Bosses behind the redevelopment of an abandoned high street site say they remain committed to the project despite obstacles dogging the long-awaited scheme.
The planned transformation of the huge former Debenhams store in Canterbury into 12 shops and 74 flats was first unveiled almost five years ago.
But the site remains a derelict eyesore, sparking fears the scheme could go the same way as a similar £30 million project earmarked for the old Nasons store opposite.
KentOnline revealed last month how that vision is now in doubt after financial backers called time on their investment and put the development company into receivership.
But this week the firm behind the Debenhams project, 90North, said the property owner remains on board and “very keen” to make it happen.
Both redevelopments, which promise so much for the city centre, have been stalled by the issue of water pollution at the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve, which is also delaying thousands of homes from being built across east Kent.
Natural England has blocked residential schemes from proceeding until a solution is found, or unless developers can come with up with satisfactory measures to mitigate the impact of harmful nutrients polluting local water sources.
But while 90North and the former Debenhams site owners, Chaucer Property Investments Ltd, remain committed, no work is expected to take place imminently.
Meanwhile, Chaucer is continuing to try and sell off the old Debenhams buildings opposite the main store in Guildhall Street, as well as the former Cotswolds Outdoors shop, to help fund the main redevelopment.
Asset manager for 90North Neil Houghton admits that challenges remain and the cost of the £25 million scheme – known as the Guildhall Quarter – will have escalated during the delays.
“We still want to see the project through and are working very closely with the city council and are going in the right direction,” he said.
“But we have to solve the Stodmarsh issue, and everyone is working very hard to make that happen.”
Mr Houghton says building an on-site sewerage treatment plant and tankering waste away remains an option, despite bosses for the Nasons redevelopment revealing they dropped the idea because it was too costly.
The Nasons scheme – branded Biggleston Yard – is being led by Setha Canterbury Ltd and would see flats, a shopping centre and food hall built on the site.
But Setha was recently placed into administration following a submission by the lenders who financed the purchase of the site.
Setha boss Manuel Alsoni last month told KentOnline he is trying to refinance the loan to get the scheme back on track.
Canterbury City Council says the redevelopment of both the Debenhams and Nasons sites is crucial to the health and vitality of the city centre.
“It is why we, as the local planning authority, granted planning permission for the schemes so they could kick into life once a way to protecting the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve is found,” said spokesman Leo Whitlock.
“We are working closely with Kent County Council, Ashford Borough Council and a number of other Kent councils to find an answer to this problem and are straining every sinew.
“That includes the possible creation of wetlands or water meadows that could clean the water as it passes through the system, exploring ways of reducing waste water coming from council homes and pushing the water companies to upgrade their waste water treatment works as quickly as possible.
“And we are in constant dialogue with the government in all of its guises – Defra, DLUHC, Natural England, the Environment Agency and Downing Street – to find a way through.
“Indeed, between us, we secured almost £10 million from central government to help us find an answer across the whole catchment with the eventual aim of restoring conditions at Stodmarsh.”