Work is progressing to develop options for the first stages of a major Barrow town centre transformation programme.
Team Barrow has already started 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: Team Barrow launches conversation to help shape the future of Barrow town centre | Westmorland and Furness Council
The feedback from these early conversations will inform the short-term “meanwhile” plans for the town centre and what should happen next with Barrow Market Hall and the Forum buildings.
The results of the current conversations will also help start the process to develop longer-term plans for the town centre. Further engagement with the community will take place to make sure the long-term re-imagining of the town centre reflects the views of anyone who lives, works or visits Barrow.
As a member of Team Barrow, alongside BAE Systems and national government, Westmorland and Furness Council is leading on the Heart of Barrow work. The council’s Cabinet is due to receive reports looking at the various options for the ‘meanwhile’ plans in the next couple of months.
The reports will include consideration of next steps for the Market Hall and Forum buildings. Alongside the early conversation feedback, the reports will include building survey reports and what options and opportunities there may be for maintaining cultural, entertainment and community activities in the town centre, in recognition of the vital role the Forum has played at the heart of the Barrow community and the need to support local market traders.
In readiness for those decisions on the ‘meanwhile’ plans, steps are being taken now to inform the options appraisal process.
A preferred contractor is being appointed to consider the methods and costs that could be involved, should a decision be taken to demolish all or part of the Market Hall or Forum.
Councillor Helen Chaffey, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, Customer Services, Culture and Communications, explained: “No decisions have been taken yet on next steps for the Market Hall and Forum, that will be part of the discussions in the next couple of months.
“But the costs and sequencing of any demolition of all or part of the buildings is something we have to consider as part of the options appraisal process.
“There are exciting opportunities made possible by the £200m Barrow Transformation Fund. It is a once-in-a-generation investment that can make a huge difference to the town’s economic future and improve the town centre experience for residents, visitors and businesses.
“This significant funding means we can be ambitious and radical in our ambitions and so we need to think big – and that means all options should be considered.’’
Local Westmorland and Furness councillor Tony Callister, chairman of Furness Locality Board, added: “The investigations by the contractor will tell us what would be involved in any demolition proposals, so if that’s the path that is eventually decided, the council will know what needs to happen and can move quickly to start that work.
“What we are hearing through the current conversations is people telling us that they are wanting to see progress. They are excited by the future opportunities, but want to see things happening in the town centre as soon as possible.
“The development of those long-term plans and the whole transformation of the town centre will be many years in the making, but it is good the council is taking steps now to ensure we can get started on the first stages of that process without delay, once decisions have been taken by Cabinet.’’