A FORMER air traffic training centre at Bournemouth Airport, which has been empty for nearly two years, could be turned into a hotel.

The National Air Traffic Services’ (NATS) has applied to Christchurch Borough Council seeking permission to change the status of the training centre building at the entrance to the airport at Hurn to a range of uses including a hotel, storage and distribution and business.

The move comes after market-ing experts have spent two years trying to attract investors and developers.

Despite focusing on uses rele-vant to the airport location, only three viewings have taken place.

A report included as part of the application from CBRE – a commercial property advisor – said if NATS continued marketing the site with the current planning use “it is extremely unlikely we will ever find an occupier for the site”.

The report said it would be “extremely difficult” to reuse the outdated buildings and it is hoped the change of use will boost the attractiveness of the site.

Bournemouth Airport, owned by Manchester Airports Group, has welcomed the plans.

A spokesperson said: “We aim to respond to the planning appli-cation that calls for a change of use to the training centre at Bournemouth Airport before the deadline.

“Bournemouth Airport has the potential to host more passengers hence our investment in the terminal infrastructure and more investment in the surrounding areas of the airport could lead to more passengers utilising the services on offer.”

In 2011, the organisation said there was a need for the first “on-site” airport hotel, brought on by the major multi-million pound transformation Bournemouth Airport had undergone.