PLANS to transform an iconic, disused Southampton building into an eight-bedroom hotel have been scrapped.

Developers had lodged an application to renovate 1A Bugle Street, the grade-II listed building near Town Quay, in order to bring the building back into use.

However, local developers Concept Design & Planning confirmed the building had been sold to a new investor who plans to use the building differently.

It added that the plans had now been withdrawn from Southampton City Council.

It’s not known who the investor is or what they intend to do with the property.

The Italian style building, which was built in 1846 as the home of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, has been unused since around 2013

It was designed by local architect Thomas Sandon Hack and paid for by Robert Wright, a Vice-Commodore of the Club.

The building, located opposite Royal Pier, was most recently used as offices by Southampton University Air Squadron (SUAS).

Recently the building was spruced up but the reason behind this remains unclear.

At the time of the original application, Bargate councillor, Sarah Bogle, said: “It’s such an iconic landmark building for the city and it’s a building with lots of history.

“But it’s been lost in time because it’s been empty for so long.”

Previous plans to convert the historic building into flats were approved back in November 2014.

In 2015, neighbouring grade-I listed building, the Wool House, was re-opened as the Dancing Man Brewery.

Southampton Heritage Federation member and local historian John Avery said: “It is a pity that a use cannot be found and the building is in need of tender loving care.

“I imagine one of the reasons further applications are scarce is that parking arrangements for flats/hotel use in Bugle Street restrict serious interest."