An old M&S building which has remained empty for the past three years is set to be transformed after a £750,000 government cash boost.

The funding, awarded to Margate from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is to be used to bring the tired, run-down building in the lower high street back into use.

The huge site previously housed Marks & Spencer until it shut in 2006 and Thanet District Council bought the building, which backs onto Cecil Square, for £4.5 million.

It was then used by Turner Contemporary for exhibitions and workshops after the gallery opened in 2011. More recently clothing chain Store 21 occupied the unit, until it went into liquidation in 2017.

This latest cash boost, awarded to Margate as one of 100 towns to get funding for projects which will make a difference to the area, is hoped to help breathe new life into the once-prominent building.

A spokesman for Thanet District Council says the authority will be working “at pace” to flesh out the specific details of the project.

“Our ambition is to use the funding to carry out the necessary repairs required to make 53-57 High Street, Margate, secure, restoring a significant space within a key part of the town centre,” she said.

The spokesman says the building provides a significant regeneration opportunity for the town and this was made clear to the government when making the bid.

“The government’s accelerated funding is to support local areas and bring forward regeneration projects in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on town centres,” she added.

Sophia Iancu, who runs Zen massage and well-being shop opposite, says re-opening the building will help attract more shoppers.

“It’s hard to get people to this part of the high street,” she said.

“It’s quite dark along here, even in the summer, and people on the beach don’t know we’re here.

“It would be nice to see a clothing store in the building as there’s not many clothes shops here, especially since Primark left.

“Or something art-related would be nice.

“There are so many coffee shops along the high street so it would be good to have something different.”

The £750,000 is part of an £80 million Towns Fund initiative by the government to be used to kick-start local projects, such as new green spaces, the creation of pop-up businesses, pedestrianising streets to encourage walking or cycling, and creating new community hubs.

Margate was selected among 100 others to get cash, although this funding is separate to a bid being made by the Margate Town Deal Board to the Town’s Fund scheme for £25 million.

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