£8m waterfront investment plan for Barrow
PLANS are under consideration for the second phase of development of Barrow Waterfront, thanks to a multi-million pound investment from the Regional Growth Fund secured by Cumbria LEP.
A planning application has been submitted to Cumbria County Council for the reclamation and site development of land at the waterfront on Barrow Island, to the North of the recently constructed Dova Way and opposite the BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines site.
As part of an overall investment of more than £8m in the project, which includes £1m from the Cumbria Infrastructure Fund, the latest proposals have been designed to open up the derelict land as a business park for more employment and advanced manufacturing growth in the town.
The final masterplan submission has been prepared by Barrow Borough Council, Cumbria LEP and the county council, with consultancy services from Capita Property and Infrastructure Ltd.
The application is for site clearance and levelling, decontamination work including the removal of industrial debris from previous site users, provision of utilities, landscaping and raised earthworks for flood protection measures.
It also includes the relocation of existing allotments to a new site nearby. If approved, the project will provide a platform for developers to construct new advanced manufacturing facilities and business space.
Director of Cumbria LEP Graham Haywood said:“This is an important step forward in our plans for Barrow’s Waterfront Business Park and the development of this site will play a key role in meeting our strategic priority of achieving faster growth in the county’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.
“The proposals will help to bring more employment opportunities to Barrow and the chance to attract more supply chain companies keen to work closely with BAE Systems. It gives the town a platform from which to facilitate growth and create new business opportunities and jobs.”
Cumbria LEP is overseeing the Regional Growth Fund to deliver projects which create and safeguard sustainable private sector jobs.
The Barrow Waterfront Enterprise Zone is a flagship site for the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan and the investment it has secured is focusing not only on the reclamation of derelict land, but also the site development to accommodate more supply chain and advanced manufacturing firms alongside BAE’s new logistics facility.
Executive director of Barrow Borough Council Phil Huck said: “Developing the Waterfront Business Park is vitally important to ensure Barrow has quality premises and serviced land if current and future business enquiries are to be converted into investment.
“Over the next six years, we expect around £1bn of investment to be made in advanced manufacturing companies in the Furness area.
“This much needed reclamation and improvement will give us a flexible site for development which can attract a large range of businesses to fuel growth.” Alongside the capital investment the Borough Council is preparing a scheme which will allow occupier exemption from business rates for the early years of the businesses.
The LEP’s vice chair Jackie Arnold, who is also BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines head of strategy, added: “We welcome the submission of the planning application to develop this strategic piece of land for beneficial use – it means that the majority of Barrow Waterfront will be fit for appropriate development.
“The Cumbria lep wants major investment projects like these to support advanced manufacturing opportunities in the area. It’s an additional fillip that the proposals are closely aligned with our growth and employment plans.”
The Waterfront Business Park will provide sufficient land for 408,000sq ft of new
employment floor space. It is estimated that this could help create between 1,200 and 1,600 jobs. The duration of works would take about nine months to complete and could commence later this year.
