Westmorland and Furness Council is due to meet to discuss its £200m investment into renewing Barrow town centre.
The allocation is being delivered through the Team Barrow partnership – a joint venture between the council, BAE Systems and the Government, designed to regenerate the areawith the council leading on the ‘Heart of Barrow’ town centre transformation programme.
Cabinet members will meet on Tuesday next week to decide whether to back the first phase of the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the programme.
Subject to approval, the works will involve the demolition and clearance of the site and the beginning of land assembly.
The business case also requires approval for the town centre’s package of meanwhile uses and cultural activity, as well as fees to fund the procurement of a Phase 2 development partner.
If agreed by cabinet, the MHCLG and the Team Barrow Delivery Board will need to confirm the £35m funding required to support the rollout of Phase 1.
According to the council, the ‘meanwhile use’ programme aims to provide a short-to-medium term boost to the town centre economy, while also ensuring cultural organisations and businesses are supported throughout the redevelopment period.
Community engagement has helped to inform the programme, with feedback being gathered through a survey that received 650 responses from members of local schools, care homes, youth groups, and community and cultural organisations.
Among the proposals for the programme are the launch of a new Market Village, serving as a hub for members of the community to meet and partake in cultural and social experiences.
Further improvements being worked on by Team Barrow are the introduction of clearer signage and new CCTV cameras, as well as the organisation of community litter-picks and deep cleans on key streets.
Phase 2 of the project could include the redevelopment of the site of the Forum and indoor market hall, with a risk assessment finding that the buildings are not viable and that ‘demolition is an operationally necessary step, required to eliminate material and foreseeable risk, rather than a discretionary or aesthetic choice.’
.png)
