Project: Walking and cycling
New routes dedicated to cycling, walking and wheeling in Barrow have moved a step closer to delivery with preliminary work now under way.
The active travel schemes on Abbey Road and North Walney plan to encourage more active journeys across the town by connecting residential areas with major employment and education sites such as BAE Systems, Furness General Hospital and Furness College, as well as green spaces and coastal areas.
Delivery of both schemes is funded by central government’s Active Travel Fund 3 and the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal which have ring-fenced monies to improve infrastructure that will encourage active journeys in the area.
Following an extensive consultation period in May 2023, Westmorland and Furness Council has now confirmed a design in line with respondents’ feedback and the latest government guidance.
The new infrastructure will create 2.1 miles of separate space for cyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles on Abbey Road between Ramsden Square and the Park Drive junction, and a continuous active travel route on Walney Island, between Jubilee Bridge and Earnse Bay.
To prepare for construction of the schemes later this year, preliminary works began on February 26 involving the removal of six trees from Ramsden Square, and two trees from Vickerstown Park.
The Abbey Road and North Walney active travel schemes form a part of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which sets out an ambitious proposal to create a network of safe, attractive, and well-connected routes across Barrow-in-Furness.
Great efforts have been taken to produce a scheme that delivers the new cycling, walking and wheeling infrastructure that avoids impacting vehicle users and the removal of trees on the majority of both routes.
The council will replace the eight trees removed by re-planting 32 new trees in the local area and on the available space on Ramsden Square where possible as a part of the subsequent construction works. This is in addition to the 71 trees planted along prominent roadside verges including Abbey Road back in early 2023 thanks to the Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) and the Council’s Environment Fund.
Later this month the council will also start to plant around 800 new native trees and shrubs on an urban plot in Barrow as part of a ‘micro-woodland’ project to create a new biodiversity-rich woodland habitat in the town.
The tree removal works as part of the Active Travel scheme have been planned to take place outside of bird nesting season to minimise disturbance to breeding birds.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environmental Services, Councillor Neil Hughes said: “These are exciting times for Barrow, and this new active travel infrastructure will open the door for communities to access significant opportunities that are being created by millions of pounds worth of investment in employment, education and regeneration.
“Building a new network of safe and sustainable cycle routes will support these opportunities by improving connections between neighbourhoods and key employment and education sites, making journeys by bike or on foot easier, safer and more enjoyable.
“I am confident the creation of this new infrastructure will positively lead us towards achieving our ambition of getting more people cycling, walking and wheeling, and supporting our residents to lead active, healthy lives."
Following the completion of preliminary works, the construction of the North Walney scheme is expected to commence in Summer 2024, and the Abbey Road scheme in Autumn 2024.
Councillor Tony Callister, Chair of Barrow Locality Board, said: “It’s great to see that the views of residents have positively impacted the design of both schemes and I’m looking forward to seeing the new infrastructure being delivered later this year.”
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Project: Barrow Learning Quarter - University Campus
What’s happened so far: Planning consent is in place for the new building on Barrow Island. The University of Cumbria has developed an academic offer with expert staff appointed to lead the new campus from 2024. Ground was officially broken by HRH The Princess Royal.
A family business has been appointed as the lead contractor to create the first university campus in Barrow.
The Caddick Construction team commenced work on-site in January, driving forward the programme for the University of Cumbria campus to be constructed throughout 2024.
Once complete, this state-of-the-art facility will provide new teaching spaces, laboratory space, workshops, offices, catering facilities and new landscaping to the immediate area, along with new cycling and car parking facilities.
The campus will deliver degree programmes aligned initially to areas such as Computer Science (including cyber security), Business Management and Advanced Manufacturing. Once completed, it will help attract and retain talented graduates with higher-level skills that are vital for the area now and for generations to come.
University of Cumbria Chief Operating Officer, Mark Swindlehurst said: “This milestone takes us another step closer to developing the first university campus in Barrow-in-Furness. We’re delighted to be working with Caddick Construction and existing partners on a project serving our community in an area of such regional, national and international importance.
“Offering innovative, inclusive facilities and provision, this campus will help transform lives and communities for generations to come. The increased reach and accessibility of higher education in, for and from Barrow means that this campus will have a long-lasting impact, offering new opportunities and inspiration to so many who choose to live, visit, work and study in the area and beyond.”
Councillor Jonathan Brook, the Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: “This is a very important milestone in the life of not only the Barrow Learning Quarter project, but the Brilliant Barrow programme itself.
“Excellent progress has been made towards the development of a university campus for Barrow. It is wonderful to hear that the project has now reached the stage at which the Government funding provided to Brilliant Barrow can be transferred to the University of Cumbria to allow work to begin.”
The Barrow Island campus scheme is being funded by the UK Government, BAE Systems and the University of Cumbria.
The campus, located on a 2.6-hectare site provided by BAE Systems Ltd next to its Submarine Academy of Skills and Knowledge, is part of the Barrow Learning Quarter (BLQ) that is being created to transform educational opportunities in the area. The BLQ also includes a new Skills Hub at Furness College’s sixth form campus.
Looking towards Barrow and with its sloping roof line, the campus building design is inspired by the town’s submarine heritage. The dockside campus building will contain adaptable, specialist and interactive teaching areas across its two floors, along with social and library spaces.
In December, Westmorland and Furness Council entered into a Grant Funding Agreement with the University of Cumbria to support the construction of the building in line with Government requirements.
Institute leaders are working closely with Furness College to enable courses starting in September 2024 to be delivered from facilities at its Channelside campus until the new university campus is ready, with minimal disruption to staff and students.
Information about courses and scholarships on offer at the University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus can be found at www.cumbria.ac.uk/barrow.
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What is a Town Deal and other frequently asked questions
A Town Deal is an agreement between the Government and a local authority for an agreed amount of funding for regeneration.
101 towns across the country were invited to bid for a share of money from the Government’s Towns Fund.
Barrow secured the full £25 million from the Towns Fund in 2022 for a Town Deal comprising eight significant projects designed to help the town to thrive for generations to come.
Who decided what the money should be spent on?
Projects put forward for funding had to meet strict criteria set by the Government to be considered.
A Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board was assembled to help decide which projects should be put forward as part of the bid for a Town Deal based on local need and the ability for each one to fit the criteria.
Who is responsible for delivering the projects?
Westmorland and Furness Council is the accountable body for the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, which means it is responsible for ensuring successful delivery and reporting to government. The council is also directly delivering five of the eight projects.
Partner organisations are leading on the delivery of a number of individual projects. These are:
Barrow Learning Quarter – Barrow Island University Campus;
Barrow Learning Quarter – Rating Lane Campus;
Business and Enterprise Support.
What is the role of the board?
The Brilliant Barrow Board has oversight of the programme and individual projects. It’s members meet regularly to ensure progress is being made and the projects will deliver the positive outputs and outcomes agreed as part of Barrow’s Town Deal.
Who is on the Brilliant Barrow Board?
The Brilliant Barrow Board is made up of representatives from public, private and third sector organisations - all operating within Barrow - to ensure a range of experiences and views are included.
Government-set criteria requires the board to be chaired by a private sector representative.
The board is currently chaired by Steve Cole, CIO and Operational Improvement Director at BAE Systems UK Ltd.
When will the projects be completed?
The projects are varied and of differing scale and complexity which means some are already underway while others are nearing the stage where construction will begin on site.
However, all of the projects will be completed by 2025.
Why are all of the projects located in Barrow instead of spreading them out across a wider area?
This is to meet the criteria set by the Government. All projects were required to be located within the boundaries of the town in question.
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Project: Marina Village
What’s happened so far: Phase 1 of work to remediate the site has taken place. Brilliant Barrow funding will contribute to Phase II of the project in order to open it up for high quality new homes in the future.
A key piece of land in the heart of Barrow has been remediated, so it can provide high-quality homes in the future.
A project to clear and remediate the first six hectares of the Marina Village site got under way last year, thanks to funding of £5.5 million from the Government’s Getting Building Fund administered by Cumbria LEP.
Local construction specialist Thomas Armstrong Ltd was appointed to carry out the work which involved the demolition of existing buildings on the former industrial site off Salthouse Road, removing structures below ground level and decontaminating the land.
Species such as slow worms and common lizards were also relocated to designated conservation areas prior to the works getting under way.
Further phases of preparation work at the 26-hectare site, including the purchase of the remaining pockets of land, will be part funded through Brilliant Barrow.
Westmorland and Furness Council has entered into an agreement with Homes England for the receipt of £24.8 million of funding to finance final preparations for a flagship residential development of 808 high quality, mixed homes in Barrow along with a nature reserve and public open spaces.
The proposed design principles for the development take into account the historic environment, landscape, sustainable drainage, public realm, energy and infrastructure, as well as climate and environmental risks.
Councillor Jonathan Brook, the leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and a member of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: “This has been a complex and sizable project and I’m delighted that Phase 1 of this important site is now complete.
“This remediation work helps unlock this former industrial land, so that it can be transformed into a thriving residential community in the centre of Barrow, near to shops, places of work and education and transport links.”
Jo Lappin, Chief Executive of Cumbria LEP, said: “It’s important that this site, which has excellent links with education and businesses in Barrow, can be used to deliver much needed new housing. That is why Cumbria LEP was pleased to invest £5.5 million from the Getting Building Fund to prepare Phase 1 for development.
“We look forward to seeing attractive new homes being built on the site to meet the needs of our residents, both now and in the future.”
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