The Historic Dockyard Chatham has launched a major new project which aims to bring together a wide range of marine-related museum artefacts currently housed in national museums throughout the UK.

Called National Museums at Chatham (NMC), the scheme aims to convert the Number One Smithery building at the Chatham Dockyard into a working museum and a new home for thousands of exhibits.

The new museum will include both permanent and temporary galleries as well as a learning centre. According to the plans, the new site will house more than 5,000 objects – including ship models and works of art – relocated from their parent museums.

It is estimated that the cost of the project will be around £14m with around £2m of funding already in place. A number of funding bids have already been submitted for the scheme.

NMC is a partnership between the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (CHDT), the National Maritime Museum in London, the Imperial War Museum in London and the Science Museum on London.

Medway Council, English Heritage and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have also been involved in the planning process.

Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council, said: “e see this project as a cornerstone to the council’s aspirations to be Kent and the Thames Gateway’s city of learning, culture and tourism.

“Bringing national museums to Chatham will add status to the region’s cultural offer.”

Andy Brown, English Heritage’s regional director, said: “The work already done by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust in providing a sustainable future for this internationally important site should not be underestimated.”

The new museum is due to open to the public in 2010. Details: www.chdt.org.uk