From derelict department stores to abandoned demolition ruins, Kent has its fair share of eyesores across the towns.

But what’s next for the ghost sites? Here we set out the plans for those near you…

Debenhams, Canterbury

After Debenhams went into administration in 2020, the former department store in the High Street has sat empty.

Plans for the building saw it rebranded as Guildhall Quarter as part of a £25 million redevelopment of the site.

The schemes would see it transformed into 12 new retail units with 74 flats above.

But five years on, the store remains a derelict eyesore, sparking fears it could have the same destiny as the old Nasons store opposite whose plans for a similar £30 million project are up in the air.

Works at both have been stalled by the issue of water pollution at the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve - Natural England has blocked schemes from proceeding until a solution is found to mitigate the impact of harmful nutrients contaminating local water sources.

The firms behind the development of the old Debenhams, 90North and property owner Chaucer Property Investments Ltd, have given assurances on their commitment to the plans.

To see the project through they must find an answer to the challenge but are“working very hard to make that happen”.

Co-op, Dartford

The former store between Spital Street and Hythe Street has been empty since its closure in 2008 after Co-op shut down all its department stores.

Five years later it was partly demolished and has been left abandoned since.

But plans to transform it into a “car-free village” and multiscreen cinema were moved forward by Dartford council in July.

The development, which forms part of the borough’s £75 million regeneration scheme, would see the building of “Westgate Village”.

These units of no more than four storeys high will feature 24 “low-rise” houses with private gardens, 14 maisonettes and 31 apartments.

Of these, 30% would be affordable rent.

The proposals also include a community space and other suggestions, including a repair shop, food shops, a nursery, and a small-scale boutique cinema.

The Lighthouse Inn, Folkestone and Dover

The pub between the two seaside towns in Capel-le-Ferne has been left crumbling into neighbours' gardens after shutting in 2019.

Originally built in 1840, it was split into two parts - Vineyard Lodge, which was used as a wine and ale house, and Capel Lodge where travellers would rest during their journey.

Over the years, it served different purposes but in 1998, it was refurbished and opened under the new name of The Lighthouse.

The business, which served food and also had hotel rooms, closed following a dispute with the landlord.

Earlier this year it went under the hammer where it was sold for almost £800,000 to be redeveloped.

The auctioneer for the site, Kevin Gilbert, says the building could be turned into apartments, new homes or demolished entirely.

Go Outdoors, Chatham

The retail store in The Brook closed its doors in 2020 after failed negotiations with the landlord of the building to renew its contract.

And, early this year, neighbouring furniture shop, HomePlus also shut after three years of trading.

Both units had sat empty since.

But, the site has now been earmarked for 355 flats with the plans proposed by company Arpenteur.

The buildings of between six and 12 storeys would consist of a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The space would also feature a public central plaza and nature play area.

The ground floor space facing the high street is set to be kept for commercial businesses.

The Tollgate Hotel, Gravesend

The former motel on the A2 has been left unsightly for motorists driving towards the town after its closure in 2006.

The 2.5-acre plot was quickly snapped up by National Highways in a bid to use part of the land to widen the stretch of road between Bean and Cobham.

But, plans for the rest of the site had been subjected to controversy which resulted in none of them coming to fruition.

In 2014 and 2015 a larger-scale scheme, which would have seen a McDonald’s drive-thru and M&S Food court built alongside a petrol garage, were approved by Gravesham before its decisions were quashed on appeal.

The demolition of the derelict building had also been the subject of a council meeting but was met with 1,000 objections at the time.

In May 2019 the the former 114-bed hotel was sold off to BP Oil UK.

And now plans have been put forward to knock down the controversial eyesore and give it a new life.

If approved, the site would see a new M&S food store and a BP service station which would have 24 EV charging bays and a petrol filling station.

Victorian Shelter, Margate

The abandoned seaside shelter on the town’s seafront has been subject to anti-social behaviour over the years.

It has reportedly attracted the likes of drug dealers, the homeless and “all sorts”.

This is a result of a lack of management, but the owner of the neighbouring restaurant, Marina’s Cafe is hoping to change that.

He has submitted proposals to Thanet council to completely refurbish the shelter.

The plans would see the space transformed into a dining area with music, lights and pop-up events.

If given the green light, the restaurant tycoon is hoping to open up by next summer.

So far, the proposal has garnered support from the district’s councillors.

Bell Centre, Sittingbourne

The site in Bell Road had been built in the 1970 and was once home to supermarket giant, Sainsbury's.

Two major plans for it, one of which included it being turned into a Travelodge hotel, fell through and the building was demolished in stages during the mid-2000s.

But plans have been submitted to turn the 2.2-acre plot into homes and medical facilities.

Of the 165 flats, 90 would be one-bedroom and 75, two-bedroom flats.

The proposals also outline parking provisions and a pharmacy.

A health hub that would have taken on 6,000 new patients had also been earmarked for the site but was scrapped last month after the NHS said it would no longer support the scheme.

The rest of the plans will go ahead.

Water Tower, Sheerness

The historic building in Trinity Road had provided the Isle of Sheppey with water until 1960.

But the tower and pumping station has been left derelict for decades since and has been subject to several fires over the years.

Several ambitious plans for it had been proposed, but it was sold in 2014.

Plans were later put forward to transform it into 29 flats and maisonettes which were greenlighted by Swale council.

But the deadline for work to begin had lapsed by 2020.

At the end of last year, the tower was due to go under the hammer but was sold of before auction.

The amount it was bought for remains undisclosed but Auction House London says the original planning permission is being considered for extension.

Swanton House, Ashford

The 19th century building originally served as an auxiliary military hospital in the First World War but later became home to Kent Social Service facilities.

But, in 2008 it was forced to closed following fire safety regulation breaches.

It has sat empty on Elwick Road since, boarded up and overgrown.

In 2021, Ashford council approved plans to give the derelict site a makeover.

The proposals would see it demolished with two blocks of flats on the land.

The buildings would be up to four storeys high and feature 34 apartments between them.

Nearly three years on, demolition is yet to begin but permission remains in place.

FG Barnes, Maidstone

The Vauxhall dealership in the Parkwood Industrial Estate shut its doors in the summer of 2023 after several years of trading.

The reason for its closure is not known.

Since, it has been boarded up making it an ugly sight for drivers being welcomed into Maidstone via the sign in Sutton Road.

Currently, it is being listed for rent on estate agent, Sibley Pares’ website.

The 2.3-acre site can be taken on by a single occupier or the property can offered as two separate plots.