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Faversham town centre eyesore with ‘dead pigeons inside’ up for sale

An abandoned town centre shop strewn with dead pigeons and once infested with vermin could be in store for a new lease of life.

With paint peeling from the outside and numerous birds visible through broken windows, Faversham’s old KGN News building has become an eyesore.

The former KGN News building in Faversham is falling into disrepair
The former KGN News building in Faversham is falling into disrepair

But the Preston Road site could be in line for a facelift when it goes under the hammer next month, with a £160,000 guide price.

Welcoming the news, Swale district councillor Hannah Perkin (Lib Dem) said: “We are lucky in Faversham to have such a wealth of brilliant businesses in our town.

“No one likes to see empty and neglected shop fronts, especially ones with dead pigeons in.

“Hopefully, this business going up for sale will mean that someone will give it the new lease of life that it deserves and we will soon be welcoming something new to our town centre.”

A Swale Borough Council inspector (SBC) uncovered evidence of widespread rodent activity and no running water after a visit last year.

Inside the former KGN News building in Preston Street, Faversham, back in 2022. Picture: Adrian Cox Associates
Inside the former KGN News building in Preston Street, Faversham, back in 2022. Picture: Adrian Cox Associates

Its owners were hit with a zero out of five hygiene rating and warned urgent improvements were necessary following the inspection in March 6 last year.

The inspector took a photograph showing Sour Blast Candy Spray coming into contact with rodent excrement.

Following the probe, officials told KGN bosses: “At the time of inspection, there was evidence of widespread mice activity.”

But following the visit, the owners told KentOnline that building renovations outside their control were to blame.

By September, bosses closed the shop and opened a Nisa Local convenience store inside the old Soiree and Empire building.

There was evidence of a widespread mice infestation in the store. Picture: Swale Borough Council
There was evidence of a widespread mice infestation in the store. Picture: Swale Borough Council

The former KGN shop has lain empty since and fallen into serious disrepair.

The sale comes with planning approval granted in February 2022 for the renovation of the 17th century property with a one-bed and two-bedroom flat.

In documents submitted to SBC at the time, it was revealed how "decades of neglect, resulting from the upper floors over the shop having been largely abandoned” had put the “structure at risk”.

However, with work yet to start it is likely that permission will lapse – meaning a new owner will need to resubmit plans to develop it.

The auction will take place on February 13 through Auction House London’s website.

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