Temporary home for Turner gallery

The proposed Turner Contemporary building has light as a theme

The Turner Contemporary is to move into a temporary base until its permanent £17.5m home is completed.

A former Marks and Spencer building in Margate High Street, which currently houses a library, will host exhibitions from February 2008.

The temporary library service will move permanently to Cecil Square in January.

It is hoped the multi-million pound Turner Contemporary, at Rendezvous site at Fort Hill, will be completed in 2010, subject to planning approval.

Councillor Mike Hill welcomed the decision to showcase exhibitions in the High Street from next year.

He said: "We are at a very exciting stage for both the development of the Turner Contemporary project and the creation of the new-look Margate Library.

"Residents have told us that they have enjoyed using the temporary library and I hope that they will continue to visit the venue to enjoy Turner Contemporary's exciting programme of exhibitions and events."