The new owner of a derelict historic building, which had become a home for anti-social behaviour, has been given an extension to clean up and secure the site.

In September, Swale council ordered the previous owner of the Water Tower in Trinity Road, Sheerness, to improve the site's appearance within two months.

Since then, the historic building has been sold, and so, in cooperation with the new owners, the council has agreed to extend the deadline to improve the building’s safety and appearance to January 8 next year.

During the last few decades, the site has fallen into disrepair and has become an eyesore.

The building, constructed in 1862, was originally a pumping station that supplied water to the town until 1960.

It has since suffered from neglect, including a major fire in September 2022 that left scorch marks on its walls.

Trespassers have also entered the dangerous structure multiple times, leading to accidents.

A boy was injured in 2020 after crashing through a rotten floor and had to be treated by paramedics.

Required work includes sealing all window openings with fresh, black-painted plywood as well as cleaning the exterior brickwork and removing all scorch marks.

They will also need to cut back all overgrown shrubbery to ground level and remove all rubbish, waste, and any fly-tipped material.

A two-metre-high, dark green wooden fence is set to secure the entire boundary.

The authority says these new changes will make the building more secure “while improving the look of the local area”.

If the landowner fails to do the required work within the deadline, Swale council could consider prosecution or complete the work themselves and bill the owner.

Leader of Swale council, Cllr Tim Gibson, said: “We have had positive discussions with the new owner and have agreed to give them an extension to get these important works done.

“This historic building has sadly fallen into disrepair and has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour and a risk to public safety.

“The changes we are enforcing, through our planning powers, will help make the area safer and improve its appearance substantially – following our refurbishment of Masters House and improvements to the nearby Trinity Gardens.”