A blot on the landscape of Whitstable harbour has been transformed into an impressive mixed-use space for shops, eateries and cultural activities.

The rundown shed, which was previously used for storage, is now a complex of 15 self-contained units laid out over two floors.

Leases for the South Quay Shed scheme are now being offered to businesses by Canterbury City Council - which operates the harbour - from autumn this year.

It is hoped all the units will be occupied by early spring next year, with businesses trading before Christmas 2022.

Planning permission has been secured for a variety of uses, including for shops, restaurants, cafés, hot-food takeaways and leisure activities.

The site, which will offer free Wi-Fi, will be open to the public from 9am to 8pm between March 2 and October 30 and between 9am and 5pm for the rest of the year.

Cllr Neil Baker, lead councillor for the coast and chair of Whitstable Harbour Board, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to tap into the harbour’s continuing success story and our determination to ensure it is enjoyed by as many people as possible.

“Projects like this one allow us to invest in new facilities for the local fishing industry while putting the community at the harbour’s heart with a community pop-up space.

“While the South Quay Shed is black on the outside because of its traditional timber board cladding, its green credentials shine through because of its extensive solar panels which will store any excess energy in a battery.

“High-specification glazing has been used which has a coating to keep out the heat in the summer and reduce heat loss in the winter.

“The highly insulated roof has transparent sections to improve natural light and the communal lighting is provided by the latest LED lights.”

The city council predicts competition for the units “will be intense and demand will outstrip supply”.

Preference will be given to local businesses, sole traders and those that will boost jobs locally, do not use single-use plastics, stick to sustainable business practices and demonstrate benefits to the local economy or harbour-related trades.

In January 2020, it was revealed council planners had to go back to the drawing board for their redesign of the South Quay Shed after fears were raised over potential fire risks.

Plans to include re-purposed shipping containers in the two-storey scheme were ditched due to new regulations introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and concerns over the environmental impact.

The council announced it had redesigned the building, which had been used for storage until 2018, and put forward a fresh plan to use timber instead.

Work on the redevelopment was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the project continued despite fears major schemes planned for Whitstable could be put on hold.

For more information or to express an interest in the leases, email property.services@canterbury.gov.uk

Head to our business page for all the latest news about business in Kent

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable