Rochester’s historic Conservancy Building, which was sold at auction for £590,000 last month, is to be brought to life as an arts centre.

And the run down property next to the Guildhall Museum is to appear on TV after it was filmed for BBC's Homes Under the Hammer.

Presenter Martin Roberts was given a tour of the Grade-II listed building by the new owner Dalia Halpern-Matthews, of the Halpern Charitable Trust.

The Homes Under the Hammer property expert was impressed with what he saw on his two-hour visit on Thursday.

Dalia said: "Martin told me it was one of the most fascinating places he had seen in his 15 years of filming and he was very keen to come back and see what we have dome once refurbishment is complete.

"He kept saying 'wow, this is amazing’ and even climbed the ladder up the tower.”

When Dalia and her colleagues learned The Conservancy Building, which has served as an annexe to the museum, was up for sale they went for a viewing .

Since the trust’s Nucleus gallery in the High Street closed for business reasons last year, she has been looking to find another venue in Rochester, the town she she grew up.

The 48-year-old added: “We knew immediately this was the one.

"I drew up a business plan and sent it out to trustees that evening."

The deal has been finalised this week and Dalia has picked up the keys for the builders to start the £170,00 renovation project.

There are plans for at least 10 studios, a gallery and cafe and Dalia said she had “a few surprises up her sleeve”.

She hopes to open the doors to the public in February.

The creative arts venue would have been a dream come true for her father Hilary Halpern, an eminent architect and sculptor.

She said: “He would have been so proud, utterly thrilled.”

The other Nucleus centres in Chatham, the cafe in the High Street and the hub in Military Road remain open as normal.

The episode will screen next year.

n What do you think of the plans? Send your views to medway@
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