Barrow has been given a £16 million boost by the Government.
Today’s Budget saw the town’s Levelling Up Fund bid given the go-ahead.
The bid will transform Barrow’s covered market into an open accessible space with a new food hall, and shared entrance with The Forum, creating a arts and shopping hub that will be the gateway to the town centre and mark the rejuvenation of Barrow’s high street.
It is one of 12 projects set to receive support from the £232 million Levelling Up Fund to help working families, support business and drive economic growth as the country recovers from the pandemic.
The news heralds a bright future for Barrow, according to the leader of Barrow Borough Council, Ann Thomson.
She said: “We have great ambitions for Barrow town centre and its future development. The announcement today that our Levelling Up Fund application has been successful is cause for huge celebration.
“An enormous amount of effort went into producing a compelling bid. Our focus now will switch to delivering the very exciting projects that we identified, including: adding a food hall, improved stall spaces, and a soft play area to Barrow Market; creating a new exterior and façade on Duke Street, creating a link between The Forum and Barrow Market and improving connectivity in the town.
“Coupled with the Town Deal funds we have already secured, Barrow now has more than £40m of inward investment earmarked for a series of very exciting projects. The future looks very bright.”
Barrow was the only authority in Cumbria to earn a priority one status from the Government’s list of applicants for the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund.
The fund’s goal is to regenerate town centres in the country, assist cultural and heritage institutions, and build up transport projects.
Simon Fell, the MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “I’m very grateful to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, for his ongoing support for Barrow and Furness in this latest Budget.
“This funding will transform the covered market in Barrow – opened 50 years ago by The Queen and our hidden gem.
“It will gain a new food hall and soft play area and get a modern redesign – opening it up to the public and driving footfall to the town.
“The funding will also join the market to The Forum, creating an arts and shopping hub for the town, improving our cultural offering and drawing new and exciting acts to Barrow.
“This £16million of funding joins the £25million already awarded in our Town Deal.
“By 2024 Barrow will have a new university campus, an outdoor centre at Earnse Bay, have made major progress on Marina Village, delivered significant new cycling and walking infrastructure, and will have a modern arts and market space acting as the gateway to the centre of town.”
