The latest phase of a multi-million-pound project which will lead to the creation of 800 new homes in Barrow has begun.
Phase one of the Marina Village development involved clearing six hectares of land and was completed in November 2023.
The construction phase of phase two is now underway and includes further remediation, the installation of infrastructure, the realignment of Cavendish Dock Road and the diversion or protection of key utilities.
The project also aims to relocate the council’s Salthouse Road waste depot, with a feasibility and outline design study under way to suggest a temporary location.
Cabinet and ward members have visited the site along with Brilliant Barrow and Team Barrow board members.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, cabinet member for sustainable communities and localities, said: “Marina Village gives us the opportunity to develop a whole new neighbourhood, whole community, somewhere which isn’t just a load of spread-out houses but a well-designed place with a real heart, where people can live good lives, bring up their families in safe warm houses that don’t cost a fortune to run, and stay in their community as they grow older.
“This is a huge and wonderful opportunity to do good planning and make a fantastic place for people to live.
“It’s a huge opportunity and I’m really looking forward to us doing everything we can, together with all our partners, so we get it right for the people of Barrow now and in the future.”
Redstart Northwest Ltd was appointed last year to complete a two-stage design and build contract for the remediation work.
With the design completed, Redstart was awarded a contract worth £16.5 million to begin the second stage of work.
Steve England, managing director of Redstart Northwest Limited, said: “After nine months designing the scheme, including planning applications and remediation strategies and further investigations to understand what the constraints are, it is great to have made a start on site, start to see the vision be realised and be involved in leaving a legacy for the people of Barrow.”
Homes England has pledged £24.8 million to fund delivery of phase two of the site. Funding through Brilliant Barrow, regeneration funding from the Government’s Towns Fund, has also supported the scheme.
Duncan Inglis, Homes England regional director for the North, said: “The development will provide over 800 new homes for the people of Barrow, supporting our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.
“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, our aim is to support public and private sector partners to unlock strategic housing sites where brownfield, infrastructure or land projects face delivery challenges. This site is key to underpinning the ambitious economic growth ambitions for the town.”
