Westmorland and Furness Council has supported the first step towards a ‘once in a lifetime’ transformation of Barrow town centre.
The council’s Cabinet has agreed (3 June) to start the process 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.
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.
A re-invigorated and re-modelled town centre is seen as key to these ambitions.
A report to today’s Cabinet meeting explained that the former Barrow Borough Council secured Government Levelling Up Funding (LUF) 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 re-modelling 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.
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 explains £970,000 would be made available from the Barrow Transformation Fund to enable the development of Outline Business Cases (OBCs). The report also makes clear that the ‘design and development of the alternative scheme will be done with and alongside the community’.
The report adds: “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, welcomed the Cabinet decision, saying: “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.’’
Cllr 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 was right that we reconsidered our plans, following all the recent extra investment and promises from Government and that we took time to carefully 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. Similar town centre transformation schemes have typically taken between 5 and 10 years.
During this time the council is committed to keeping the town centre busy and vibrant through a programme of events and activities in and around the town.
Cllr Helen Chaffey, Cabinet member for Community Services, said: “This is a fantastic, transformational opportunity for Barrow. But we also recognise that it will take some time to develop the plans and to realise these ambitions, so people will quite understandably want to know what happens in the meantime.
“We want to reassure our communities that we will be working with them on a plan to ensure Barrow continues to have a vibrant and thriving town centre, as work progresses on the wider Heart of Barrow vision.’’