Barrow Town Centre has been successfully shortlisted to progress to the second phase of the Future High Streets Fund and receive up to £150,000 to support the development of detailed project proposals that can be submitted for capital funding.
In March 2019 Barrow Borough Council submitted an Expression of Interest to the government for funding to boost Barrow Town Centre. The Council worked in partnership with Furness Economic Development Forum and Barrow BID to submit the EOI which was supported by local businesses, employers and Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock.
The bid aims to improve the towns shopping and leisure provision, making the town centre more attractive, encouraging residents to spend more time there and breathing new life into the area through regeneration, development and improving access and infrastructure.
The Council will now work on developing the proposals in more detail over the coming months.
Councillor Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “Our team put in a great bid and now with the initial money we can work on a creative effective bid for the second phase. Well done team!”
John Woodcock MP said: “I was delighted to get the letter from the Secretary of State this morning announcing our sustained lobbying and strong team effort is paying off. Attracting more people in to live locally and spend money in the town centre can really help in our plan to tackle the acute pockets of deprivation in central Barrow.
“BAE has also identified perceptions of the town centre as key to improving retention and recruitment in the shipyard so we deliver on our responsibility to get Dreadnought built on time.”
An additional 50 towns will benefit from the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on 26th August.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Our high streets are right at the heart of our communities, and I will do everything I can to make sure they remain vibrant places where people want to go, meet and spend their money.
“But with our town centres facing challenges, we’re today expanding the High Streets Fund to support over 100 high streets to regenerate – backed by £1 billion of vital investment.
“This scheme is going to reenergise and transform even more of our high streets – helping them to attract new businesses, boost local growth, and create new infrastructure and jobs.”
