THE former Richmond railway station is set for a dramatic transformation after a £240,000 grant was secured from Yorkshire Forward.

The grant is the first part of a comprehensive package set to be approved by funders, and paves the way for the construction of a £2.3m multi-purpose business and community centre on the site.

Plans include the development of conference facilities which will also be used as a cinema during the evening, office space, workshops, meeting rooms, caf and restaurant.

Donald Cline, one of the founding members of the station regeneration project, said: "We are absolutely delighted that the region's principal economic development agency has endorsed our proposals. They believe that the project will achieve its objective for the community and that it will be a catalyst for future economic development within this area.

"The whole process has taken a year. It was like running a long distance hurdle race - you jump the first, second and third hurdles and can fall down at any time. But we've cleared them all.

"Yorkshire Forward is interested in the creation of employment and the funding will generate up to 70 jobs.

"The Swaledale Cheese Company has also expressed an interest in moving to the development to allow expansion."

Applications will also shortly be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

There will also be significant private sector investment into the project, along with donations from the public.

Mr Cline said: "There is no guarantee that we will receive the rest of the funding.

"However, it seems like a lot of people in the town want it to happen. Research undertaken at the end of 2002, showed that 60pc of people who replied would offer a financial contribution.

"One of the things we are also hoping to do is to gain access to the building under special licence with the district council. We then hope to make the station safe for fundraising events.

"We just hope the community sees the grant as being a positive indication that everything is moving in the right direction."

Geoff Thompson, of Richmondshire District Council economic, cultural and leisure unit, said that he hoped the restoration project would continue the programme of heritage-led regeneration in Richmond.

Work is due to start in January 2005.

* See Letters to the Editor, page 23.