AN ICONIC hotel in Weymouth has been placed on a list of the UK's most 'at risk' buildings.

The Riviera Hotel, in Bowleaze Cove, is said to be threatened by both 'decline and neglect' according to the research.

Compiled by the Twentieth Century Society, the list highlights the top 10 buildings in the country most at risk of demolition, redevelopment or neglect in 2023 - and how people can help save them.

The Dorset art decor hotel - which enjoys sweeping views across Weymouth Bay - joins a John Lewis store in Scotland and a Bengali women’s centre in London’s East End on the list.

The society says that its research, published on March 8, demonstrates the 'extraordinary breadth of architectural styles that characterised the period', with the Riviera Hotel built in 1937 by L Stewart Smith.

The future of the Weymouth venue hit the headlines last year after it was taken off the market due to difficulty selling properties amid the pandemic.

It was put on the market in 2021 with a £5.5 million price tag. The property became a listed building in January 1997. 

According to The Twentieth Century Society, more than 50,000 buildings a year are demolished in the UK, generating 126 million tonnes of waste.

It is now calling on people to lobby politicians and join campaigns to save the 'unique' buildings. 

"As we begin to fully understand the grave environmental costs of demolition and its contribution to the climate crisis, the urgency to repurpose and reimagine these remarkable buildings also becomes clear," it said.

"Within the steel, glass and concrete walls of so many of these twentieth century landmarks, imaginative new uses can flourish that fully serve the needs of the twenty first century, without resorting to the wrecking ball.

"The Risk List also encourages members of the public to get involved, with specific actions to help save each building – from writing to an MP or the Secretary of State, to joining grassroots campaigns fighting for their local buildings.

"In marginal cases, individual voices really can make the difference."

The Twentieth Century Society director Catherine Croft added: "Once a building is demolished there is no turning back, a unique creation is lost forever.

"Whilst some of these buildings may need imaginative renewal, all are capable of inspiring and energising new uses. We need to make sure that none of these opportunities are missed.

"All ten of those 2023 highlighted in the Risk List deserve to survive to make our lives richer and more interesting – the positive benefits of keeping them are immeasurable."

The 98-bedroom Riviera Hotel has had several owners over the years, including holiday camp owner Fred Pontin and Saudi Arabian investors.

It has also undergone a number of renovations - the most recent being in 2018.

The hotel has been contacted by the Dorset Echo for comment.