The team responsible for overseeing the transformation of Barrow has set out its high-level strategic plan for the town.
Team Barrow, a partnership between central Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems, will help regenerate the town, revitalising Barrow and Furness as a place where people choose to live, work and thrive.
Barrow is critical to the UK’s national security, so in recognition of the town’s vital role in designing and building Royal Navy submarines, Team Barrow will receive more than £200 million of Government investment.
BAE Systems, which already employs more than 14,500 people, needs to grow its workforce to enable delivery of the Astute, Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarine programmes.
The Plan for Barrow describes how it will support this, as well as diversify and strengthen the town’s economy and increase productivity, by delivering improvements to housing and the town centre, businesses and the local economy, education and skills, health and communities, and transport.
Local Growth Minister Alex Norris said: “Visiting Barrow last year I saw the huge impact Team Barrow is having in revitalising, strengthening and supporting the community. Establishing a new independent board is a vital step in ensuring every penny of the government’s £200 million funding is well spent, and I urge the community to get involved in having their say in shaping Barrow.
“All local leaders have a part to play in our Plan for Change and Barrow plays a crucial role in our national security, I look forward to working with the Board to make sure the people of Barrow benefit from this investment and renewed partnership.”
Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham is a member of the board responsible for managing and overseeing the £200m fund, along with the leader and chief executive of Westmorland and Furness Council, and Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines.
She said: “It is great to see these plans moving forward at pace, and to see projects already getting underway. This is a massive opportunity for our whole area with the aim of delivering growth for our town and making it an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. These plans will help us build vibrant local communities through improvements to transport infrastructure, housing, education, health and wellbeing, and developing local facilities.
“It is important that we get this right, and I have always said that means involving local people in the process at every stage. I am really pleased that has been understood and that engagement and conversations with local people are at the centre of this plan and being made a priority from the very start.”
Phil Drane, Team Barrow Programme Director, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the town. Its regeneration is already underway, with projects such as the Marina Village and new university campus providing solid foundations for us to build upon.
“It’s a really exciting time for our town and our community and we want to work side-by-side with them to understand what matters most, to ensure their views influence our decision-making and inform the design and delivery of our work.”
