment.

Said a company statement: “As the stewards of this beautiful site, we wish only to improve and enhance the current provisions of the hotel to enable Knoll House Hotel to thrive. Without significant investment, the hotel will continue to deteriorate into disrepair, and we believe that Purbeck and Dorset overall deserve better.

“We need to invest in this site, not only to enable the hotel to be a financially viable business but to inject much-needed investment into the wider community and local tourism sector. We have the support of our ward councillor, wider politicians, and of the county’s business organisations.

“Since our last planning submission determined a year ago, we very much took on board concerns raised by members, Natural England, the National Trust and AoNB representatives and as a result created a completely redesigned and more efficient scheme with less accommodation units, more landscaping, increased sustainable features and an overall lower impact to the environment (including the Dorset heathland). Our public consultation events demonstrated a much higher level of support from the local community as a result with some highly positive feedback on the many adjustments which have been made.”

The latest proposals, said to cost in the region of £60million, involve the demolition of many of the existing buildings on the site to create what Kingfisher hopes will become a high-end luxury resort, employing around 200 staff.

Many of the replacement buildings are modern, with large areas of glass, but also involve ‘green’ roofs and solar panels for the main hotel block, apartments and villas which between them can accommodate around 280 guest.

A restaurant and spa are also planned for the site and although existing staff accommodation will be  largely removed to company plans to run electric buses for both staff and guests from early in the morning until midnight every day.

If planning consent is approved the business will operate throughout the year, in contrast to the current hotel, which closes for the winter months.