Plans to breathe new life into a town centre white elephant which has stood empty for years have gained the green light.

The East Kent College (EKC) Group is to transform the former Marks & Spencer in Margate high street into a state-of-the-art campus for digital learning.

Bosses believe the education hub can become a "vibrant centre of creativity", with students being able to secure a range of technical qualifications.

A digital production lab, a photo studio and design booths will be among the features added to the building, which has long stood empty.

As well as having teaching space, the site will boast a café and studio areas, which are hoped to help produce “industry-ready graduates of the highest calibre”.

Called Margate Digital, it will be fitted out with a share of a £6.3 million cashpot which was secured through the council's successful bid for government Levelling Up funding.

The change of use for the prime town centre spot was approved at a Thanet District Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

Officers looked favourably upon the proposals, stating: "The reuse of this building would increase footfall to the site which would increase the economic activity in this section of the high street through linked trips bringing a positive economic benefit.

"For these specific reasons it is not considered that the proposal would fragment the high street to result in severe harm."

The building is expected to cater for as many as 300 students and staff at any given time.

Planning documents written on behalf of the EKC Group state: "This presents a unique opportunity for the district in expanding its education offer within a specialist sector.”

EKC also believes the new site – which will incorporate The Margate School – will spark greater levels of investment in the town.

“It will be a specialist industry-focused college purposefully positioned in Margate as a vibrant centre of creativity,” the papers add.

The large unit was most recently home to discount clothing chain Store Twenty One, but the firm bowed out of the town about four years ago after entering liquidation.

The huge site previously housed Marks & Spencer until it shut in 2006 and the council bought the building, which backs onto Cecil Square, for £4.5 million.

It was then used by Turner Contemporary for exhibitions and workshops after the gallery opened in 2011.

Now, the empty building is at last undergoing redevelopment.

In 2020, work totalling £750,000 was carried out to strip the site and remove asbestos.