Foundations have been laid for a new council office after a seven-year wait.

The building, at the old Sheppey General Hospital site in Wards Hill Road, Minster, is expected to be finished in April or May, when it will be handed over to Minster Parish Council (MPC).

Work was originally planned to begin a year ago, but unforeseen circumstances delayed the start of the project.

It was first proposed, seven years ago, to reuse the original council office building which used to be a part of the old hospital complex.

However, developers Persimmon Homes decided last year that it was no longer habitable due to years of neglect.

This meant they had to start from scratch by demolishing the old building and re-applying for planning permission again last year.

Concrete was laid for the new building on Wednesday, which has been designed in the image of the old MPC office.

MPC chairman, Ken Ingleton, said: “It is where the parish council started from just over a hundred years ago and it was the meeting place when they started back in the 1890s.

“It has traditionally been the home and the parish council are moving back again.”

The new building was made possible through a section 106 agreement, which is a contract between the landowner and the planning authority Swale council to build facilities for the local community.

As part of this agreement Persimmon Homes will also be refurbishing the nearby garden of remembrance in Love Lane.

MPC has built up a budget of £20,000 over the past 10 years which will go towards furnishing its new surroundings.

All parish council services will be run from the new hub, and it will be where all its meetings are held.