A DERELICT New Forest hotel has been bought by a property developer with fresh proposals for the historic site in the pipeline.

Lyndhurst Park Hotel has been purchased by Hoburne Development after a long-running planning saga between the previous owners, PegasusLife, and the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA).

The 60-bed country hotel, which was built in the 19th century and originally known as Glasshayes House, closed in 2014 and has stood empty ever since.

There have been various issues with the site over the past five years and the building is in need of repair.

A spokesperson for Hoburne Development said: “As a local company that is passionate about the New Forest and its heritage, we understand the importance of the Lyndhurst Park Hotel.

"It’s a landmark site with historical value and like the local community of Lyndhurst, we are sad to see it has fallen into disrepair.

"We will now work closely with the local authority to deliver a plan that will work for everyone.”

Redeveloped sections of the hotel building, which once served as a gateway to Lyndhurst, were built with help from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author behind Sherlock Holmes, who lived in nearby Brook.

As previously reported, Winchester-based firm PegasusLife said in March it intended to launch a new attempt to redevelop the site.

This came just weeks after the company's decision to withdraw its previous proposal led to a public inquiry being cancelled at short notice.

An initial application to replace the building with 74 sheltered apartments and a dozen holiday homes was rejected by the NPA.

A subsequent proposal for 75 flats and 15 affordable homes was also turned down after sparking 800 objections.

The appeal relating to the second application was due to have been heard at a public inquiry in January but it was withdrawn by PegasusLife just weeks before the hearing was scheduled to take place.

Hoburne Development is a family-run business owned by Burry and Knight Limited based in Christchurch, Dorset. It is the sister company to Hoburne Limited, which runs Hoburne Holiday Parks.

The firm said they will now seek to engage and consult with the local authority to devise a scheme that will "transform the dilapidated site".