In 2020, Barrow was one of 101 towns selected to submit a proposal for up to £25m of funding from the Government’s £3.6bn Towns Fund.

The bid was successful and Barrow became one of the first towns in the country to secure the maximum possible grant to enable seven exciting projects to be delivered.

The vision is to “To build on our economic strengths, rich industrial heritage, natural beauty and sense of community to develop a town that is economically dynamic and diverse, sitting at the forefront of innovation and green growth, viewed as a great place to live, study, work and visit and home to a healthy population that can deliver a prosperous, inclusive and fair future

The Barrow Town Deal Board was formed to champion future growth and investment in Barrow and oversee the eight projects, which are now under way. We estimate that there will be £4.40 in additional benefits for every £1 of Towns Fund investment.

The programme includes the ambitious Learning Quarter, which is creating more opportunities for people in Barrow and the surrounding areas to access further and higher education, closely aligned with the needs of local employers, improving job prospects in Barrow and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses.

It will see more than 1,400 places created for students at a new University of Cumbria campus on Barrow Island along with a further 300 at an expanded and upgraded facility at Furness College’s Rating Lane site; The Sixth Form.

Now, Westmorland and Furness Council is leading the work to deliver each of the projects to ensure Barrow thrives as a great place to live, work and visit for generations to come.

Meanwhile, Barrow Town Centre Regeneration Scheme is also under way, funded by £16 million from the Government’s £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund.

The money will be used to help regenerate the centre of the town, increasing footfall, helping to increase the amount of time people spend in the area and improving local transport links.

The ambitious project is seeing the Barrow Market Hall reimagined, creating instead an exciting destination for shopping and experiences with independent traders and local food producers at its heart.

Outside there will be a new look exterior with a shared, all access entrance to the Market Hall and its neighbouring building, arts and entertainment venue The Forum, with improvements to the public realm and transport infrastructure for better connectivity with residential areas as well as for people travelling from further afield.

Barrow is also an Arts Council Priority Place and a concert in January marked the start of a innovative three-year partnership between the town and the Liverpool Philharmonic, which will produce a series of concerts, community events, music-making projects and educational activities that will give more people the opportunity to enjoy live orchestral music in their local community.

These are just some examples of major government funded programmes already in place, dovetailing and supporting the new Team Barrow focus on the town.

Things are looking up in Barrow and the wider Westmorland and Furness area. There has never been a better time to talk to us about the opportunities coming up.

Find out more about Brilliant Barrow and Barrow Town Centre Regeneration Scheme here: https://brilliantbarrow.org.uk/

Get in touch to arrange a conversation at UKREiiF: [email protected]