One of Bristol's worst eyesore sites is in danger of remaining undeveloped for another 10 years.

Temple Circus Developments want to demolish the derelict Grosvenor Hotel near Temple Meads railway station and replace it with an eight-storey office block.

They also want to restore the George and Railway Hotel next door with a cafe/bar on the ground floor and offices above.

But councillors are today being urged by planning officials to give consent for the George and Railway scheme but turn down the plans for the Grosvenor Hotel site.

Dan Bramwell, spokesman for the developers, said the recommendation for refusal could leave the site derelict for another decade.

He is urging councillors to defer the Grosvenor Hotel plan for further negotiations.

Mr Bramwell said: "Despite our willingness to work with the city council and spending more than £500,000 on design costs, we are effectively back where we were seven years ago.

"We have been urging officers to defer the comprehensive application (Grosvenor Hotel and George and Railway Hotel plans combined) so we can take another look at the issue."

He said they were well aware of the council's aspirations to create a transport hub near the roundabout on Temple Way to accommodate the long-awaited rapid transit (bendybus) system to ease traffic congestion.

But they were prepared to work with the council so it could achieve its new transport layout.

Mr Bramwell said: "I hope the committee sees sense in deferring this.

"If it decides to refuse planning permission, then it will sterilise the site with the prospect of Bristol's greatest eyesore remaining for yet another decade."

Councillors turned down plans to develop what is known as the Temple Circus site earlier this year.

The former Grosvenor Hotel stands on a traffic island while the George and Railway Hotel is next to the remains of a railway viaduct and an old taxi office.

Councillors turned down the Grosvenor Hotel scheme on the grounds that the proposed office block was too big and too high. But they indicated that there were prepared to give permission for the George and Railway scheme on the southern part of the site.

The former hotel, which closed down 16 years ago, is a Grade II listed building.

The developers resubmitted their plans after a planning inspector upheld an appeal for a tall office block in nearby Victoria Street.

Councillors were discussing the plans at a meeting of the Development Control (Central) committee today.