New multi-million-pound university campus in Barrow-in-Furness

This week, the University of Cumbria proudly celebrates the grand opening of its brand-new Barrow campus, a landmark moment that officially establishes Barrow as a university town for the first time. Located in an area historically marked by low participation in higher education, the new campus represents a significant step forward in expanding access and aspiration for the region.

Symbolising nearly a decade of ambition and collaboration, the new campus located on Buccleuch Dock Road, within the soon to be Royal Port, is the largest of the projects under the UK Government-backed Brilliant Barrow Town Deal. It brings to life a shared vision for Barrow that dates back to 2016.

The two-story building features a curved, submarine-inspired roofline, adaptable specialist teaching spaces, green infrastructure, and welcoming social areas. The campus brings higher education within reach for local students who have long had to travel to access degree-level study, creating much more accessible route for those in the region. Developed in collaboration with BAE Systems, Westmorland & Furness Council, Furness College as well as local businesses and organisations, the campus reflects a shared commitment to education, innovation, and regional development.

University of Cumbria’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian Webster-Henderson OBE, said “The opening of our Barrow campus marks a transformative moment for both the University of Cumbria and the town itself. It is the result of nearly a decade of collaboration, vision, and belief in Barrow’s potential. This development directly supports our T2030 strategy, focusing on place, people, and partnership, by expanding access to higher education, nurturing local talent, and strengthening ties with industry and community. Barrow is now a university town, and that unlocks new possibilities for regional growth, national resilience, and lifelong opportunity.”

The education provision delivered through the campus responds directly to the region’s growing demand for skills in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. They have been co-designed with employers including the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust and BAE Systems to meet regional workforce needs.

Janet Garner, Future Workforce Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to be playing a key role in bringing the University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus to life. This investment in local education is vital to ensuring we have a pipeline of skilled, ambitious individuals ready to take on the advanced manufacturing and national security challenges of the future. By working hand-in-hand with education providers and the wider community, we are helping to create opportunities that not only support our business but also deliver lasting social and economic impact for Barrow and the wider region.”

Beyond its regional importance, the campus plays a critical role in advancing the UK’s broader national priorities. Backed by the Government’s £220 million “Team Barrow” initiative, a 10-year plan aimed at transformative infrastructure investment, Barrow has been hailed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “a blueprint” for how defence spending can fuel economic growth and empower hardworking communities across the country, as the UK vows to spend 5% of GDP on national security by 2035.

In close partnership with key stakeholders such as BAE Systems, the University of Cumbria is helping to cultivate a highly skilled workforce vital to the UK’s infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and defence sectors. By aligning academic programmes with the evolving needs of industry, the campus strengthens national resilience and ensures the UK remains equipped to meet future challenges in areas like national security. In doing so, it firmly positions Barrow as a strategic centre of talent, innovation, and long-term economic impact on a national scale.

Lord Case, Chair for the Team Barrow Delivery Board, said: “The opening of the University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus is a truly defining moment for the town. It not only strengthens local education and skills provision, but also underpins our wider priorities, from housing and transport to health and community wellbeing. This is a landmark in Barrow’s transformation into a vibrant, university-anchored town where people choose to live, work and thrive. More than that, it stands as a blueprint for how place-based partnerships can deliver real, lasting impact, showcasing how towns like Barrow can help shape a stronger and more resilient future for the nation.”

Steve Cole, Chair of Brilliant Barrow board, said: “The opening of the University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus marks a major milestone for Brilliant Barrow and is the single biggest project within our Town Deal programme. It embodies the ambition at the heart of our vision, to invest in people, place and potential. This campus will not only expand access to higher education for local people, but also support the skills and innovation needed to power Barrow’s future. It stands as a powerful symbol of what’s possible when local communities, government, and industry work together to drive meaningful change.”

The development also plays an important role in supporting the NHS 10-Year Plan, particularly in addressing workforce challenges and strengthening healthcare delivery. The campus contributes to the expansion of training routes and placements to meet the rising demand for NHS staff and the changes in how the NHS will offer its care over the coming years. Additionally, the campus helps tackle higher education inequality by serving the underserved area, broadening access to healthcare education and supporting regional regeneration.