Team Barrow is asking residents to join a conversation about what they want from the town centre, as part of the first phase of Barrow Rising’s Heart of Barrow regeneration programme.
David Haughian, Assistant Director of Community Infrastructure at Westmorland and Furness Council, and Heart of Barrow workstream lead for Team Barrow, said: “At the heart of these conversations is a simple but powerful ambition: Barrow will be a thriving, prosperous town where people can flourish and grow.
“We know that to achieve this, we need to address some of the challenges that hold the town back, particularly in the town centre and in the quality of our housing.
“It will take some time to fully realise these ambitions. The conversations that we are launching now, and that will be running through December and January, are only a first phase. They are an opportunity for people to share their views on what they want from the town centre, to help us plan what we can do now but also help us to understand what people want from a longer-term transformation.’’
The conversations launching this week include three key questions:
- What do you enjoy most about the town centre?
- What changes would make you come into town more ?
- Real change in the town centre will take years. In the meantime, what should we focus on to make it busy and vibrant right now?
The conversations follow the decision to pause previously announced works on the Market Hall and the Forum, in order to consider a more ambitious transformation made possible by the £200m Barrow Transformation Fund. This once-in-a-generation investment aims to create a thriving town centre, supporting Barrow’s long-term economic future and improving the experience for residents, visitors and businesses.
As work on the long-term options progress, the council has been clear that no final decisions have been made yet on the Market Hall or Forum buildings. Feedback from the conversations launching this week will help inform short-term “meanwhile” plans, including how cultural, entertainment and community activities can be maintained in the town centre, as well as contributing to the development of the long-term options for the town centre transformation.
The second phase of the project will include talking to the community again and getting views on those long-term options.
Councillor Helen Chaffey, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Organisational Culture and Communications, said: “This is a once in a generation chance to not only breathe new life into the town centre, but to give Barrovians something they can be proud of – now and in the future. This scheme. has the potential to bring new retail, cultural, and commercial spaces, alongside new modern homes and accommodation. We can be ambitious. Together, these changes will help create a town centre that reflects Barrow’s proud heritage while offering a vibrant and contemporary place to live, work, and visit.
“We know that the temporary closure of the Market Hall and the Forum has understandably been felt deeply by the community. And that local people want to see progress, we’ve heard that already, and I’m sure will hear it again in our Community Conversations. We understand, and we are listening. I would urge everyone to get involved over the coming weeks so that we can reimagine how our town centre can better serve both residents and visitors in the years ahead.”
The conversations starting this week are being led by Westmorland and Furness Council’s Community Engagement team, on behalf of Team Barrow, with a focus on reaching as many people as possible – including local schools, care home residents, community groups and traditionally under-represented voices.
Councillor Chaffey continued: “We know lots of people will be out and about in the run up to Christmas attending events and activities. This gives us the opportunity to talk to different generations about what they want from the town centre.
“If we don’t speak to you in person at one of the drop-ins, community visits, school events and festive activities in the town centre, the questions can also be completed online so everyone can have their say. We will publish the link to it on our social media channels.
“We want everyone to feel able to take part, to tell us what matters to them, and to start the process of shaping a town centre that reflects the pride and potential of our community. These initial conversations are just the start of the journey and we will continue to keep the community of Barrow involved as this exciting programme develops.’’
The conversation survey will be available online soon.