After five months of extensive examination of the bids for the next seven year National Lottery licence (including a period for both bids to be improved) the National Lottery Commission has determined that neither of the bidders' plans meets the statutory criteria for granting a licence.

BBC: Lottery Commission statement

We are disappointed about that, but we would fail in our statutory duty if we granted a seven-year licence based on either bid in its present form.

BBC: Lottery Commission statement