The decision whether to redevelop one of Bristol's biggest eyesores has been put off until the new year.

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

Temple Circus Developments also wants to restore the grade II listed George and Railway Hotel next door, with a cafe/bar on the ground floor and offices above.

Members of Bristol City Council central planning committee deferred the proposals at a meeting last night so the applicant can look at reducing the height of the planned new building.

Councillors recommended it came back for a decision by February at the latest.

The same committee had thrown out the plans earlier this year, against officers' recommendations, due to concerns about the height.

The developer came back with three applications, the same application that was refused, an alternate plan that just included the George and Railway Hotel scheme on the southern site, and listed building consent.

This time officers recommended refusing the main application due to the height, while deferring the second two proposals until officers could look at the detail more closely.

Temple Circus Developments had warned that if the main plan was refused they would "mothball" the site and no further application will be made.

However, after the decision was made to defer the plans, Dan Bramwell, spokesman for the developers, said: "At last common sense prevails. Let's now hope that the council works with us to ensure this development moves forward.

"Working together, the council and developer can bring about significant changes that will benefit the city and the community."