A GROUP of projects worth £25 million and aimed at securing a 'bright and transformative' future for Barrow has been agreed by the council.

The set of seven schemes encompasses housing renewal, cycling infrastructure and a university campus.

The cash injection came from the Government's 'Town Deal' initiative, which was launched in 2019 and formed part of its levelling-up agenda.

And the projects that it will support in Barrow have now been given final approval by the borough council's executive committee.

Summaries will be submitted to the Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in order to unlock the scheduled funding.

"The work involved in getting the business cases to such an advanced and detailed stage has been a marathon effort by a great number of people," said Cllr Ann Thomson, leader of the borough council.

"We want to move these excellent schemes forward to unlock the huge benefits they have the potential to bring to our communities for years to come.”

The schemes, which make up the Brilliant Barrow initiative, the board of which comprises different organisations and groups in the town, are:

  • The creation of a University of Cumbria campus on Barrow Island and further education provision at Furness College's Rating Lane site.
  • The development of wellbeing 'hubs' in the town centre, in Ormsgill and on Barrow Island to provide families with support. An outdoor hub and learning centre will also be developed at Earnse Bay.
  • A project to develop locations for events, festivals and cultural activities in the town.
  • A programme of housing renewal focused on Barrow Island and Rawlinson Street that will include making homes more energy efficient.
  • A project aiming to develop a 'supportive' business environment in Barrow to boost the town's enterprise.
  • A remediation scheme to prepare a brownfield site to the south of Salthouse Road for private sector delivery of homes as part of the Marina Village project.
  • The creation of dedicated walking and cycling routes in the town

Steve Cole, Brilliant Barrow board chairman, said: "Each of the seven projects has something hugely valuable to provide for the community of Barrow for a long time to come."