Planners give the go ahead for 75-unit holiday complex, restaurant and spa - with �325,000 bonus for the town

PLANNERS have paved the way for one of East Devon’s derelict former hotels to be transformed into a leisure resort.

The ambitious scheme could see the former Seaton Heights Hotel turned into a 75-unit holiday complex, restaurant and a spa.

Members of East Devon District Council’s development management committee gave it the green light last week – some four years after it was first put forward.

If the development goes ahead it will come with a big cash bonus for the town.

As well as providing a bus service link to the town centre, off-site highway improvements, an extension of the 40mph speed limit along Seaton Down Hill and footpaths, developer Mick Gripton will also hand over some �325,000 for community projects.

These include �75,000 towards refurbishment of the town hall, �50,000 towards the cost of a town centre manager, �100,000 towards the Jurassic Coast interpretation centre, �50,000 for the Axe Estuary Wetlands Project and �50,000 for off-site recreation facilities.

Negotiations with Mr Gripton have confirmed that the apartments will only be occupied for holiday purposes.

Some of the amendments to legal agreements were approved in 2009, but the project has not been able to move forward because of the economic downturn and difficulties in raising finance for the project.