Plans to secure the future of Brampton Community Centre have been shattered, leaving the trust that runs it looking for another way to find hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Brampton and Beyond Community Trust has been told it will not longer be able to take ownership of the former Brampton Infant School buildings through a community asset transfer from Cumbria County Council, something it says is a “great loss” to the community.

The trust planned to sell the site and use what was expected to be a six-figure sum to develop the community centre in Union Lane.

Despite a cabinet decision in 2012 that granted the transfer of ownership, the trust has now been told this is no longer possible as complications had been identified.

It will now have to look at other ways to find the money it needs to make the centre a viable and sustainable facility.

The trust said in a statement: “This [the council no longer being prepared to transfer the former infant school to the trust] is a great loss to the community and a blow to the trust’s intention of selling the property so it could invest the proceeds in the community centre and make it a viable and sustainable facility.

“Without these anticipated funds, which were expected to be in six figures, the trust is now having to look at other ways of seeking to secure the future of the centre.

“It will be launching an alternative plan in the coming months, including providing ways for the community to become financially involved.”

The school, on Moat Street, had served the community from 1800s until 2009, when Brampton’s infant and junior schools amalgamated.

They now exist as Brampton Primary School in nearby Sawmill Lane.

BBCT first expressed an interest in taking on the former school and master’s house six years ago and looked at possible future uses to benefit the community.

It had planned to sell the buildings because while housing seemed the most suitable use, and it had discussions with housing associations, it had not be able to establish a partnership to bring this to fruition.

It was also not in a position to take on such a project itself.

Selling the property though, would have meant proceeds would be invested in the local community.

In a letter to the trust Allan Harty, senior property manager for Cumbria County Council, explained that following the decision made in 2012, subsequent due diligence had identified the existence of a reverter.

This means the authority does not own the freehold of the buildings but hold it in trust for someone else and therefore could not transfer the freehold for the buildings to BBCT.

“This fundamentally alters the basis on which the council orginally decided to progress a transfer of the asset to Brampton and Beyond Community Trust,” he wrote.

“It is now clear to the council that it owns the school site on trust for what is likely to be a substantial number of beneficiaries.

“After considerable effort on behalf of both parties to identify a way through the issue, it is with regret that the county council is unable to fulfill the recommendation set out in 2012 by cabinet.

“The county council must have regard to its duties as trustee and to the fundamentally changed understanding of its interest in the school site.”

Mr Harty added that the decision had not been taken lightly and appreciated this was a disappointing outcome for the trust.

He also acknowledged the “considerable” work carried out by BBCT to deliver the aspirations of the local authorities and for achieving a number of postive developments in recent years.