A cadet corps has shelved its plans for a new multi-million-pound centre, opting to give its 100-year-old base a facelift instead.

The Sheppey Sea Cadets have invested around £200,000 into the existing facilities at Barton’s Point Coastal Park, Minster.

Some of the older structures, which date back to the 1890s, were knocked down, with buildings erected during the Second World War replaced following storm damage in 1987.

And now buildings put up in the 1920s and 30s are deemed in need of a revamp as they are damp and cold during the winter months.

Such was the state of some of the structures that former fruit importer Jamaican Producers approached the cadets to buy the premises as the damp conditions were perfect for storing bananas.

They have been home to cadets since it took over the one-and-a-half-acre site in 1954 after the Royal Navy pulled out of the former barracks and firing range during its withdrawal from the Island.

But before the unit decided to renovate the buildings it had dreamed of creating a new £6million base.

The proposals, which were approved in April 2021, included knocking down the current buildings which would be replaced by two blocks.

There would have been sleeping accommodation for 66 cadets, a boat house, a garage for coastguard vehicles, teaching spaces, a wardroom and a wet-changing area.

If the plans went ahead the state-of-the-art ship simulator, which can reproduce ferries docking at Dover by day or night or battling storms off Northern Ireland, would have also found a home in the new builds.

But the scheme, first dreamed up in 2016, was shelved last autumn by the corps.

David Brown, 73, has been involved with the cadets for 49 years and now sits on its management committee.

He told KentOnline the decision came as it was unable to raise enough funds.

The ex-commanding officer of the unit said: “The original plan would have cost us around £3 million but the pandemic hit and the cost of the project went through the roof.

“We tried to get funding through the government’s youth investment fund but unfortunately it was deemed too much money for the amount of Sheppey cadets we have on our books – around 70.

“However, this didn’t take into consideration the number of cadets that would have been able to use the site from other groups thanks to the accommodation facilities.

“We also wanted it to be a community project, something that would have benefited the whole of the Island which is a deprived area, something that did tick an investment fund box.

“As that idea became unfeasible at the moment we decided to renovate the existing buildings rather than go ahead with a new design.”

Vice-unit chair, Andy Wilmore who has been with the cadets for 12 years, added that the plans have not been totally scrapped.

The 75-year-old said: “While we cannot build the centre now if we were to win the lottery today we would go in for new planning permission and then get to work.

“It’s just a question of getting funding for it.”

The scheme of improvements began on August 12 and is hoped to be completed by October.

It included the insulation and infrared heating panels being installed in its classroom block to keep the unit warmer this winter.

The classrooms themselves have also been given a major overhaul with new walls and electrics.

On the roofs of the buildings, 30 solar panels have been installed which are generating energy not only for the corps but are also being sold to the grid.

The shower block has also been completely revamped.

Mr Brown added: “It was important for us to update the buildings, as there have been cases where cadet groups fold as staff and cadet numbers drop because of poor facilities.

“We listened to the staff and they were keen to see the classrooms renovated so when they see the finished item they will be proud to use them.”