WORK has begun to convert a derelict seafront hotel into luxury apartments.

Clevedon’s Royal Pier Hotel has stood empty for more than 10 years and has long been considered an eyesore on the town’s otherwise picturesque seafront.

Now, demolition teams have moved in to take down some of the dilapidated extensions added to the original 1823 building before work can begin on creating the new development.

Plans for the hotel, which sits next to Clevedon’s grade I-listed pier and is owned and being converted by Bristol-based Freemantle Developments, will see the original grade II-listed structure retained and repaired.

A new five-storey building will be created on the north side of the site and there will be a glazed link building created between the two, which will also house a car lift to serve undercroft parking spaces.

The new development is due to be completed in the first half of 2014 and will feature 17 one, two and three-bed apartments, which are currently being marketed by Steven Smith Estate Agents at values ranging from �650,000 for a penthouse to �275,000 for the smallest one-bed.

Seeing workmen at the site has come as a relief to many in the town, who in the past have seen applications to develop the site approved but never executed.

Clevedon town councillor for the area, Bob Garner, said: “I am delighted and very relieved the plans have come to fruition.

“I welcome the prospect of this building being restored to a far better state than it is in at the moment.”

The Freemantle Developments application was approved in July last year and since then the company has been finalising details with the architects O’Leary Goss as well as designers, engineers and project managers.

A planning application to make some slight alterations to the original proposals has also been submitted to North Somerset Council, which is still being considered by the authority.