Construction of 188 apartments and a micro brewery will begin in the New Year.

The development around Lowfield Street, Dartford, finally began in September after nearly two decades.

Bellway Homes has confirmed work is set to start including on the former Dartford brewery which has been derelict for more than 12 years, as well as hundreds of new apartments - including studio, one, two and three-bedroom properties.

The developer is also planning to submit an application to rejuvinate the town centre site with a further 360 homes.

Supermarket giant Tesco had previously purchased the land to build a new store on.

But after 11 years, it backed out and sold it in 2015.

A devastating fire also gutted some of the derelict buildings in August.

Bellway will also start work on a new commercial town centre space at Copperhouse Green, which will eventually include 548 homes and more than 1,700 sq m of retail and commercial space.

Jamie MacArthur, planning manager for Bellway Homes, said: “We are excited that we can now reassure residents that work will be starting very soon on this derelict town centre site due to all planning permissions being granted.”

Leader of Dartford council, Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con), admits the town has been let down previously regarding developments but thinks it will be worth the wait.

He said: “The news that work is finally to start on this site couldn’t be more welcome.

“There’s no point denying the town has been let down in the past. But I must say that Bellway Homes has been as good as their word at every step.

“It’s frustrating to have waited so long because as a council, we have worked incredibly hard to transform Central Park into one of most attractive and lively community spaces in the whole south east and it deserves to have a suitably well-designed neighbour to replace the dereliction left behind by Tesco.”