Developers behind a luxury seafront scheme at a site left derelict for two decades say people will soon be moving into the first new apartments as construction steams ahead.

Blueberry Homes started work on the Royal Sands development in Ramsgate last year and has been working at such speed the Thanet-based firm is ahead of schedule.

The development involves the creation of 106 luxury apartments, a 60-bed hotel and leisure facilities, including shops and food outlets.

The hotel, which will be at the Wetherspoons end, will be one of the final parts built in the £50 million redevelopment project at what was the old Pleasurama site.

Phase one apartments, nearest the Ramsgate Tunnels and priced from £399k up to £750k, are all sold out and about to become occupied.

Phase two, called The Horizon and with flats costing between £370k and £685k, are now for sale, with five of the 21 two-bed apartments already reserved off-plan.

The third phase of the build is under construction.

A Blueberry Homes spokesman said: "Phase one apartments have all been sold and will be ready for occupation very soon.

"Following the success of the off-plan launch for the phase one apartments we are delighted to confirm that the phase two apartments have now been officially launched and are available for purchase.

"Due to ongoing demand, phase three apartments are also under construction and ahead of schedule."

The plot on the seafront had been empty since the former funfair was destroyed in a fire in 1998.

A development proposal was approved 16 years ago, but after years of inaction and ownership issues, the site remained derelict and neglected.

Blueberry Homes, run by Martin Rigden, took over the site and started work last July.

The firm is also behind several other regeneration schemes in Thanet including the Old Gas Works in Ramsgate and Margate, and the new Aldi supermarket.

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