One of Bristol's worst eyesore sites on a main gateway into the city may soon be redeveloped.

Plans have been re-submitted to tear down the derelict Grosvenor Hotel and restore the George and Railway Hotel which stand on a traffic island called Temple Circus near Temple Meads railway station.

Councillors turned down plans to redevelop the site earlier this year.

But developers Temple Circus Developments are now asking them to reconsider the scheme.

A tiny cobbled street called Portwall Lane East splits the site into two.

The Grosvenor Hotel sits on the northern half while the George and Railway Hotel, together with the remnants of an old railway viaduct and a disused taxi office, are located on the southern half.

The George and Railway Hotel, which closed down 16 years ago and is a Grade II listed building, is currently covered with a massive Matalan poster.

Councillors refused planning permission for the whole site on the grounds that the proposed eight-storey office block for the northern part was too big and too high.

They indicated, however, that they did not have any objections to the proposed restoration of the George and Railway Hotel and a new six-story office block on the southern part of the site.

The developers believe they have another chance to win planning permission for the whole site second time around because of a recent planning appeal on an office block in nearby Victoria Street.

A planning inspector decided to allow the appeal after it had been turned down by councillors for being too tall.

The developers believe this decision will strengthen their hand with their re-submitted plan.

They are also mindful that councillors decided to refuse despite planning officers recommending approval.

A second application has been submitted for the southern part of the site as a belt and braces exercise in case the whole scheme is once again turned down.

Ian Willicombe, Development Manager for the developers, said: "We were disappointed with the committee's earlier decision.

"We have consulted further with Bristol City Council, and other parties, and believe that the comprehensive scheme is still the best for the site and the city.

"It has taken us many years to design a comprehensive scheme that fully utilises the site and ensures that the existing views of Temple Meads and St Mary Redcliffe Church are maintained.

"However, we are now also proposing an alternative scheme by submitting an application for just the land in our ownership, the southern part of the site."

The Island Site is seen by transport experts as an excellent opportunity to create a transport hub for a proposed rapid transit (bendybus) scheme.

The first route would run from the Long Ashton park and ride site into a loop around the city centre, including a link with Temple Meads station.

One of the possibilities would be to use Portwall Lane East as a docking station for bendybus passengers who also want to use the train.

The redevelopment of the northern part of the Island Site might facilitate the building of a new junction.

Councillors have yet to set a date when they will discuss the plans.