Plans to renovate one of Medway’s oldest buildings have been approved – now council bosses just need £2 million to carry out the work.

Medway Council wants to turn 420-year-old Eastgate House, in Rochester High Street, into a £5-a-head tourist site with galleries, exhibitions on its own history and a shop.

The scheme includes bolting a lift shaft onto the side of the house for disabled access.

A new staircase will be built and some walls removed.

The plans were approved last night by Medway Council's planning committee and have won support from the City of Rochester Society.

Eastgate House was built in the 1590s by Sir Peter Buck, a clerk at Chatham Dockyard.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is expected to decide whether to award a £1.3m grant to the project by Christmas.

The rest of the money would come from council taxpayers and charity fundraising.