The demolition of Burlington House - Dover’s biggest eyesore - is one step closer as the council prepares to take possession of the land.

Dover District Council confirmed it will take over the land and property including Burlington House, the County Hotel and the multi-storey car park on Monday, July 6.

Pre-demolition works are due to commence as soon as possible after this date, subject to agreement with existing tenants.

A spokesman for DDC said: “We can confirm that DDC has served notice that a General Vesting Declaration has been made in respect of the Dover District Council (St James’s Street/Russell Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2014, and that DDC will take possession of the said land and property on or around July 6, 2015.”

A General Vesting Declaration is a statutory procedure which means a local authority can acquire the ownership of land and property within a limited time frame.

The compulsory purchase order was confirmed by Eric Pickles, the secretary of state for communities and local government on February 26 this year.

A related order has also been agreed by the secretary of state for transport for the stopping-up of roads within the area.

Developers Bond City are now finalising the terms of agreement with the contractor who is already working on plans for the demolition.

Burlington House, which in 2005 featured in Channel 4’s Demolition programme, as one of Britain’s most hated buildings, will be demolished this summer and the multi-storey car park behind it is set to come down first.

Construction on the St James’s Development is due to start by the end of the summer and will be completed in 2016.

It has already attracted six tenants with six units left to fill.

So far it includes a six-screen Cineworld complex, an M&S Simply Food store, 108-bed Travelodge hotel, restaurants Bella Italia, and Frankie and Benny’s and the retailer Next.