PERMISSION is being sought to convert a former Bournemouth hotel into a 17-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Bournemouth Housing Homeless Partnership has submitted the latest application for the Gervis Court hotel site.

A statement submitted on its behalf to BCP Council says the proposal is in “support” of a separate application put forward last year to convert the building into 19 flats.

The latest set of plans, if approved, would allow the former hotel to be used as an HMO.

The future of the hotel as a business was considered by the Bournemouth tourism accommodation screening panel in 2018.

It found an investment of £285,000 was needed for it to create “reasonable” income for its owners but it said the money would be better of invested in a high street bank savings account.

“In order to create a business that could return the owners a reasonable wage the property would need to be comprehensively refurbished,” it said.

“Clearly there is a risk that the costs of the works will overrun and the business will not perform at the level anticipated.

“Even if the forecast targets were met, the return on investment is de minimis.”

The request for permission to use the building as an HMO follows the submission of plans to redevelop it to create 19 flats which were submitted in September.

A decision on the scheme will have to be made by the council’s planning committee after the application was “called-in” by Bournemouth town centre councillor Hazel Allen.

She said the proposals were “unsympathetic” and would take away many of the more historic elements of the 1860s-built structure.

The new application would not involve any changes to the building but would include the creation of new parking spaces.

It will be considered by council planning officers in the coming weeks.