MIXED feelings have been expressed over re-submitted plans to transform three Sandbanks hotels into “state of the art” venues.

Controversial plans to demolish the Sandbanks Hotel, Haven Hotel and the Harbour Heights Hotel in favour of new hotel and apartment developments were re-submitted last week, ten months after they were refused by BCP Council.

Project developers Fortitudo have long faced fierce opposition over the near £300m development first put forward in 2017.

Sandbanks Hotel could be replaced with a new 171-bedroom luxury hotel, the Haven Hotel with three blocks of 119 residential apartments, and the Harbour Heights with a 38-suite ‘aparthotel’.

Bournemouth Echo: CGI of plans submitted for new developments in Sandbanks.CGI of plans submitted for new developments in Sandbanks. (Image: Fortitudo)

Among the most vocal objectors has been the Sandbanks Community Group (SCG), which previously described the potential demolition of the Haven Hotel as “devastating”.

SCG chair Norman Allenby Smith told the Echo the group’s advisors were combing through the re-submission, but that their position on the potential loss of the Haven Hotel would remain the same.

“People want the Haven Hotel to remain because it is an iconic site,” he said.

“The feeling of the community, which is the same now as it always has been, is that they would much rather keep the iconic building.

“The Haven is the one that everyone is really concerned about. Harbour Heights, for example, I don’t hear nearly as much opposition on that front.”

Bournemouth Echo: The Haven Hotel.The Haven Hotel.

Richard Carr, CEO of Fortitudo, said: “The granting of this application will bring about the regeneration of the coastline and the tourism offering in Poole with two new, high-specification hotels with world-class amenities as well as a state-of-the-art residential development on the Haven Hotel site.

“All three proposed buildings will comply with Fortitudo’s new ‘Carbon Negative’ initiative in their demolition, construction and operation, replacing older, less energy efficient buildings.

“The development will be a great benefit also to the local population.”

The plans returning also drew a mixed response among Echo readers.

One commenter said: “These plans look to be an improvement on what’s already there, they seem more in keeping and aesthetically pleasing. Might be an unpopular comment, but I’d like to see them get the green light.”

Another added: “Why not just renovate the hotels that already exist, rather than a hotel only the wealthy will be able to afford to stay at?”