Marina Village vision takes a step closer to reality

Flat land ready for development.

The vision for a vibrant new community of hundreds of new homes in the heart of Barrow has taken a step closer to reality.  

Westmorland and Furness Cabinet members approved the award of the construction contract for the remediation of the Phase 2 Marina Village site.  

The 26-hectare site between Cavendish Dock and Salthouse Road will provide 808 new homes, a nature conservation area and new public open spaces – a vital part of Barrow’s wider regeneration agenda, creating a vibrant community and providing new housing in the heart of the town near to centres of education, major employers and local shops and businesses and changing perceptions of Barrow as a place to live.   

The development will strengthen the council's work with government and BAE Systems as the Team Barrow partnership to ensure that interventions needed to support employment opportunities at BAE are transformational, inclusive and long lasting for Barrow, Westmorland and Furness, and beyond.

Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet member for Housing and Community Safety, said: "These are massively exciting times for Barrow, with huge opportunities to improve the town for everybody who lives and works there, but also people who will be attracted in. This will also have benefits for the whole of Westmorland and Furness and beyond.”

Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, said: "This transformative investment builds on the success of phase one.  

"Working in collaboration with partners is enabling Westmorland and Furness Council to create this fantastic site ready for developers to start building, making a critical contribution to the number of new homes needed to support Barrow's planned growth."   

Specialist firm Redstart Northwest Ltd was appointed last year to complete a two-stage design and build contract for the remediation work.   

With the design completed, Cabinet awarded Redstart stage two (the construction contract), worth a maximum of £16.5 million.   

Steve England, Redstart managing director, said: "Redstart is thrilled with the decision to move to contract on the £16.5 million, 16-hectare remediation project, which includes both the demolition of existing properties and the construction of a new, re-aligned highway. Works have already been substantially completed on the initial design order and a new planning application for phase three has been submitted.  

“Advanced works have been completed over the Christmas period to de-risk the site from re-habitation of reptiles and birds. We are committed to delivering a high-quality, sustainable solution that meets the needs of the community, and we look forward to working closely with all parties involved to ensure the success of this significant endeavour over the next 14 months."  

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.   

Significant progress has been made in the past three years assembling the land and funding package required to unlock the site's potential for a large housing development on the site.    

Phase one of the development – the remediation of six hectares of land funded by £5.5 million secured from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, administered by Cumbria LEP – was completed in November 2023.

The construction phase of phase two is planned to start in February and includes remediation, the installation of associated enabling infrastructure, including a realigned Cavendish Dock Road, to assist future housing suppliers to develop the site, 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 relating to a temporary location.   
 

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