Plans have been submitted to transform a well-known restaurant in Christchurch into an 18-bedroom hotel.
The proposal would see The Lord Bute change from a restaurant with guest accommodation into a hotel-only operation.
Developers say the move would support the ongoing viability of the nearby The Oak.
Planning documents submitted to BCP Council show no major external changes are planned, with most work focused on internal alterations.
Rooms across the ground and first floors would be converted into hotel bedrooms, including accessible rooms, while parts of the site such as the Selfridges Suite would be reconfigured to create additional accommodation.
The site sits next to the Grade II listed East Lodge near Highcliffe Castle, although the Lord Bute buildings themselves are not listed.
The application follows a previously refused redevelopment scheme in 2025 and the takeover of the site by hospitality group Heartwood Collection earlier this year.
Planning papers say the scheme would provide a “sustainable and appropriate reuse” of the buildings, boosting visitor accommodation and supporting the local economy.
The application is currently open for public consultation until May 16, with a decision expected after that.
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