Plans to create a £3.1 million outdoor centre on Walney can go ahead.
The proposal for 33,000 sq metres of land off West Shore Road, to the east of Earnse Bay, was sent to the Government due to an objection by Sport England over the loss of part of a playing field.
But Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said the permission should be determined by Barrow Borough Council.
The local authority had given its approval of the plans last month.
Part of the building would be a community centre featuring a village hall, café and shop and would be delivered by Cumbria County Council.
The other section would be an environmental education centre ‘focusing on outdoor and beach activities’ and would be delivered by Natural England. It would include school rooms, an office and a garage and workshop.
The outdoor space would include a rounders pitch, ‘community gardens and growing space’, and camping facilities.
It will aim to provide people of all ages with opportunities and access to the outdoors and to education.
The scheme will be funded by £3.1 million from the #BrilliantBarrow Town Deal, which secured £25 million from the Government’s Towns Fund earlier this year. Subject to final approval, the Earnse Bay project will also receive funding from Natural England.
The site of the proposed centre extends to 3.37 hectares and is bound by West Shore to the west, West Shore Park to the north and east and Cows Tarn Lane to the south. Currently, the site consists of grassland and scrub, with a dilapidated changing room building and some bituminous hardstanding that is no longer in use.
