A 14th-century home from home for passing archbishops could be transformed into a hotel.

Consultants are looking at potential uses for Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone.

Last night councillors on the policy and resources committee heard an update on Maidstone Borough Council's Property Asset Review.

Papers from the meeting suggest the 700-year-old building has a number of potential futures, including a mixture of a hotel and offices, a wedding and corporate venue, a restaurant and offices or a conference venue.

Nothing is set in stone yet - and any change of use would need prior approval.

Kent County Council currently uses the building as a register office, holding coroner's court and citizenship ceremonies.

Mark Green, Maidstone Borough Council's director of finance and business improvement, said: "We've got consultants in who are doing an assessment on what work would need to be done to bring the building up to scratch for whichever use."

The Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages will have to be factored in to any future plan, as the 14th century building was built as the stables for archbishops travelling between Canterbury and London.

Kent County Council leases Archbishop's Palace from Maidstone Borough Council. That lease is due to expire in October 2020.

Earlier this year KCC had planning approved to move coroner's and register office services to Oakwood House hotel in Maidstone.

The 14th century manor backs on to the River Medway, presenting a unique selling point as a venue.

Speaking to KentOnline, Mr Green said: "The whole river is such a great asset for Maidstone, anything that we can do to integrate it with the Archbishop's Palace with the river and the river side, we should be doing."

Defending a suggestion part of the building could be used for offices, Mr Green said: "We recognise there's a lack of spaces for start up businesses in general around Maidstone, that's why we created the Business Terrace.

"There is office space but some of it is old fashioned."

Documents from last night's meeting note the importance of neighbouring buildings.

The papers read: "Architectural work to investigate the potential for possible conversion for these uses is now required to progress any future proposals together with cost consultancy to provide guidance on capital cost and allocation of risk. This will allow an assessment of viability of the different options.

"The assessment will pay attention to the overall spatial context of the Archbishop’s Palace, including the Carriage Museum and All Saints Church."

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