Work on Walney’s new community hub is gathering pace — with modular building units set to start arriving on site from this weekend (February 14th).
The Earnse Hub is aimed at connecting local communities to open spaces, nature and education. Funded by the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal and delivered by Westmorland and Furness Council, phase one of the development will offer people the chance to experience and enjoy the unique natural environment of Earnse Bay, one of the most nature-rich and beautiful coastal locations in the country.
Enevate Homes Limited will start delivering the modular buildings for the community café, activity space and campsite support building and changing block this weekend, and the centre is scheduled to be operating before the Summer.
Steve Cole, CIO and Operational Improvement Director at BAE Systems and Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: “There has been lots of progress on the site with ground work and preparation — but the buildings starting to arrive is a tangible demonstration of progress. It really is exciting. I’m proud to be chair of the Brilliant Barrow board, seeing our projects come alive after so much hard work planning and developing them. The Earnse Hub will be a fantastic asset and act as a gateway for residents and visitors to enjoy and benefit from this special place. There is a real momentum in Barrow at the moment, our work on the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal was the start, and the Barrow Transformation Fund coming along means that momentum can be sustained over the next decade or more."
Built on land owned by Westmorland and Furness Council, Earnse Hub forms part of the Brilliant Barrow initiative – a series of innovative projects funded by £25 million from the Government's Towns Fund designed to help the town and its communities to thrive into the future.
The 3.37-hectare site will see the creation of a space focused on outdoor activities, free-to-access trails and opportunities to camp overnight in a purpose-built and sensitively sited area. Play equipment will be spread across the site, rather than positioned in one central area, to encourage people to explore the site.
Councillor Helen Chaffey, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications said: “The Earnse Hub will be accessible to a range of groups and organisations such as local schools, community groups, voluntary and community sector parties. We want local people to be able to really enjoy this space which will, also, be attractive to visitors from further afield.
The community campsite will be separated from the park and supported by a camping barn, providing WC and shower facilities, kitchen facilities, simple camping pods and family tents for hire, as well as areas for small camper vans. Safeguards have been introduced by the council to make sure the site is family friendly.
There will also be a community garden, surrounded by hedges, for vegetable growing and orchard activities, with scope for further community-led development. Quieter, wilder spaces will be created in the north eastern part of the site, close to residential properties at West Shore Park. Landscaped mounds planted with wildflower meadows and scrub will act as a buffer between park activities and nearby homes.
Planning permission for the scheme includes a Beach School and base for the North Walney Nature Reserve volunteers, which will be delivered in partnership with Natural England, funded by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra). This second phase of the development will commence construction later in the year ahead of a decision from the National Lottery Heritage Fund this Autumn. The council has worked with Natural England, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and Art Gene on the development project in support of The Earnse Project application.
Residents accessing Walney over the next week are advised that there may be short delays on the roads, as the modular units are transported onto site.