A CALL has been made to allow the transformation of a former hotel and pub into a hostel “before it’s too late”.

New life could be breathed into the former Dolphin Hotel, which included a bar and lounge on the ground floor.

The bar closed in February 2013 but the upstairs, which was used as a hotel, has not been in use for nearly 40 years.

Developer The Dolphin Inn (Dunbar) Ltd wants to ensure the building, on Dunbar’s Queen’s Road, has a future.

Plans have been lodged with East Lothian Council for a hostel, complete with reception and cafe, on the ground floor.

Under the proposals, the first floor would have four bedrooms, with three shower rooms and a family suite. The second floor would feature six bedrooms, with four bath or shower rooms, and the top floor acting as a manager’s flat.

The developer has highlighted the poor state of the building and said that the first and second floors were “seriously affected by dry rot and are unsafe”.

A “priority” of repairing the building and eradicating the advancing dry rot has been identified, with the developer keen to bring the building back into use “before it’s too late”.

Pippa Swan, chairwoman of the town’s community council, told the Courier she had previously seen inside the building and it was “in a terrible state of repair”.

She said: “Anybody that wants to come in and invest high-quality renovation in Dunbar is to be welcomed.

“It is wonderful that the building, which is so prominent, is in line for a facelift.

“My understanding is that the client group is going to be aimed at walkers and surfers and, again, that would be warmly welcomed.”

Attempts had previously been made to see the building re-open as a hotel. However, there was “no interest” from potential developers.

A design and access statement, which is included within the planning application, notes: “It’s quite possible there has been no demand for this property to be retained as a hotel due to competition in the immediate vicinity, namely The Royal Mackintosh Hotel on Station Road and the Hillside Hotel on Queen’s Road.”

Two years ago, Dunbar Trout Farm Ltd, was given permission to transform the building. Those plans, approved in August 2017, included the creation of two shops and four flats.

However, the design and access statement reads: “Since this permission was obtained, despite evidence of marketing, there has been insufficient interest for its use as shops and flats.

“Our clients’ proposal is to redevelop the building for use as a hostel, providing accommodation to visitors to Dunbar, [primarily] those who would take part in the large number of outdoor activities available within the area.

“A small flat-roofed single-storey extension to the side is proposed to provide associated laundry room.”