DEVELOPERS at a closed Bournemouth hotel seek to add an extra flat to existing approved plans. 

Planning permission was given to convert the old Cliff House hotel in Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, into a nine residential apartment. 

But the developer Gilbert & Gregson is going one step further and has applied to convert the inside into ten bedrooms. 

If approved, the hotel would have two one-bedroom units, seven two-bedroom units and one three-bedroom unit. The difference from the old plans being an extra two-bedroom apartment. 

Another difference under the new plans includes a first floor balcony area and Juliet balconies on the south side of the building. 

Eleven car parking spaces will come with the development along with space for 22 bicycles. 

The previous application attracted several objections over concerns about the loss of the hotel, which some described as being “unacceptable”. 

However, the scheme was granted by officers under delegated powers in April 2023. 

Bournemouth Civic Society supported physical changes to the building but added it believed “a final sustained effort” should be made to save the hotel from closure. 

A design and access statement submitted on behalf of the applicant by Pure Town Planning said residential use was considered the “only viable solution” for the site. 

It said the hotel has been “appropriately marketed” in line with the local plan but had failed to generate interest. 

Historically the building was first erected in the 1880s as the Cliff House Preparatory School for Boys before it was a private house for a period of time. 

It has also been the Cliff House Holiday and Conference Centre, before being renovated into the current Cliff House Hotel in 2014. 

However, in August 2022 hotel owner Richard Norris said the application had been submitted due to issues with a small number of residents and the council, which had made the business “no longer financially viable”. 

The hotel became involved in a row with BCP Council and residents over concerns with noise, eventually leading to the authority taking action. 

Mr Norris said the decision had been reached with a “heavy heart” and the hotel would honour all bookings, such as weddings, made through 2023.