A £17.5 million plan to transform Barrow town centre has taken a step forward.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s cabinet has agreed to start to develop bolder, more ambitious plans for the Heart of Barrow, following a recent decision by the Team Barrow partnership – which includes the council, central Government and BAE Systems – to prioritise the regeneration of the town centre as one of its major capital projects.
The council said: “Extra funding made available through Team Barrow means significantly more money is now available and this has the potential to deliver a more transformational regeneration of the town centre.
“The additional funding from Team Barrow would be on top of the money already committed by Government for the current town centre regeneration works.
“In recognition of the town’s strategic importance to national defence and security, the Government has agreed to invest more than £200m in Barrow over the next 10 years.
“Team Barrow will use this money – and seek to secure additional private and public sector investment – to help transform the town, delivering improvements across health, education, transport, the economy and community.”
Team Barrow said a reinvigorated and remodelled town centre was key to the ambitions.
A report to today’s cabinet meeting said that the former Barrow Borough Council secured Government Levelling Up Funding in October 2021 towards a £17.5m regeneration scheme, comprising of £15.9m LUF money and £1.5m match funding from the council.
Work has already started on projects under this scheme, including asbestos removal as part of improvements in the market hall and demolition work in Dalton Road, Stephen Street and The Ginnel to make way for a new public park and enhanced public realm features.
But the subsequent formation of Team Barrow in 2024 and its broader remit to revitalise Barrow and the wider Furness area as a place where people choose to live, work and thrive, has brought access to considerably more funding, that the cabinet report describes as a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.
A concept feasibility study was undertaken by Team Barrow to assess potential options, considering opportunities to use the Barrow Transformation Fund and related private sector investment for the necessary work to deliver a far more comprehensive, culturally-led remodelling of the town centre.
The Team Barrow board has recommended that the current regeneration projects being undertaken by the council be stopped to allow further investigation of these new opportunities. Local members on the Barrow Advisory Board also supported this recommendation.
The cabinet has now agreed to support the Team Barrow board recommendation and to not to progress with its current plans for public realm improvements in the town centre and a refurbishment of the market hall, in favour of developing a much bolder and more transformational vision for Barrow.
The Cabinet report said £970,000 would be made available from the Barrow Transformation Fund to enable the development of outline business cases.
The report said that the design and development of the alternative scheme would be done with and alongside the community.
The report added: “The scheme remains at early concept stage but will be developed as a town centre regeneration scheme which would comprise a culture-led mixed-use scheme to realise a transformation of the town centre, supporting place-making, town centre identity and an improved mix of uses.
“It aims to unlock private sector investment and to future-proof the town centre for its population, beyond a traditional physical regeneration scheme.
“This could include a new or improved theatre and events space, further utilising the town hall, creating a better food and drink offer alongside leisure and market facilities that boosts current investment in Portland Walk by BAE Systems, as well as new accommodation and community and health facilities.’’
Dr Simon Case, chair of Team Barrow, said: “We have bold and ambitious plans for Barrow and this includes transforming the town centre.
“While these are very early stages, with a significant amount of work now required to develop these plans, we are clear in our vision that this must deliver more than simply high street regeneration.
“The Government’s investment in Barrow presents us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the challenges which face the town. This means that in addition to delivering a town centre that has a strong retail, leisure and cultural offering, we will also prioritise improvements in housing, health and education.”
Cllr Tony Callister, chair of Furness Locality Board, said: “The proposed investment in Barrow will see our town centre transformed.
“The opportunity to develop an alternative scheme gives us the chance to secure a range of activities for people to take part in, making the town centre a ‘go to’ place to meet friends and socialise, and a great place for young workers and new students, matching its status as a university town.
“I for one can’t wait to get started on the development of a new, transformational scheme that will make the town centre a brilliant place to spend time.’’
Jonathan Brook, leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “With the announcement last year of the additional £200 million Government funding through Team Barrow, we now have an opportunity to be much more ambitious, driving transformational change and supporting a much wider revitalisation of Barrow and the wider Furness area and making it a place where people choose to live, work, and thrive.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to deliver real and significant improvements for the people of Barrow.
“It is right that we reconsider our plans, following all the recent extra investment and promises from Government and that we take time to carefully and consider Team Barrow’s recommendation.
“This extra funding releases the opportunity to explore the possibilities for something truly transformational and exciting for the town, its communities and its businesses.
“This is about securing a strong, prosperous and sustainable future for Barrow and the wider Furness area.’’
Having now reached a decision to pursue an alternative option, it will take several years to develop the early concepts and then deliver the overall project, the council said and added similar town centre transformation schemes have typically taken between five and 10 years.
Michelle Scrogham Barrow and Furness MP said: “This Government has provided a significant investment which finally provides us with an opportunity to address the challenges which face the town.
“We have an opportunity now to do something game-changing which strengthens our local economy, makes the town an even better place to live and work, and sets the area up for a very bright future.
“These plans are now moving forward, and part of this investment can be used to unlock private sector funding and deliver a much more ambitious overhaul of the town centre than was previously possible.
“It makes sense that we therefore adapt the current projects in the town centre in favour of something truly transformational for local residents. It’s important that we don’t hang about, we’ve suffered a decade of broken promises so with this funded backing from Government it is now time to crack on and really deliver.
“At the same time, we need to make sure that the vision for the town delivers more than just high street regeneration – it must also deliver improvements in housing and our local health, education, and transport services so that we transform living standards and opportunities for local people.
“We are at early stages but, as these plans are developed, we must make sure that local people are at the centre of developing this ambitious vision for the future of their town – I will be doing everything I can to make sure that happens.”
