PLANS to build two new “landmark” hotels in Bournemouth town centre – one of which will be topped with a skybar – have been given the green light.

It’s hoped the scheme will see two Hilton hotels – one a four or five star and the other a two or three star – built on the Terrace Mount car park site.

The site was originally bought from the council by Redrow, which aimed to build 208 flats there. But they were unable to develop the site before the recession hit and instead sold it to developer Havard Tisdale.

Residents who objected to the plans questioned the financial pedigree of Havard Tisdale and whether they were in a position to complete such an ambitious development.

But director Peter Tisdale said: “The mix of beneficial uses proposed, including two new hotels, will transform this town centre site into an attractive thriving environment for visitors and residents alike and generate considerable new employment opportunities.”

The four or five star hotel will contain 167 bedrooms, 59 apartments, a skybar, a leisure club, swimming pool, conferencing facilities and a café. The second hotel will contain 114 bedrooms.

There will also be a 150-space car park, primarily for the use of shoppers but surplus spaces will be able to be used overnight by hotel guests.

Cllr David Kelsey, chair of the planning board, said: “The applicants listened to what the residents and board members have said and they came back with several amendments that the board members are more than happy with.

“I think it’s quite a good scheme. It will be an iconic building for the town centre and we need to move forward. We cannot have these sites sitting empty for years.”

He added that concerns about applicants’ backgrounds or financial status were not a planning consideration.