BARROW'S long-awaited Marina Village has been placed squarely back in the spotlight.

The council plan to meet next month to get the ball rolling again on the development which is now 16 years in the making.

Questions were raised over the site's progression, between Salthouse Road and Vulcan Road, last month by Barrow councillor Alan Pemberton, who asked where the council is with the project and when it is expected to come to fruition.

Barrow council's assistant director of development Steve Solsby revealed there has been considerable interest from developers, which was further discussed at a pre-agenda meeting yesterday.

Mr Solsby said: "We've had developer interest in the site.

"The site represents a complex development prospect, but it offers significant and considerable benefits for Barrow, not least among these is the waterfront housing opportunity and the potential to enhance the existing housing offer in the town.

"The site is of a size and location that would usually appeal to housebuilders and developers and enable them to set the tone and quality of development to appeal to potential purchasers.

"We've now created an updated Masterplan and Framework for the first time since 2006.

"98 percent of the land is now in council ownership, which is allocated for residential development.

"The council has therefore been working with two consultants - WYG and LSH - for the last 18 months to produce a Development Framework with a clear focus on delivery rather than a prescriptive plan."

The site is of a size and location that would usually appeal to housebuilders and developers and enable them to set the tone and quality of development to appeal to potential purchasers.

Mr Solsby stated development could conclude by mid-2021, which could tie-in with defence giant BAE Systems' HMS Dreadnought and provide housing for the programme's proposed 4,200 staff.

The development process' next stage is an Executive Committee meeting, on September 4.