TWO of Worcester's most important historic buildings may be changed forever after planning officers ignored heritage campaigners and backed controversial modernisation schemes.

Plans to install a new-look kitchen in a panelled room in Worcester's mediaeval Old Palace, and transform the 19th-century bone mill at the former Royal Worcester Porcelain site into a restaurant, have brought strong objections from severalheritage and conservation groups, including the Ancient Monuments Society, English Heritage and the Council for British Archaeology.

But despite the vociferous protests, Worcester City Council's planning team has recommended both applications be given the go-ahead.

The grade I-listed Old Palace, close to Worcester Cathedral on Deansway, dates back to the 13th century and is used to accommodate the Bishop of Worcester.

In one of the upstairs rooms,currently used as a kitchen, impressive 18-century panelling has been uncovered - but the diocese wants to revamp the room with modern kitchen equipment.

In almost two pages of criticism, English Heritage said the proposals "will have a detrimental effect on the character, appearance and fabric of this part of the Grade I-listed building," and criticising plans to lay vinyl floor coverings over 18th-cenutry floorboards and skirtings.

The Ancient Monuments Society described the plans as "disappointing" while the Georgian Group recommended the kitchen be moved to "a less sensitive area of the building."

But in his report, the council's head of urban environment John Wrightson concluded: "I am of the opinion the proposed modernisation will be less intrusive and damaging to the fabric of the building than installing new service ducts elsewhere."

Approval has also been recommended for an application from Berkeley Homes, an Oxfordshire based developer, to transform part of the former Royal Worcester Porcelain site, on Severn Street, into a restaurant.

The Bone Mill is described by officers as "one of only two surviving purpose-built steam-driven bone mills in the country... and also highly unusual in having two floors of grinding pans, all of which survive in good condition."

Following "strong objections" from English Heritage, the plans have been revised to retain four of the six original grinding pans.

Further objections have also been received.

The final decisions will be made by the city's planning committee on Thursday.