A DILAPIDATED 130-year-old hotel on Dovercourt seafront is too rundown to save, it has been announced.

New owners of the Cliff Hotel, the Cliff Trading Company, has announced plans to bulldoze the building and replace it with a new “iconic landmark”.

The 27-bed hotel, in Marine Parade, closed in January making 36 members of staff redundant.

It was due to undergo a complete refurbishment and internal remodelling as part of a major investment.

But a survey looking into the current state of the building has said “many years of neglect and lack of maintenance” have made it commercially unfeasible to refurbish the building.

Instead, construction consultants Clarkehaus has drawn up new designs for flats, a hotel and bar/restaurant on the site - the current building will be demolished to make way for a new build.

In a statement, Marcus Clarke of Clarkehaus, said: “The owners of the former Cliff Hotel are looking to breathe new life in to the Marine Parade site.

“Since closing, the former Cliff Hotel has become a target for vandals and thieves despite the owner’s best efforts to protect the building.

“The Cliff Trading Company brief was to come up with a scheme that will create a new iconic landmark building to replace the now dilapidated Cliff Hotel and incorporate commercial space to provide jobs for local people.

“Following an initial discussion with Tendring Council a design brief was agreed that any new development on the site should be of modern contemporary design in an Art Deco style incorporating coastal and maritime features.

“Following a detailed feasibility study and careful consideration, Clarkehaus have produced a mixed use scheme for the site combining residential apartments, a hotel and bar/restaurant space with associated parking on site.”

An informal open evening is being held on June 19 for anyone interested in the hotel to view the new plans and have their say.

The public are invited to attend from 7.15pm to 9pm at The Waterfront, Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt.