Permission to demolish a waterfront hotel in Poole has been refused, ahead of the multi-million pound re-development scheme being considered.

Borough of Poole has turned down an application to demolish the Quay Thistle Hotel on Poole Quay.

Patch Properties, a joint venture between Burleigh Estates Plc and Stenham Property Ltd, has proposed a major re-development of the hotel site and former East Quay Depot.

The mixed use development includes 260 flats, a 120-bed hotel and cafés/restaurants, with buildings ranging from three to eight storeys in height.

To replace the current 68-bedroom hotel there would be a four-star hotel at the rear of the 2.8 acre application site and underground parking.

The site is within the Quay conservation area and the demolition of the present hotel was refused on the grounds it would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area and the loss of the hotel would be detrimental to tourism.

Planning officer James Gilfillan said the application to demolish the Quay Thistle was premature, in advance of determining the development, which he hoped to take to committee in September.

"We may approve the scheme for the redevelopment, in which case we would be happy to see the demolition of the existing building," he said.

The 1960s/70s block has little architectural merit but the council does not want the hotel demolished now, leaving an unsightly hole.

"It's not like a Poole Pottery tiled, locally listed building like the Swan Inn, which we would like to see as part of a new development," he said.

Developers are free to re-submit the conservation area consent to demolish the hotel.

No-one from the developer was available to comment.