Plans for a new museum have been given the go ahead after approval from council planning officials.

The Brooking Museum of Architectural Detail had applied for permission to change an industrial unit in Whitchurch into a museum to house its collection of architectural objects from across 500 years of history.

Permission was granted by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council last week, with the museum hoping to complete its purchase of the site and relocate in the near future.

The Brooking Museum of Architectural Detail was founded by Charles Brooking, who has collected a range of building features including doors, windows and even post boxes over his life. He has a number of items from high-profile locations, including an original door from Downing Street, a window from St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as elements from the original Wembley Stadium, Windsor Castle, and potentially from the Tudor Nonsuch Palace.

After being based at the University of Greenwich for 25 years, the collection was relocated to Cranleigh in Surrey in 2012, and is now looking to make its permanent home in Whitchurch.

To this end, they hope to purchase Royston House, formerly car servicing centre and later office space on Andover Road.

The charity describes the site as a “unique opportunity”, saying: “Not only is it already fit-for-purpose for the project, it is located on the outskirts of a rural town that provides an enviable setting, more than adequate amenities and a characterful welcoming backdrop that already boasts a number of complementary heritage destinations.”

The planning application allows for the site to be used to store the museum’s collection of items, where the museum will catalogue and display its artefacts in its own premises for the first time. An exhibition space will be built, surrounded by officers for the museum, with storage and a workshop to the rear.

Neighbours and the parish council had objected to the application, with Jacqueline Browne saying that conversion to B8 use would be “wholly inappropriate for this location” based on traffic impacts and visibility on nearby roads.

Planning officials, however, disagreed, saying: “It has been assessed that there would likely be a net reduction in traffic generation on site. As such the proposal are unlikely to have a material impact on the operation of the local highway network.”

Following consideration, the plans were approved on June 17. Should the museum complete its purchase of the site, then work will begin to make it ready for a grand opening.