A Grade II listed building in Ashford is being put up for sale at auction – with a guide price of nearly half a million pounds.

Planning permission has been approved to transform the empty Repton Manor Barn, in Sir Bernard Paget Avenue, Repton Park, into a mix of shops and food outlets.

Plans for the development include a 407sq metre restaurant and bar, 84sq metre coffee shop and 314 sq metres of retail and office space, split into eight units.

The proposal also includes plans for a courtyard, landscaping and parking spaces.

The barn, which has been empty for many years, is on the former Templer and Rowcroft Barracks site, most of which has already being developed.

Repton Manor, to the west of the barn, has been converted into offices while the Waitrose supermarket is to the east and houses have been recently built to the north and south.

Artists’ impressions have now been drawn up to show how the complex could look, including the use of outdoor seating.

The application to redevelop the site, which was once used by the Ministry of Defence, for commercial use was submitted to Ashford Borough Council earlier this year by BTL Developments, based in Great Chart, who secured the purchase of the site from Shepherd Neame in early 2015.

Full planning permission was then granted in June.

There will be no change to the scale of the existing building and repairs will be carried out using matching materials where possible.

Malcolm Gomez, from BTL, said: “BTL Developments were keen to ensure that the historical and architectural merit of the buildings was to be retained and enhanced while at the same time devising a scheme for the site that would serve the community and enhance the appearance of the site in this prime location.

“The site has sat derelict and redundant for a number of years and so the opportunity for the site to be brought ‘back to life’ is something that the local residents and community it would seem are keen to see happen.”

The site will now be put into the Clive Emson auction on Thursday, July 23, for a guide price of £450,000 to £460,000.

The auction will start at 11am at the Clive Emson Conference Centre, at the Kent County Showground in Detling Hill, Maidstone.

For more information go to www.cliveemson.co.uk.