The town council has officially purchased its new offices, which will be open to the public for the first time this weekend.

The plans for 12 Market Place are fast becoming a reality with the council buying the building for £580,000 after winning planning permission from Swale Borough Council.

Soon the town council will move its offices from the Alexander Centre in Preston Street and create a permanent exhibition space for Magna Carta and other Faversham charters.

The council has so far borrowed £750,000 for the project.

The doors will swing open for the first time under council ownership on Saturday.

Town clerk Louise Bareham said: “The council is pleased to confirm that following the successful application for change of use, completion has taken place on the purchase of 12 Market Place.

“The town council will now start the process of working with key stakeholders to design the office and exhibition space.

“Members of the public will be welcome to come and have a tour of the property and they will also have the opportunity to comment on its future design.”

The former Stead and Simpson store, which was recently a temporary YMCA charity shop, has been at the centre of controversy for the last few years after Costa Coffee hoped to take it over in 2014.

Since then, the council has received a number applications which were all eventually withdrawn or refused.

In February, the town council announced its ambitious plans for the property.

A month later, a public consultation was launched to gauge opinion on the town council’s proposal and a meeting, exhibition and online survey were all used to gather the public’s views.

Many said that there was no proof that the move would help the town centre’s economy thrive and the council was criticised by supporters of the Alexander Centre, who said that moving the offices could leave the centre struggling financially.

After the consultation came to a close, it was revealed that out of 168 responses, 100 were positive and 68 were deemed negative and the council went ahead with submitting a planning application for change of use.

The building will be open between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and again on Saturday, July 9, and Saturday, July 16.