Planners have given the go-ahead for several buildings in Barrow town centre to be demolished as part of a multi-million-pound regeneration scheme.
Westmorland and Furness Council has granted planning permission for the buildings on the Ginnel, Portland Walk, Dalton Road and Stephen Street to be flattened as part of a £17.5 million levelling up scheme.
Buildings at 1-4, The Ginnel, Portland Walk, 77,79,81 and 83 Dalton Street as well as 10 Stephen Street are to be knocked down to make way for the new scheme to revitalise the town centre.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, Westmorland and Furness Council’s cabinet member for sustainable communities and localities, said: “This work is a crucial component of regeneration of the market, The Forum and the surrounding public realm and I am really looking forward to seeing this particular area opened up and developed into something residents, shoppers and visitors will appreciate.”
Demolition is set to start in mid-November and will be completed in early 2024, the council said.
The last remaining business in The Ginnel shops, Got It Covered, will be moving into a new shop unit very close by on Dalton Road. The unit will be located on the site of the former 93 Dalton Road and is due to arrive in early October.
Got it Covered has said it will trade from its shop in The Ginnel until November 4 and start trading from the new shop location on Dalton Road from November 6.
Planning documents have laid out the demolition methodology for the works and state any remaining asbestos from the buildings will be removed and the steel gates to Portland Walk will also be salvaged.
Documents also state all bricks from the Ginnel excluding half bricks will be cleaned and the developer has allowed £9,660 for this process.
Councillor Taylor added: “Our wider Levelling Up project is tremendously exciting for Barrow and demonstrates Westmorland and Furness Council’s commitment to working with communities to support them in shaping their own destiny and thriving. The future is looking bright for Barrow, and we are proud to be playing a large part in driving that forward.”
Barrow-based Leck Construction have been awarded the contract to demolish properties for this project.
