The reprieve for Barrow’s Debenhams store should be used to boost plans to transform the town centre.

That is the verdict of Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock, who also stressed the importance of the Marin Village development on Barrow’s waterfront, in a boost to significantly increase the town’s centres footfall.

Barrow Business Improvement District are leading the charge to revitalise the town centre, which was recently rocked by the announcement that Marks and Spencer is to shut up shop.

For Mr Woodcock, the decision by fellow high street retailer Debenhams not to include the Barrow in its nationwide 22-store closure programme presented an opportunity.

“It is a huge relief that we will be keeping Debenhams as one of the anchor stores in the town,” he said.

“There has been a cloud hanging over the Barrow store for a long, long time.

“We need to use this fillip of good news to give an extra boost to the work we need to do to transform the town centre – but on the understanding that the future of town centres are not going to be as focused on the big anchor stores in the way that they have been in the past. 

“If we can change our focus and lift the area up, we give those anchors all the more reason to stay long into the future.”

Mr Woodcock also highlighted the importance of the Marina Village development, which could see hundreds of homes built on vacant land on the town’s waterfront.

The development’s key role in helping to attract and retain workers at BAE Systems as it delivers the £31 billion Dreadnought programme, was recently recognised by defence secretary Gavin Williams.

A significant by-product of the ambitious scheme would be a significant increase in town centre users, said Mr Woodcock.

He said: “BAE says, ‘look, the perception of the town centre is a problem in recruiting’, and yet there is not the degree and range of quality accommodation which is needed. 

“That is why I’ve been delighted to get Marina Village out of the deep freeze, and we’re now working with Homes England on a plan to realise it. 

“It is a development that could house a great number of the BAE workforce, and within walking distance of the town centre. It will lift the whole place up.

“I’ve also been lobbying the defence secretary on this, because while the Ministry of Defence doesn’t get involved in town centre regeneration, there is a big strategic win for helping us develop it.

“They, along with BAE and other government departments need to be prioritising the town centre improvements in Barrow as a way of unlocking greater productivity. It would be a win win situation.”