Sheppey Sea Cadets have charted a course to a brave new world.

Stunning images released this week show how their multi-million pound headquarters will look once completed.

It is expected the twin two-storey blocks will become a focus for sail training across the south east as the site has boat access to a sheltered canal and is also near the sea for more challenging lessons. Members regularly take part in the gruelling Round The Island yacht race.

The centre will include sleeping accommodation for up to 66 visiting cadets.

On Monday Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Kent Lady Colgrain was invited to look around the current facilities at TS Kent in Sheerness. They have been used by the cadets since 1954.

The concrete barracks-style single-skin premises, next to Barton's Point Coastal Park, were built as part of a former Royal Navy firing range. They are cold, damp and no longer fit for purpose.

But Lady Colgrain said: "I had a fantastic time there. It is an exceptional organisation, doing so much good work to support young people in the community."

Cadets are hoping she will help open doors so they can start raising funds for the ambitious scheme which is now expected to cost more than £6m.

She was joined by her Deputy Lieutenant Paul Auston, who comes from the Island and has been a long-time supporter of the Sea Cadets, Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns who served as the Royal Navy's Second Sea Lord and is a former Governor of Gibraltar, and Natalie Smith the director of grants at the Kent Community Foundation charity.

Vice-chairman Andy Willmore said: "The party was shown around various classes and during a break we updated them on funding and building progress and presented them with our business plan."

The project was first dreamed up in 2016 and designs submitted in October 2019. But they were only given the go-ahead by Swale council in April this year.

Mr Willmore, a retired deputy Harbour Master at Sheerness Docks, admitted: "The project was delayed by discussions with Historic England. They said the new buildings were originally too near to the canal which is part of the historic Queenborough Lines defences for Sheerness and is a scheduled monument."

He added: “After a site meeting, we agreed to move the two blocks back as far as we could. We have also removed one section from the first floor of what we call block one which is where the dormitories, parade hall and canteen will go."

There will also be a boat house, garage for coastguard vehicles, teaching spaces, wardroom and a wet-changing area. The sea cadets already have a state-of-the-art ship simulator which can reproduce ferries docking at Dover by day or night or battling storms off Northern Ireland.

Building work must start by April 2024 or planning permission will lapse.

The Sea Cadets have already been given £15,000 by Swale council from its special projects fund, £20,000 from the Postcode Lottery and £20,000 from Minster Parish Council. The cadets are hoping to receive a further £40,000 from a local landfill operator.

But Mr Willmore added: "We still have a very long way to go to reach our goal and make our dream a reality for the kids who visit us."

Community groups and youth organisations which work with disadvantaged children will also be able to hire the new building.

Mr Willmore explained: "Sheppey has become one of the major training centres for sea cadets learning to sail, row, sailboard and kayak in the south east. But our buildings are deteriorating and are difficult and expensive to maintain. They do not adequately support the cadets and fall below current standards of welfare and efficiency.

"The proposed building will provide brand new state-of-the-art training, accommodation, adventure and event spaces for our cadets and hopefully for the rest of the community, too. This will really put Sheppey on the map."

Plans show the buildings with stone and timber cladding, solar panels and pitched roofs inspired by boat hulls.

The cadets are in talks with Swale council to connect the building and the council's boat house toilets, to main drainage in Marine Parade instead of using septic tanks.

The cadets meet on Monday and Thursday evenings with band rehearsals on Tuesdays.

To view the application visit Swale council's planning website and search for 19/505216/FULL