£16.66 Million Funding Approved To Overhaul Barrow Housing
Westmorland and Furness Council has approved £16.66 million in funding to support major housing improvements and accelerate new home delivery in Barrow.
The investment forms part of Team Barrow’s £200 million Transformation Fund and is intended to respond to the growing demand for housing linked to major industrial and defence developments in the town. The funding package will support both new construction and efforts to improve the condition of existing properties.
Around £11.38 million has been allocated towards the delivery of 1,350 homes at Marina Village, off Salthouse Road. The planned development will also include a nature conservation area and new public spaces, adding wider community benefits alongside the housing provision.
A further £2.56 million has been set aside to respond to exceptional opportunities connected with the operations of BAE Systems. The allocation is intended to help address housing requirements associated with the company's continuing expansion and the wider growth of employment in the area.
Another £2.71 million will be used to strengthen housing enforcement activity across Barrow. The funding will support additional enforcement officers who will focus on tackling poor quality accommodation and helping bring long term empty properties back into use.
The council's cabinet approved the proposals following a meeting in Ulverston. The investment reflects growing pressure on the local housing market as Barrow prepares for significant employment and population growth connected with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and BAE Systems.
Councillor Judith Derbyshire, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said housing was one of the most critical challenges facing Barrow. She said the town needed suitable homes to be delivered at the right pace and in appropriate locations if it was to attract and retain the workforce required to support future economic growth.
The funding will also establish an accelerated housing delivery team. This team will provide specialist expertise in areas including planning, highways and ecology, with the aim of removing delays and helping housing schemes progress more efficiently through the development process.
Improving housing standards was also highlighted as an important part of the investment. Councillor Derbyshire said she had previously heard concerns from Barrow councillors about the condition of housing and the need to ensure local residents benefit from the improvements taking place across the town.
She said some housing in Barrow performed particularly poorly under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Properties falling into the highest hazard category were reported to be present at twice the national level, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the council.
Deputy leader Councillor Andrew Jarvis said thousands of additional homes would be needed in Barrow over the next decade. He described the scale of demand as challenging but stressed that the need for new housing was pressing and that homes were required as soon as possible.
Councillor Peter Thornton, cabinet member for highways and ICT, also raised concerns about older tenement buildings, particularly on Barrow Island. He said the council did not currently have sufficient resources to address the issue fully and indicated that the £2.71 million allocated for enforcement would only begin to address the wider problem.
During the meeting, Labour group deputy leader Councillor Beverly Morgan sought reassurance that the funding would lead to faster delivery. She asked whether Marina Village, housing connected with BAE Systems and improvements to housing standards would all be progressed quickly without unnecessary bureaucracy.
She also questioned whether the additional officers funded through the scheme would remain focused on the specific recommendations and be based in Barrow rather than being absorbed into wider housing responsibilities across Westmorland and Furness.
Councillor Derbyshire said she would provide further confirmation regarding the staffing arrangements. The proposals were subsequently approved unanimously by the council's cabinet, allowing work to proceed on the housing measures supported by the funding package.
The investment comes as Barrow faces significant long term housing pressures alongside major economic development. The council's decision is intended to increase the supply of homes, improve existing properties and strengthen the systems needed to support sustainable growth across the town.
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