 Project: Community Hubs – Earnse Bay
What’s happened so far: Community feedback has helped to shape plans for an outdoor centre at Earnse Bay, on Walney, to help connect people with nature and the outdoors
Community drop-in sessions were held to share evolving plans for a new community space focused on connecting people with nature and the outdoors.
Earnse Bay, on Walney Island, is set to become home to a new community space and beach school thanks to funding from the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal and Natural England via the National Lottery Heritage Fund and DEFRA capital funds.
The new development will aim to provide people of all ages with the opportunity to access the outdoors in a range of ways to lever long term benefits for their health and wellbeing as well as for sustainability and the environment.
After reviewing the original plans and feedback from residents, people were invited to find out more about the refined proposals for the location at drop-in sessions as well as being able to help shape a programme of taster activities and events ahead of and during the build.
The initial drop-in sessions were held on 18 and 19 July in North Scale Community Centre on Walney and at The Forum in Barrow.
Further sessions are planned for later in the Summer to provide a detailed update on the scheme following community input.
The site, which extends to 3.37 hectares and is bound by West Shore to the west, West Shore Park to the north and east and Cows Tarn Lane to the south, is owned by Westmorland and Furness Council.
It currently consists of grassland and scrub, with a redundant changing room building, and some bituminous hardstanding that is no longer in use.
The latest designs for the site – based upon extensive engagement with the local community and school children – will see the creation of a space focused on outdoor activities, free to access trails and an opportunity to camp overnight in a purpose built and sensitively-sited area. Feedback from the community is being sought to enable the project team to refine the latest designs before moving into the construction stages of the project.
A building constructed on the site will be used to provide facilities and a community space while a second space is proposed for a beach school, and a volunteer and operational hub for the Natural England team based at North Walney National Nature Reserve.
The Earnse Bay centre forms part of the Brilliant Barrow Community Hubs project.
The project includes three further hubs; Ormsgill, Bram Longstaffe, on Barrow Island, The Forum in Barrow’s town centre.
Each will aim to bring people together, ensuring they can easily access the services and support they need at all stages of their lives.
Project: Barrow Learning Quarter - The Sixth Form, Barrow
What’s happened so far: Phases 1 and 2 of work to provide state of the art facilities for students at the Rating Lane campus is complete. Phase 3 is due to complete this summer.
A transformation to provide state-of-the-art learning facilities for those studying a range of further education courses in Barrow is nearing completion.
The Sixth Form, Barrow, in the town's Rating Lane, has undergone a significant programme of works thanks to funding from the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal alongside a grant from the Government’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund and investment from Furness College.
Phase II of the multi-million pound programme provided refurbished teaching areas, new student wellbeing facilities, an upgraded science area with a specialist physics laboratory and a new textile room to add to the Centre of Excellence for Art and Design room in daily use.
In addition, improvements have been made to the heating, ventilation and electrical systems to upgrade the building’s energy efficiency.
Now, Phase III will provide the final reconfiguration of movement around the building to allow better circulation and improved access, a welcoming reception area as well as hot desk pods to offer flexible study and working and further flexible study spaces.
Further teaching facilities including a fully equipped physics laboratory as well as a new sound and lighting system in an upgraded theatre are complete.
Nicola Cove, Principal and CEO of Furness College and a member of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: “We know that a positive and inspiring learning environment is an incredibly important aspect of securing excellent outcomes for our students and we’re looking forward to the completion of the project as a whole this summer."
 The new physics lab.
The new sound and lighting system in the theatre.
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What is a Town Deal and other frequently asked questions
A Town Deal is an agreement between the Government and a local authority for an agreed amount of funding for regeneration.
101 towns across the country were invited to bid for a share of money from the Government’s Towns Fund. The maximum sum available for any one town was £25 million.
Barrow secured the full £25 million from the Towns Fund in 2022 for a Town Deal comprising eight significant projects designed to help the town to thrive for generations to come.
Who decided what the money should be spent on?
Projects put forward for funding had to meet strict criteria set by the Government to be considered.
A Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board was assembled to help decide which projects should be put forward as part of the bid for a Town Deal based on local need and the ability for each one to fit the criteria.
Who is responsible for delivering the projects?
Westmorland and Furness Council is the accountable body for the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, which means it is responsible for ensuring successful delivery and reporting to government. The council is also directly delivering five of the eight projects.
Partner organisations are leading on the delivery of a number of individual projects. These are:
Barrow Learning Quarter – Barrow Island University Campus;
Barrow Learning Quarter – Rating Lane Campus;
Business and Enterprise Support.
What is the role of the board?
The Brilliant Barrow Board has oversight of the programme and individual projects. It’s members meet regularly to ensure progress is being made and the projects will deliver the positive outputs and outcomes agreed as part of Barrow’s Town Deal.
Who is on the Brilliant Barrow Board?
The Brilliant Barrow Board is made up of representatives from public, private and third sector organisations - all operating within Barrow - to ensure a range of experiences and views are included.
Government-set criteria requires the board to be chaired by a private sector representative.
The board is currently chaired by Steve Cole, CIO and Operational Improvement Director at BAE Systems UK Ltd.
When will the projects be completed?
The projects are varied and of differing scale and complexity which means some are already underway while others are nearing the stage where construction will begin on site.
However, all of the projects will be completed by 2025.
Why are all of the projects located in Barrow instead of spreading them out across a wider area?
This is to meet the criteria set by the Government. All projects were required to be located within the boundaries of the town in question.
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Project: Place Project
What’s happened so far: A programme of free, fun events and activities has attracted more than 45,000 people to Barrow’s town centre since 2022, improving perceptions of the area and boosting the local economy
It’s almost here – Barrow’s popular Summer of Fun is set to take place once again throughout the school summer holidays to provide a range of free, family-friendly activities in the town centre.
The programme of events forms part of Brilliant Barrow’s Place Development project which aims to help promote the area as an inspirational place to live, work and visit – while boosting the local economy.
The summer line up will feature popular acts including The Bread and Butter Theatre Company , Astral Circus, the Fairly Famous Family, Matrix Circus, Gary Bridgens, Fairy Peaseblossom and Professor Pumpernickel in the recently upgraded amphitheatre at The Dock Museum or in the Town Square.
Previous events held in 2022 and 2023 have so far attracted more than 45,000 people to Barrow with both residents and visitors enjoying the line up of entertainment and activities.
Councillor Jonathan Brook, the Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Leader of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: “The success of the Summer of Fun and wider events programme for Barrow has been wonderful to watch and I am looking forward to seeing people spending and enjoying time in the town centre again this year.”
As well as the Summer of Fun, which will take place between July 24 and August 30, Barrow enjoys a thriving wider year-round events programme which includes annual favourites such as Dino Day, the Festival of Transport and the Soapbox Derby organised through partner organisations Barrow BID and BarrowFull.
Keep an eye on the Brilliant Barrow social media channels for more information.
Summer of Fun 2024 timetable
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Date
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Performance
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Location
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Time
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Wed 24 July
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Bread and Butter Theatre Company
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Fri 26 July
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Astral Circus
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Town Square
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11.30am and 2pm
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Wed 31 July
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Professor Pumpernickel
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Friday 2 August
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Fairy Peaseblossom
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Town Square
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11.30am and 2pm
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Wed 7 August
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Astral Circus
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Friday 9 August
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Fairly Famous Family
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Town Square
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11.30am and 2pm
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Wed 14 August
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Matrix Circus
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Friday 16 August
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Brilliant Barrow Victorian Promenade
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Town Square
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10am – 4pm
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Wed 21 August
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Gary Bridgens
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Friday 23 August
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Matrix Circus
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Town Square
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11.30am and 2pm
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Wed 28 August
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Fairly Famous Family
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The Dock Museum
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11.30am and 2pm
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Friday 30 August
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Bread and Butter Theatre Company
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Town Square
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11.30am and 2pm
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 Julie Mennell, Vice Chancellor at University Of Cumbria and Brilliant Barrow board member, visiting the Barrow campus site recently.
Project: Barrow Learning Quarter - University of Cumbria Campus
What’s happened so far: An official ceremony in November 2023 saw HRH The Princess Royal ‘break ground’ at the site on Barrow Island. Construction is now underway to create the dedicated building with teaching space for 1,400 students every year.
Construction is underway at the new University of Cumbria campus on Barrow Island.
The site was recently visited by University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL who spoke to the team from Caddick Construction Group and viewed progress.
Piling work has been completed and steelwork rising from the ground is now visible as the project moves forward.
Once completed, the campus building will deliver a range of degree-level programmes, helping to attract and retain talented graduates with higher-level skills that are vital for the area now and for generations to come.
Brilliant Barrow is a Government Town Deal which is being delivered by Westmorland and Furness Council in partnership with the University of Cumbria, Furness College and Natural England.
The Brilliant Barrow Board is made up of representatives from public, private and third sector organisations which operate in or have an interest in Barrow.
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Meet the Board!
Councillor Jonathan Brook is the Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council and Deputy Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Board. He is the first to take part in the Brilliant Barrow Newsletter quick Q&A series.
How long have you been on the Brilliant Barrow Board?
Since the creation of the new Westmorland and Furness Council in May 2023
Which organisation or business do you represent?
I represent Westmorland and Furness Council on the Board.
What is your favourite thing about Barrow?
There are so many different places to discover.
What opportunities will the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal secure for the area?
These are really exciting times! I see so many opportunities, including the Earnse Bay Hub, The Learning Quarter, Marina Village and improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure.
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If you have been forwarded this newsletter, you can make sure you receive future editions by subscribing through the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
All you need to do is click on the link, enter your email and tick the Brilliant Barrow box under "Environment, economy and infrastructure.".
You can also visit the website; www.brilliantbarrow.org.uk and follow our social media channels.
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