A football club’s game-changing stadium redevelopment more than 20 years in the making is finally set to get underway – as bosses hail the “significant landmark”.

Margate FC has confirmed the long-awaited overhaul of its ground, Hartsdown Park, will begin in February – with the scheme seeing the erection of new stands and a 120-bedroom Holiday Inn hotel.

It is understood the works will take place in phases, with the first phase of work centring on laying the foundations for the new North Stand and the building behind.

Margate chairman Ricky Owen said: “This marks an important stage of this football club’s history.

“For so many years, people have waited for the redevelopment of our ground, and this marks the next phase.

“Mr Dogot [the co-owner of the club] is backing the club yet again, building for the future.”

Club officials have long campaigned for upgrades to the team’s facilities with plans to build new stands and a hotel first submitted in 2002.

In the 21 years following, as many as five applications to Thanet District Council have followed with varying levels of ambition.

Previous renditions of the plan have gone as far as suggesting the demolition of the existing structures and replacing it with a 6,000-seater stadium.

Margate’s current version of the scheme was unveiled in June 2020 and was given the green light by council bosses in May 2021 following consultation with the Secretary of State.

The bid was put together with IHG Hotels – which manages the Holiday Inn Express brand – though previous proposals had seen Travelodge eye up the development.

The North Stand will boast a capacity of 1,300 and will incorporate home and away changing facilities alongside activity spaces and a cafe on the first floor overlooking the pitch.

There has been no mention of the eastern block of the development which will host the hotel and a covered 650-seater stand as well as club offices and shop - though this is expected to follow in a later phase.

Margate FC has long insisted the development will secure the long-term future of the club and its purchase of the ground from TDC for £375,000 was completed in January 2019 after 18 months of negotiations.

It went on to sell the land for £400,000 to a development company attached to the club, MFC Investments Limited.

In planning documents submitted to the council in 2020, club bosses said: "The club has made significant steps forward within the last few years with a new owner.

"The purchase of the freehold of the ground was a major step forward and together with the installation of the artificial pitch has shown the intent to grow and develop towards national and football league status.

"To achieve these aims the club has to develop revenue streams to both sustain the current level of investment and to provide the long-term financial stability of the club.

"Developing the ground will help to achieve this and provide a multi-functional venue for the community to use and be part of.”

Margate FC and IHG Hotels have been contacted for comment.