A civic society is welcoming plans to replace the former BHS site with a 131-bed hotel in a bid to keep up with “changes in retail”.

Developers Reef Estates are proposing to demolish the existing empty building, in St Peter’s Street, St Albans, and build a new hotel with two restaurants in St Peter’s Street, St Albans.

Although the development will be located near to an existing Premier Inn, Members of the St Albans Civic Society believe the new hotel will cater for tourists visiting the city.

They believe the idea of another department store reopening in the site is “well and truly dead” as people are now buying items online more rather than using traditional methods of shopping. Tim Boatswain, chairman of the St Albans Civic Society, said the ground floor of he development should have the option of being used for retail or catering and not just restaurant.

He said: “We are not against the hotel but it should have retail aspects to it as well and hope it will it be a good quality building.

“We’re trying to promote St Albans as a tourist destination but we still need customers to bring in revenue from shopping.”

Eric Roberts, a member of St Albans Civic Society, added: “We gave the project the thumbs up and felt we could use another hotel even if it is next to the Premier Inn.

“Retail is changing and moving on and something different needs to be done to keep the footfall.

“We are minded to go along with the application although we do not want it too high.

St Albans City and District Council said they are expecting a planning application from the Reef group soon.

The council is expecting a planning application to be made soon, but it has not arrived yet.

Reef Estates has been contacted. for a comment.