The Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate is on course to welcome its one millionth visitor in August – a milestone that has been welcomed by Kent County Council, the project’s biggest financial contributor.

The opening in April 2011 was the culmination of five years of hard work by KCC and its partners, to provide a first class gallery and community building, as well as act as a catalyst for economic regeneration in Margate.

Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet member for Community Services, said: “A million visitors is an exciting achievement and we congratulate the Turner Contemporary Trust and the gallery director on reaching this figure.

“We were determined to keep to our promise and build a landmark building which would boost the area and be a catalyst for regenerating East Kent. It has created jobs, encouraged new businesses to the town and will go on to be a lasting legacy to driving the development of the county and the south east.

“It has already brought well over £20 million into the local economy, and has also supported 130 jobs in the gallery and across the community.”

KCC contributed £6.4million towards the cost of the three-storey building, which was designed by renowned architect David Chipperfield and built at a total cost of £17.4 million on land donated by Thanet District Council.

The gallery, which is the largest dedicated visual arts centre in the county, was officially opened in April 2011 by the artist Tracey Emin, who was brought up in Margate. A few months later, the venue was visited by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and it also received an award from the British Guild of Travel Writers, highlighting the contribution of Turner Contemporary to the visual arts scene.