THE OLDEST structure in Brighton’s busiest street has been demolished to make way for a new addition to The Lanes.

Timpsons in North Street, a timber-framed building which had been in commercial use since the 1790s, has been knocked down “almost brick by brick” by developers creating the entrance to the planned Hanningtons Lane.

Now visible for the first times in centuries, behind the foundations of the former locksmith’s, is Puget’s Cottage, a 17th century dwelling considered by experts to be among the oldest in the city.

Meanwhile, half a dozen stores adjacent to the demolished site will continue to lie vacant, awaiting major renovations and restructuring by developers Redevco, which has promised a suite of new stores in North Street fit for the country’s finest retailers.

Darren Probets, the site manager at the North Street development, said: “When you step back now it really does look amazing, it really looks the business.

“Timpsons is in the process of coming down. It’s been coming down for two weeks and you can see through now. We’ve had to be careful, we’ve taken it down almost brick by brick because of Puget’s Cottage.”

The cottage dates back to the time the settlement was called Brighthelmstone and experts believe it was related to farming or fishing use.

Parts of the cottage are constructed of unusually large cobbles and ironstone, neither of which were local to the area but both were used by ships and discarded on the beach where they were collected and repurposed by builders.

While the 17th century cottage may be looking better than it has in years, the high street looks bleak, with a run of six empty shops.

A spokeswoman for Redevco confirmed the empty units in North Street were also under Redevco’s ownership, but that the company did not plan to install new tenants on short lets.

Instead it is seeking the ideal outlets to move into the units long term once redevelopments are completed.

She said the company was looking to bring the country’s best retailers to the development, including some for who this will be their first store outside London.

She said: “We can’t let shops that we’re going to be knocking about in a couple of months’ time.

“It’s part of the overall masterplan of the scheme.”

The next building to be redeveloped will be Huntingdon House, just south of Meeting House Lane.

She added: “But we’ve got a 12-month construction timetable and there’s a lot to do so there’s going to be work pretty constantly.”

The plans for the major redevelopment along the busy route were approved by Brighton and Hove City Council in December 2013.

Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty said the area would benefit from a “21st century Lane” in a development which respected the city’s heritage.

Meanwhile the road will be closed for two months of roadworks for resurfacing this autumn following damage caused by the replacement of Victorian water mains ten years ago.

Southern Water said it planned to have work completed before the Christmas shopping period.