North Somerset Council (NSC) has said it believes the demolition of Weston-super-Mare's Tropicana will lead to a "brighter" future for the resort's 75-year-old leisure complex.

The local authority announced in December it would be returning the site to sand after it failed to secure a "deliverable" scheme for the seafront building in its current state.

A number of developers have sought to redevelop Tropicana, with Mace selected in 1999 to deliver a leisure pool and family entertainment centre. However, it pulled out five years later.

Henry Boot received the green light for a major leisure complex in 2008 but cited European law changes and worsening economic conditions for its decision to withdraw in 2009.

More recent efforts to redevelop Tropicana saw Havard Tisdale and the Nightingale Group draw up plans, but both pulled out of the process in early 2011.

A NSC spokesperson said: "Returning the site to sand will not prejudice any future redevelopment of the site. A blank canvas will make it easier to redevelop as any developer will not have to bear the costs of demolition."

Details: www.n-somerset.gov.uk

Image: HHA124L/flickr