Barrow residents invited to help shape future of town centre
Residents and businesses can help shape Barrow town centre’s future during a two-day event showcasing plans for major regeneration.
The Heart of Barrow project will be presented to the public during events at Barrow Town Hall and The Bridge on Portland Walk. The sessions are designed to give residents, businesses and visitors an opportunity to see how the town centre could change over the coming years. People will also be able to speak directly with members of the project team, architects and senior representatives involved in developing the proposals.
The first event will take place at Barrow Town Hall from 11am until 7pm, followed by a second session at The Bridge on Portland Walk from 10am until 3pm. Both events are free to attend and are intended to provide an opportunity for people to learn more about the proposals before the plans progress further. Organisers are encouraging people to attend, ask questions and provide feedback on the emerging vision for the town centre.
Panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions will form part of the programme across the two days. On Friday, sessions are scheduled for 1pm and 6pm, while Saturday will include discussions at 11.30am and 2pm. These sessions will give members of the public the opportunity to raise questions directly with those involved in the project and hear more about the challenges, opportunities and potential next steps for the regeneration programme.
The plans include a proposed new market village, a temporary event and theatre space, improvements around Barrow Town Hall and a programme of live events. The proposals are intended to make use of vacant town-centre space and areas that become available following demolition, providing activities and facilities while the longer-term redevelopment takes shape. Further plans include improvements to public spaces, lighting and arts provision across the town centre.
A questionnaire will also be available as part of the engagement process, allowing people to comment on the proposals and contribute suggestions for the name of the proposed market village. This gives residents another opportunity to provide feedback, particularly for those who may not be able to attend every discussion or presentation during the two-day event. Responses will form part of the wider engagement around the emerging Heart of Barrow plans.
The wider programme is being delivered through Team Barrow, a partnership involving the Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems. The partnership has agreed an initial £22.9 million allocation from the Barrow Transformation Fund for the first phase of the Heart of Barrow programme. More than half of that funding is planned to support arts, culture and entertainment activity as part of the town centre transformation.
The first phase is intended to support the town while the wider long-term scheme is developed and delivered. An interim programme is expected to begin next year, with the overall transformation potentially taking up to a decade. The longer-term ambition includes a new theatre, homes, retail space and car parking, alongside improvements to the wider town-centre environment.
The future of the Forum site and the indoor Market Hall is also closely connected to the regeneration plans. The existing Forum theatre has remained closed since July 2024, while traders from the indoor market were moved into temporary facilities after the market building was closed on health and safety grounds. Demolition of the Forum and Market Hall is planned only after a masterplan has been presented to the public and feedback has been considered.
The question of a replacement theatre has been an important part of the public discussion surrounding the town centre’s future. Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham has previously called for greater clarity over the plans for a replacement venue, while Team Barrow has said it has an ambition to deliver a new theatre but is continuing to explore the available options. Lord Simon Case, chair of Team Barrow, has also said arts and culture should remain central to the future town-centre plans.
The regeneration programme is also expected to involve investment and activity from businesses and organisations including the University of Cumbria. The public engagement event will provide information about these wider plans alongside the Heart of Barrow proposals, giving visitors an opportunity to understand how different projects could contribute to the changing town centre and its future role for residents, businesses, students and visitors.
Enabling work for the transformation is expected to begin towards the end of this year, with the timetable dependent on planning and other necessary approvals. Subject to planning permission, demolition is expected to begin by early 2028, followed by construction later that year or in early 2029. The current programme anticipates completion of the full project by 2035, although individual elements will be delivered at different stages.
The £22.9 million first-phase investment is also intended to support the appointment of a development partner and progress the acquisition and demolition of properties required for the wider scheme. Additional phase-one funding includes £10.91 million from the Local Regeneration Fund and £1.56 million from Westmorland and Furness Council. Together, the funding is intended to help move the programme from planning and engagement towards delivery.
The upcoming public events therefore provide an opportunity for people in Barrow to see the proposals, question those responsible for developing them and give feedback before further stages of the regeneration programme progress. The engagement is part of the wider process of developing the town-centre masterplan and determining how temporary facilities, cultural activity and longer-term redevelopment can work together as the transformation moves forward.
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