A restoration project for the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum in Orkney continues to progress, the local authority has said.

The initiative, which would see extensive repairs and development work carried out on the facility, are now set to form part of the Council's major works from 2015.

Recently, Orkney Islands Council (OIC) agreed to contribute £1.5m of funding to include the project in its next capital programme. This is in addition to the external funding the scheme has already secured including £500,000 from Historic Scotland's Building Repairs scheme and £25,970 from Museums Galleries Scotland Capital Fund. A potential £900,000 could also be made available after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) confirmed they had given initial approval to the project.

The HLF money would go towards the development of a new building, alongside the existing pump house, and would include a display area, shop, café, improved visitor facilities and fully accessible toilets. The Council has said the other funding would go towards the repair and restoration of the existing historic pump house, oil tank and Romney hut; while the Museums Galleries Scotland Capital Fund would help pay for specialist conservation work on smaller artefacts and provision of climate-controlled display cabinets for fragile exhibits.

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Welcoming the progress being made, Councillor Janice Annal, Chair of the Council's Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said: "I'm delighted the project has reached this stage and is to be included in the Council's capital programme.

"Although there is some way to go before the HLF funding is confirmed, their support for the project so far is also encouraging. I congratulate the staff involved for their hard work progressing the project on these fronts.

"These achievements will help protect an important wartime heritage asset, something especially welcome as we draw nearer to important national WW1 commemorations, some of which will take place in Orkney."

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: "The sheltered waters of one of the world's largest natural harbours have shaped the history of travel, trade and maritime warfare across centuries.

"Scapa Flow has an internationally important story to tell and HLF is delighted to give its initial support to a project which will do just that. Not only will rare military equipment from both World Wars be saved but some of the stories of the 12,000 people once stationed there will bring the Naval Base's incredible history back to life."

The Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum was established in 1990, and tells the story of Scapa Flow and Orkney in the First and Second World Wars.

(JP/MH)