Plans to create a new £7.6m cultural and civic centre in Oakham have been dealt a blow after a significant grant application has been refused. 

Rutland County Council had hoped that National Heritage Lottery cash would contribute millions of pounds to the project to turn the county town's museum and adjoining riding school into a new events and civic centre, that would house two nationally significant exhibits. 

The ichthyosaurus found at Rutland Water during the pandemic and the Roman Villa unearthed in 2020 near Ketton, are planned to be the centre pieces of the new museum. 

On Tuesday 23rd September, the authority announced the lottery bid has failed but says it still intends to move ahead with the scheme and try to find a new source of funding. 

Council leader Gale Waller (Lib Dem) said: "We are, of course, disappointed not to have been successful in our recent bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

"We felt we put forward a strong case, but this does not change our commitment to delivering an improved and inspiring museum offer for Rutland – one that makes the most of this important community asset and attracts more visitors to the county to encourage business and economic growth.  

"Because this outcome was always a possibility, we are already working to identify and explore alternative ways to secure the necessary funding – whether that be other grant schemes, capital investment or fundraising.  

"The strong support we've received from partners and the community underlines how important this project is, and we remain determined to bring forward a scheme that celebrates our heritage and benefits local people and visitors alike."  

The overall cost of the project has been given by the authority, but the exact breakdown of the finances has been kept under wraps and discussed in private by the authority. 

It has £2m of levelling up funds, had wanted to gain £4.15m from grants and contributions and also has plans to sell off some assets, including the existing council HQ at Catmos House. Staff would then move to new offices at Oakham Enterprise Park. 

A cabinet paper in February said: "It is proposed to phase the development of a new Cultural and Civic Centre. Phase 1 would provide purpose-built museum space for the Ichthyosaur display, the multi-use space hall, catering and retail facilities and could be achieved within the Council's available funding and borrowing capacity.  

"Phase 2 would deliver the renovation of The Riding School with modern collection displays, a new Learning Centre for delivery of formal and informal education delivery, a temporary exhibition gallery, Registry Office and Civic office provision and is contingent on securing £4.15m of grant funding and donations." 

Over the summer the council held a six-week public consultation about the museum scheme, which it said had 400 responses. It says there is overwhelming support for the museum's transformation.