SOUTHAMPTON'S newly formed Liberal Democrat cabinet is set to secure the future of one of the city's best known and most historically important landmarks today.

Councillors are expected to approve council funding of £564,000 which will go towards a £2.3m repair scheme to secure the future of the 500-year-old Tudor House in Bugle Street.

Earlier this year, a lottery windfall of £1.598m was given to city heritage bosses to help with major structural repairs and refurbishment to the building - one of Southampton's most historic landmarks.

English Heritage is also due to contribute £50,000 to the rapairs.

The historic building, pictured right, had been on an "at risk" register and closed in April last year while the then Labour controlled City Council prepared a bid for the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Fears had been expressed at the time that the building could close permanently. Now, city bosses are confident that the building will be open within the next three years.

City chiefs say they will have to apply for a second lottery grant to open a so called "interpretation museum." However, they say that the building will be open to the public in some form - even if their second lottery bid is unsuccessful.

The second lottery bid, which could be for almost £1m, will have to be put to the Heritage Lottery Fund in order to pay for the interpretation aspect of the museum.

The exact nature of the fresh bid has yet to be worked out but could include putting a roof over King John's Palace.

The distinctive Tudor House building which dominates St Michael's Square was built in around 1492 but originally consisted of three buildings dating back to about 1150.

Work on restoring the building will start early next year after contracts have been signed and detailed plans have been drawn-up.

Tudor House itself is likely to be swathed in scaffolding for as long as two years. Throughout this time, a detailed survey will be carried out by the city council's archaeology team. As well as structural repairs and new services, better disabled access including a lift, will be installed.

During the repair programme, city heritage officers will also be working on the second phase bid which could include displays about the history of the building.

City Council Leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "Basically, the Tudor House Museum has been closed for a year unnecessarily. Fortunately, the lottery scheme is now approved, a major grant which will allow us to get on with the work and carry out repairs and refurbishment to allow us to re-open Tudor House to the public as soon as possible