A THIRD attempt has been made by ex-AFC Bournemouth manager Harry Redknapp to secure planning permission to redevelop a former hotel into flats and homes.

Pierfront Developments, directors of which include Mr Redknapp and his wife Sandra, has already seen two previous proposals to demolish the Belgravia Hotel refused by Bournemouth council.

Following concerns about the loss of the building in Christchurch Road, its latest scheme seeks permission to convert the building into a smaller number of homes than the previous applications would have provided.

Planning officers rejected the first application for the site in February 2017 while the second proposal was turned down by members of the council’s planning committee the following December.

Concerns were raised on both occasions about the proposed demolition of the hotel building and the impact they would have on the East Cliff conservation area.

Bournemouth Civic Society also opposed the schemes calling for “a more restrained” approach to the site.

The latest scheme would see the main building retained and converted into 14 flats, although the coach house would be demolished and replaced with five mews houses.

Since it was last used as a hotel, the building has been converted to provide “self-contained bedsit accommodation” and a planning statement says that the proposals would “formalise” its residential use.

“Although the site is referred to as Belgravia Hotel, it has been some years since it was last used as a hotel,” it says.

“It has been converted to provide self-contained bedsit accommodation and the former coach house is occupied as a dwelling.

“The proposals would therefore formalise the existing residential use and ensure that a high standard of residential accommodation can be provided.”

The statement adds that “the planning balance weighs heavily in favour of the proposal” due to the council being “unable” to meet new housing targets being considered by the government.

None of the residential units in the latest proposal would be ‘affordable’ due to a viability assessment which found that it would only be feasible to include any “on reduced profit margins”.

The application will be considered by Bournemouth council in the coming weeks.