AN “UNVIABLE” Bournemouth hotel is to be knocked down and replaced with a five storey block of flats. 

West Cliff Inn Hotel, in West Cliff Road, will be demolished following “years of underinvestment” and replaced with 23 one- or two-bedroom flats and five holiday lets. 

Currently occupied by OYO Kingsley Hotel, the site would require “substantial” investment to compete with neighbouring hotels, according to Darryl Howells Planning Consultancy. 

But now, planning officers at BCP Council have given the green light to the developers to destroy the current building and crack on with new plans. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Despite this, the tourism team objected to the proposals, saying a lack of business plan submitted by the developers meant that the holiday lets combined with residential flats “were not likely to be successful”. 

A case officer report from the council said: “The introduction of one extra floor over the existing, to create a building of 4.5 storeys, is considered acceptable in principle. 

“Overall, the height and scale of the building is not considered to be out of context with the recent approvals on the adjacent sites.

Read more: Plans to demolish 'unviable' and 'underinvested' Bournemouth hotel

“Initially objected to, the size of the external bike store was significantly reduced. This was achieved by locating residential cycle provision internally due to a loss of a residential unit to facilitate it.  

“Also, landscape buffers and zones increased where previous store was located. Access to the site will remain as existing. The holiday lets have a separate entrance on the western boundary.” 

Documents state the current parking layout will be “significantly reduced” and in its place a small communal garden will be made. 

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However, six parking spaces will be required for the holiday lets at the rear of the building. 

The report added: “The existing property is occupied by OYO Kingsley Hotel, formerly the West Cliff Inn Hotel. 

“The planning statement states that the hotel currently trades at the more affordable end of the market. 

“However, it is noted that an enforcement notice has been served against the property as it appears to the council that an unauthorised change of use of the building has occurred to a 30-bedroom HMO two retail unit. An appeal has been lodged against the enforcement notice.”