Plans for a multi-million pound transport hub are being recommended for approval next week.

Councillors on Rutland County Council's planning committee are being advised by officers to give the go ahead to the transformation of a former youth centre in Oakham into a transport hub, cafe and office space. It is being made possible through Levelling Up money granted by the government to the county authority last year.

The project, which is being called a Mobi-Hub by the council, has been many months in the design and could receive the seal of approval on Tuesday (September 17). Approval is being recommended despite the 'serious' safety concerns of Oakham Town Council which thinks the development is too close to a busy road junction.

Jules House, which is situated on Cold Overton Road opposite Long Row, will be remodelled, with internal walls knocked down to create a cafe for users, a transport office, a community facility and some lettable office space. A new two-storey stone extension will also be built on the back and, as part of the renovation, an existing conservatory would be knocked down and all windows and doors replaced.

The report says that space will also be given to local health and social care services for office and meeting purposes. 

The building is next to the Rutland Memorial Hospital site (LDRS).

The building is next to the Rutland Memorial Hospital site and the plans include reconfiguring the existing hospital car park with resurfacing and a new bus shelter plus electric charging points. Two new on-demand routes will run between Oakham and Melton and visit some villages currently not served by public transport.

There have been two residents' objections to the scheme – based on traffic and noise – and the highways authority had been objecting to the application, largely due to pedestrian safety concerns and the proximity to the level crossing. But after adjustments to the plans by council officers the highways authority has not removed its objection.

However the town council has concerns and wants a deferral.

It wrote to the county authority to say: "The council has serious concerns over this development especially with regards to the increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic near the level crossing. 

"This road junction is dangerous and needs addressing. 

"The committee therefore proposed a deferral of this application and request that Rutland County Council planning address these concerns preferably at a meeting at a town council meeting or by supplying more information as to how these issues will be addressed."

Rutland County Council bid for the levelling up fund together with Melton Borough Council, with £23 million awarded for a number of projects, including a medical research centre at Oakham Enterprise Park. The mobi-hub is being paid for by £3 million of Levelling Up funds, with the authority match funding the rest.

In July the authority discussed the Levelling Up project in a private session, and awarded the construction contract. It delegated authority to the director of place and its cabinet members for resources and planning to approve the business plan and enter into a management agreement for the transport hub. The facility could be open by March 2026.