WORK to redevelop a dilapidated seafront hotel on Clevedon seafront into flats is to start this summer.

Bristol-based Freemantle Developments says it plans to start work on turning the Grade II listed Royal Pier Hotel at Marine Parade into 17 luxury flats in June.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted last March and will see the former hotel turned into flats, including four duplex penthouses with 18 parking spaces.

The majority of the parking spaces would be underneath the hotel, with four provided elsewhere on the site.

The apartments range in size but all will have a terrace or balcony and the living rooms will have a direct view of the sea and the end of the pier.

The five-storey hotel, which sits next to Clevedon’s Victoria Grade I listed pier, was built in 1823 by Thomas Hollyman and was originally called The Rock House. In 1868 the site was redeveloped by leading local architect Hans Price and renamed the Rock House and Royal Pier Hotel – which the new development will be known as.

The hotel, which was once home to Blitz Night- club, closed in 2001 and has lay empty ever since, falling victim to arsonists and vandals, with a fire ripping through part of it in 2003.

Previous plans to convert the building into 27 apartments fell by the wayside after the developer behind the project – Royal Pier Hotel Developments – ran into financial difficulties.

Freemantle Developments bought the building in December 2009 at auction. Work is now being carried out to strip out the building – getting rid of internal ceilings and old radiators.

Freemantle Developments director, Nick Warfield, said: “Work has started on the strip out works. We are currently selecting contractors and expect to be on site in June or July.

“We feel the time is right to proceed with the project and turn what is currently an eyesore into a quality development.”

As part of the development, Freemantle Developments has been working closely with Clevedon Pier Trust to incorporate a new visitor facilities building on the pier.