The first part of a regeneration plan in Maidstone is about to begin.
Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council have jointly acquired Royal Mail's former mail centre.
The purchase of the 3.5 acre site is expected to be completed in September and will be part of a masterplan expected to provide new retail space, homes, offices, increased parking and an improved public transport plan.
Cllr Fran Wilson, leader of Maidstone Borough Council, said: "This is a strategically important regeneration project and by working in partnership to purchase the site we can secure the best outcome for the county town.
"The area has been an eyesore for a number of years. Working together we can create something that residents will be proud of and which will bring the jobs and homes that the town needs."
The site has been vacant since the Royal Mail left in 2014 as part of an attempt to modernise the company. Dartford, Canterbury and Tonbridge also closed its doors for the final time.
Gary Cooke, KCC's Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services and a local Maidstone member, said: "Kent County Council is keen to see and help promote schemes that benefit and promote Kent as a great place to live, to work and to have fun.
"Maidstone is our county town and should reflect values and lifestyles that we wish to promote throughout Kent. The regeneration of the Maidstone East area provides a unique opportunity to do exactly that and in a way that also provides financial benefit to the county's ratepayers."
"Our property team has been working on this scheme with colleagues from Maidstone ever since Royal Mail took the decision to market the site and I am delighted to see all those efforts come to fruition."