The revamp of 'derelict' riverside units under the John Lewis department store in Kingston could be completed next year.

Plans to convert the last of three empty spaces on the ground floor of the building from a nightclub into offices are moving forward.

Kingston Council aims to revive the side of the building which faces the River Thames by turning it into a 'thriving' cultural destination.

It comes after the authority signed commercial leases with John Lewis for the three spaces, which had been empty for years. Two of the new venues are already open to the public.

A medieval undercroft on the ground floor of the building was turned into arts venue FUSEBOX, run by charity Creative Youth, providing rehearsal and performance spaces.

FUSEBOX still contains the foundations of the original 12th-century Kingston Bridge and the remains of a 14th-century medieval undercroft, which were there beforehand.

Undercroft on the ground floor below John Lewis was turned into FUSEBOX (Credit: NUb News)

A former restaurant was also turned into a co-working hub, run by business experts Town Square, as part of the scheme. It is designed to support residents to start and grow their own businesses.

The council has now revealed plans for the final phase of the project, which is to turn former nightclub Essence into more co-working space to expand the hub managed by Town Square. 

The venue has been empty for years after Essence was shut down by the council in 2014.

Council officers have recommended construction company CityAxis Limited is awarded a contract of £1.2 million excluding VAT, with a contingency of £55,000, to carry out the works. This brings the total cost of the project to £1.3 million.

The authority's place committee will make a decision on the plans on September 24.

A report by officers said: "This 'fit out' programme will complete the current Kingston Riverside regeneration scheme, which has transformed multiple, vacant riverfront properties that had been derelict for over 15 years.

"The council-led regeneration scheme has successfully delivered two new spaces: Kingston's first riverside, cultural venue FUSEBOX, enabling vital rehearsal and performance space for the borough, and the borough's only riverfront, affordable workspace.

"The regeneration scheme is delivering the council's ambition of the riverside area as a new creative, cultural and knowledge hub, devised in response to the immediate needs of the pandemic and longer term for creative industries, new businesses and young people."

The new co-working space is expected to open in 2025, if the committee approves the plans.