Redevelopment of a site hosting defence technology giant BAE Systems has been approved.

Councillors welcomed plans for a raft of changes at the company's base in Rochester.

The facilities in Marconi Way will now go through a phased redevelopment which will include demolition of most buildings, as well as construction of a new factor and deep storage building.

There will also be two new offices hosting a logistics area, on-site supplier store, machine and paint shop, restaurant and kitchen, reception area and a simulation area.

A large central block would be replaced with several smaller buildings.

Just two buildings, called Faraday and Falcon, are set to be retained.

Talking through the proposals at a meeting of the authority's planning committee on Wednesday, head of planning Dave Harris, said the site currently consists of a "mix of substandard buildings".

He added: "You can get an idea as to why BAE want to modernise, demolish the buildings, and start afresh and then plan properly for the refurb of the site."

He went on to say how he believed it was a "well thought through scheme" which would dramatically enhance the site.

Committee chairman Cllr Diane Chambers (Con) said: "I welcome the investment which is being put into Medway by a world-renowned company."