A BUSINESSMAN has unveiled plans to demolish a landmark hotel damaged by a blaze and replace it with apartments and an upmarket wine bar and restaurant.

David Gill said his investment, in the former Harbour View Hotel in Seaham, County Durham, was a vote of confidence in the town, which is undergoing an economic revival in the wake of the Seaham Marina development.

He said, if granted permission, his seafront development of seven apartments and two large commercial units, could create up 60 jobs.

Almost 200 years of history went up in smoke when fire swept through the derelict building on the town’s North Terrace last September.

Mr Gill, who bought the property after the fire, said there was no way of keeping the existing structure, as experts had concluded it was unstable and the only option was demolition.

He said: “It has been here for many years and used to be called the Lord Seaham, before it was renamed the Harbour View Hotel.

“I want to bring back some of the history and plan to call it the Lord Seaham again. It is in a great spot and the development will add a lot of value to the seafront.”

Mr Gill said he came to the town three years ago when he recognised the potential for improvement in the area and started buying properties on the seafront.

In 2013, he opened the Lamp Room, which is run by tenant Russ Wood, and in April 2014 opened Gills Fish and Chips, next to the hotel.

He said: “This development will consist of seven apartments, including a penthouse, which I plan to gift to my parents as a thank you for what they have done for me.

“The ground floor and first floor will be commercial premises. I will be running the ground floor as a wine bar with food served at the same time. It will be about a 150-seater, with a fusion kitchen in the back.

“If it gets really busy we will develop upstairs as well – or rent it out for office use.”

The scale of the building, designed by Mario Manchella architects, is similar to that of the existing building.

Mr Gill has applied to Durham County Council for permission to demolish the shell of the building and create a four-storey mixed-use development.