A huge town centre shopping mall is up for sale at auction.

The Charlton Shopping Centre and car park in Dover is set to go under the hammer next month with a freehold guide price of £1.8 million-£2 million.

In July, rumours circulated in the town suggesting the site was set to be bulldozed to make way for a residential development.

At the time, Simon Crowley, project manager for Tersons estate agents which is working on behalf of the owners, told KentOnline speculation surrounding the future of the centre is a “nothing story”.

Now, auctioneers for the site, Acuitus, have confirmed the property is up for sale and say it “could benefit from further residential development” – subject to the necessary planning permission.

Spokesman John Mehtab said: “This asset is centrally situated in the heart of Dover with great connections to transport links and other retail offerings in the town.

“The Charlton Shopping Centre offers investors strong income streams from the current tenant roster, while also open to potential future active asset management opportunities.

“The property may benefit from further residential development, subject to necessary consents/permissions”.

The 1981-built site is earmarked for 100 homes in Dover District Council’s Local Plan – a blueprint envisaging where homes will be built in the district up to 2040.

But the Labour-led authority, which is in the process of modifying its plan, says the multi-storey car park at the back of the centre is now the only part of the site being considered for development.

Charlton Shopping Centre has continued to survive despite fierce competition in the town from the giant St James’ Retail and Leisure Park, which opened in 2018.

The 28,609 sq ft mall is located on Dover High Street and is home to 20 retail units, 10 studio flats, three two-bed and one three-bed flats, a food court, gallery space and a 300-space multi-storey car park.

The auction will take place on Wednesday, September 25, at 1pm.

In July, the news that the Charlton is staying open has brought elation and relief for customers.

Angela Such says she has been using the site, which now features 14 flats on its upper level, since it first opened.

“Now I know it’s going to stay open I’m pleased,” she said previously.

“I come here almost every day and I’ve been using it since it’s been open. We wouldn’t be able to do anything without it.”

The centre is now a hub for small and independent businesses rather than branches of store chains.

It includes a base for the community group Dover Big Local and Dover Pantry, a shop combating food poverty by selling at cheaper quantities.

The traders there also include Dover Knit and Stitch, Burnap and Abel estate agents, The Mirror Man, which sells hand-engraved personalised mirrors, and Unity Sound, which has recording, mixing and mastering services.

Tersons estate agents declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.