Planning permission to build a unique house on the site of an historic landmark has been granted by a unanimous decision.

The specially-designed building will sit in the grounds around Upnor Castle near Rochester on a site originally housing a fort for mounted weaponry and ammunition storage.

The house has been designed by architects Hollaway Studio – with landscaping by firm Turkinton Martin – to blend in with the topography of the location.

Being a paragraph 80 house, the designs had to show rigorous planning to match the landscape and be of an exceptional standard to pass.

It's the first such property in the Towns.

The proposal underwent multiple reviews with Design South East, officers at Medway Council and Historic England.

The building will be largely hidden from view by surrounding trees and will attempt to use as much of the natural landscape to avoid excess building work.

The final designs show the house will be split into two main parts, the first containing a study, gym area and kitchen/dining room looking over an outdoor pool.

The second part will then house a double-heightened living space and four bedrooms.

As well as making use of the landscape, architectural company Hollaway Studios will also be looking to implement sustainable building practices and latest technologies such as solar panels, low-carbon concrete, smart glass and skylights.

Hollaway has designed other major projects based in Kent bringing the world's first multi-storey skatepark, F51, in Folkestone and the controversial plan for 150 new homes on Princes Parade in Hythe.

The house is planned to cover 636sq m with work set to start next year.

Paragraph 80 allows exceptions to planning policy that generally prevents new houses on unbuilt rural land. The policy ensures homes built in sensitive areas of open countryside are of exceptional quality.