VICTORIAN-inspired flats could replace a “deteriorating” Bournemouth hotel under new plans tabled by developers.
St Michael’s Hotel, a 19th century building in St Michael’s Road, West Hill, could be demolished under Aram Developments’ proposals.
As it stands, the walls appear to be crumbling and worn down, with graffitied panelling placed around the perimeter.
In its place, 45 apartments comprising studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats are being proposed.
No parking will be provided for the 45 flats in line with a BCP Council planning policy, but developers have pointed out there will be 50 bicycle spaces.
The design of the new building is said to take reference from the “strong” Victorian character of the West Hill area “with the aim of creating a higher level of coherence and detailing compared to the existing building”.
Pure Town Planning’s design and access statement said the design is based around the “creation of two mansion blocks” reflecting the “pattern and rhythm of development to the south on this side of St Michael's Road with the detached blocks no. 73 and 75 and then semi-detached blocks of similar scale to the south”.
BCP Council will decide on the application in due course. Comments can be made by residents in the meantime.
In 2019, planning permission was given to convert the hotel into 31 flats after it was accepted it was “no longer viable” to run the building as a hotel.
However, these plans were not taken forward after it was also found to be “unviable” to overhaul the building for flats.
In July 2019, enforcement action was taken by BCP Council against the hotel after years of issues with residents.
It had been a source of concern, trouble and frustration for residents for some time – mostly around problems with waste and rubbish around the premises.
The hotel is not the first in the area where developers are looking to demolish the historic building.
Babbacombe Lodge in West Hill Road, Bourne Hall Hotel in Priory Road, West Cliff Inn Hotel, in West Cliff Road and Lynden Court Hotel in Durley Road are all set for demolition.
Developers have all said the hotels have suffered from years of underdevelopment, underinvestment and decay.
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