Facelift for former Isle of Wight hotel The Grand in Sandown

In recent weeks, work has been done on the windows — with plastic sheeting put into new wooden frames in the upper floor windows.

New lettering spelling GRAND has been fixed above the former hotel entrance and there is scaffolding erected around the building.

However, there is no indication as to what the long-term plan is for the seafront building, a prominent eyesore on Culver Parade.

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Plans were submitted in January to refurbish and demolish parts of the Grand Hotel, restoring it to its former Art Deco glory.

However, those plans were subsequently withdrawn by the developer.

Owner Nick Spyker was proposing that the main building's walls were painted and its hotel signs reinstalled.

However, there was no indication that the hotel would re-open to the public.

A separate plan to demolish outbuildings and build new holiday apartments was also submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.

MP Bob Seely recently criticised the Grand Hotel in parliament.

He is calling for the government to give more powers to councils for compulsory purchases.