The Government has confirmed an ambitious plan to revamp Barrow will be given £25 million.
#BrilliantBarrow is set to be given the full amount from Whitehall’s Town Deal regeneration funding.
There are seven schemes that make up #BrilliantBarrow and it was offered the cash in 2020, subject to the completion of a detailed business case for each project.
The business cases have now been agreed and the £25m will be unlocked over the next four years.
Steve Cole, chief infrastructure officer at BAE Systems and #BrilliantBarrow board chair, said: “This is fantastic news. Barrow was one of the first towns in the country to secure an offer of funding from the Government in 2020 based on the strength and innovation of the seven projects submitted.
“Each one has the potential to benefit so many people and to help the town thrive for the future.
“Confirmation of the funding allocation marks the beginning of a very bright future for Barrow. I look forward to seeing each project take shape over the next few years to realise a raft of opportunity and positive outcomes for generations of people.”
Barrow was among 101 towns across the country invited to bid for a share of the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund.
A Town Deal Board was established in the borough to bring together representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors who advised on the development of the #BrilliantBarrow scheme.
The seven projects included in the scheme are:
- Barrow Learning Quarter – a university campus facility on Barrow Island offering both further and higher education courses with 1,400 places annually. In addition, improvements to Furness College’s Rating Lane campus will increase the number of college places available to 800.
- Community wellbeing Hubs and Earnse Bay Outdoor Centre – Hubs at The Forum, in Barrow Town Centre, at Bram Longstaffe on Barrow Island and in Ormsgill will provide a home for activities and services for people in all stages of their lives. A new outdoor learning and community hub will also be created at Earnse Bay, on Walney.
- Business and Enterprise – A programme of bespoke business support will be available to residents, potential entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses, including community businesses and social enterprises, to harness economic opportunities in Barrow including those that exist within the supply chain.
- Brilliant Barrow Place Development – This project will improve event spaces in the town centre to allow a calendar of activities and events to be developed, attracting both residents and visitors to the area.
- Housing Renewal – Around 300 homes and a number of commercial properties in Rawlinson Street and Ferry Road on Barrow Island will undergo works and carbon reduction measures to improve the lives of residents as well as the overall perception of Barrow as a great place to live.
- Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure – Dedicated routes for cyclists and pedestrians will link key areas to make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to travel by bike or on foot, cutting the number of short car journeys to improve health and wellbeing, reduce carbon usage and contribute to cleaner air.
- Marina Village – This project will help bring forward remediation and development of the derelict waterfront site. The work will unlock the potential of the site allowing the private sector to construct a mixed range of new homes bringing people and families back into the heart of the town.
The projects will be delivered by a number of key partnership organisations across the area over several years – with completion of all seven projects expected by 2026.
Ann Thomson, the leader of Barrow Borough Council, welcomed the news. She said: “This is a pivotal moment for our borough and all those who live and work here.
“The funding will ensure we are able to move forward into an exciting future with the launch of the innovative and ambitious new projects identified through #BrilliantBarrow.
“These projects have the potential to generate long term benefits for our communities – helping to realise new opportunities in further and higher education, regeneration and economic prosperity.
“I’m delighted the government has recognised our ambitions for Barrow with confirmation of the maximum amount of funding from the Towns Fund.”
