A MULTI-MILLION pound Oxford homeless project has been given a £491,000 Lottery boost.

The plan for the Old Fire Station, in George Street, will create a theatre, dance studio, gallery and creative workshops for the young homeless and arts groups.

It will also offer advice and training for the young homeless and this has won £491,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to help fund the running costs for three years.

The scheme is a joint venture between Oxford City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and homeless charity Crisis.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Arts at the Old Fire Station will run an inspirational arts facility, offering a range of high quality and flexible inspirational spaces for professional artists, the wider arts community and the public, integrated into the centre.

“We are redeveloping the Old Fire Station in Oxford as a Crisis Skylight centre where homeless and vulnerably housed people will get access to education, training and employment opportunities to help them leave homelessness behind for good.

“Also on site will be a Crisis Skylight Cafe, a social enterprise open to the public where trainees can get a real taste of working life.”

Work at the building, the city’s main fire station between 1896 and 1971, was halted in November when contractor Rok went into administration.

This week, the city council confirmed it has contacted other firms that originally tendered for the job and is close to making a new appointment.

Council leader Bob Price said: “If one is acceptable and wants to start on site we will go ahead in the new year.

“We are working on a two-month delay and it is unlikely to open before autumn 2011.”

The Lottery boost ends a turbulent few months for the project.

Government spending cuts threw part of its funding into doubt but the cash was later confirmed. Contractors had to halt work in October after asbestos was discovered in the basement and a month later Rok went into administration.