A bid for millions of pounds in funding to restore a historic waterfront landmark building has been unsuccessful.

Council bosses were trying to secure £2.5 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to extend and renovate the Clock House in Ramsgate harbour.

But Thanet District Council was told it had failed to be awarded the cash which also included £500,000 to deliver heritage development and activities.

It means plans for the overhaul of the Grade II*-listed structure will have to be rethought.

The project has already seen £3.36m allocated from the Levelling Up funding received from the government for Ramsgate in August 2021.

But the additional heritage cash from the National Lottery would have also paid for additional exhibition space and partially fund restoration of the existing building.

Cllr Rick Everitt (Lab), leader of TDC, said: “Though the announcement from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is a setback, we are committed to bringing the much-loved Clock House back to life as a heritage hub for Ramsgate.

“I know how disappointed the Ramsgate Heritage Regeneration Trust will be at this outcome, but I want to reassure them, and the town of Ramsgate, that we will work with them to ensure the project is a success.

“Although we won’t have the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we will be researching other funding opportunities instead and we can do this in a timeframe that suits the project.

“Work will now start to review the scope of the scheme, within the existing Levelling Up funding allocation.”

Designs for the Clock House include a new cafe alongside expanding the museum based there housing historic artefacts and collections to make it a focal point for visitors to learn more about Ramsgate’s maritime past and the story of the Royal Harbour.

Plans also include turning the Pier Yard car park into a new town square and public space which the council says would “accommodate markets, outdoor events and the entry point to the harbour and The Clock House Heritage Hub”.

The Clock House is managed by the council and had previously been leased to the Steam Museum Trust since 2012.

After taking back control of the site, the council has identified urgent repairs and works have started on electrical wiring for new lighting and heaters to reduce degradation to the building further over the winter.

The building is also on Historic England’s heritage at risk list due to continued deterioration in recent years.

John Walker, chairman of the Ramsgate Society, added: “We are disappointed by this result, of course, after all of the hard work that has gone into this project so far.

“We are committed to delivering a maritime heritage hub for Ramsgate, and will continue our efforts, alongside Thanet District Council and the Ramsgate Heritage Regeneration Trust, to bring it to fruition.”