£200m Barrow regeneration project draft plan put forward
A £200m Barrow regeneration project described as ‘an opportunity to break the historical cycle boom and bust’ has taken a step forward.
Westmorland and Furness Council agreed to approve the draft delivery plan for the Barrow Transformation Fund.
Council leader Jonathan Brook called the fund an 'innovative approach' that is 'designed to drive forward the growth and prosperity of Barrow'.
The Liberal Democrat added the plans were a 'great opportunity for Barrow to become an exemplar in terms of further regeneration'.
Cllr Brook said the fund had a 'significant agenda' that covers the three core areas of the town centre and housing, creating conditions for growth and the reformation of public services.
This would include policies such as 'improving the availability of high-quality housing', ‘making Barrow a great place to invest in and do business in’ and the creation of ‘a new social contract for health creation between providers, local people and the voluntary and community sector (VCS)’.
The Barrow Transformation Fund is worth £200m and is aimed to towards the regeneration of the town.
According to the meeting agenda, the fund is 'most significant of several funding streams of which the Council is in receipt under the ‘Team Barrow’ umbrella'.
Team Barrow is a public-private partnership between Westmorland and Furness Council, BAE Systems and central government.
Although the plan enjoyed universal support from the cabinet members, both deputy leader Andrew Jarvis and Cllr Giles Archibald offered some minor criticism that the plans were 'a bit light in terms of the environment'.
Cllr Helen Chaffey said: "The Barrow project is of national significance and importance.
"It really is an opportunity to break the historical cycle boom and bust."
Cllr Peter Thornton said it was important all Barrovians felt the improvements made by the fund.
He said: "We are the body who have responsibility for the people of Barrow, especially the people who don’t work in the shipyards, who feel marginalised."
The councillor added that it was important that council remained 'focused' on the people and were not 'pulled into the agendas of the other partners'.
The plan awaits final approval from the Team Barrow Board on November 13.