Proposals to move archives out of Lichfield moved a step closer after planning permission for a new history centre in Stafford was granted.
The £2.8million site will host historic documents from across the county, including those currently held at Lichfield Record Office.
Staffordshire County Council said a number of the records moved would be made available online.
Cllr Gill Heath, Cabinet member for communities at the county council, said: “We’re all very excited about the new centre and this is an important milestone for the project.
“Not only will the centre create a brand new visitor experience for everyone in Staffordshire but it will transform the way people interact with our services.
“Our schedule of activities and exhibitions will also allow us to take more of our amazing collections out to local communities and schools and get many more people excited about our history.”
People in Lichfield will be able to access the digital versions of the records at a new access point in Lichfield Library.
