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Work on a luxury seafront development on a site left derelict for 23 years is steaming ahead with the second phase of work now under way.
Blueberry Homes, which is behind the Royal Sands scheme in Ramsgate, has revealed phase two is “progressing nicely”, with the erection of a third block of apartments.
It comes just seven months after construction started at the site with phase one, involving 26 apartments in the blocks closest to the Ramsgate Tunnels.
These first homes are expected to be ready to move into by the summer.
Now the Thanet-based firm, run by Martin Rigden, has revealed building work is pushing forward with the second phase, involving the erection of a third block.
The final set of apartments and the hotel - at the Wetherspoons end - will be the last part of the £50 million redevelopment project at what was the old Pleasurama site, which is expected to take up to three-years to complete.
The scheme involves the creation of 107 luxury apartments, a 60-bed hotel and leisure facilities, including shops and food outlets.
The proposal was approved 16 years ago, but after years of inaction and ownership issues, the site remained derelict and neglected.
A Blueberry spokesman said: “Royal Sands Ramsgate has been progressing nicely, with phase two of the development fully under way.”
They also said around half of the first phase apartments, which offer sea views and waterside properties, have been reserved.
Prices range from between £399,995 up to £750,000, and the Help to Buy scheme is available on limited apartments.
The plot on the seafront has been empty since the former funfair was destroyed in a fire in 1998. It means the sight of construction finally happening will likely come as a welcome relief to many after years of inaction by several developers.
The site on Wellington Crescent - which was previously home to a funfair, bingo hall, café and listed building which was once the Ramsgate Sands Railway station - sat neglected for two decades, after being destroyed in the fire.
Cardy took over the site but then went into administration.
In 2001, Thanet District Council bought the site from businessman Jimmy Godden through a Compulsory Purchase Order.
A planning application for the 107 apartments, a hotel, a health and fitness centre, food and drink outlets, a children’s play area and retail was submitted by developers SFP Ventures and approved in 2004.
But with the exception of dozens of concrete pillars put in place in 2011, the site was left derelict and overgrown behind hoardings just yards from the popular Ramsgate beach.
In 2016 Cardy took over the grounds, but went into administration soon after.
In 2019, property developer Mr Rigden, who is director of Ramsgate Development Company (RDC), was announced as the new owner.
Blueberry Homes say they are keen to push forward with construction so people in Thanet can enjoy that stretch of seafront which has been unused for so long.
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