Barrow town centre regeneration plans set to be showcased at two-day public event
Residents can help shape plans for a major transformation of Barrow town centre through a free public event.
The Heart of Barrow project will be presented during a two-day engagement event, giving members of the public an opportunity to see proposals and speak directly with people involved in developing the scheme. The programme will focus on plans for a new market village, temporary event and theatre space, improvements around Barrow Town Hall and a wider programme of arts, culture and live entertainment.
The first part of the event will take place at Barrow Town Hall from 11am until 7pm on Friday, October 2. The showcase will then move to The Bridge on Portland Walk, where the second day will run from 10am until 3pm on Saturday, October 3.
Visitors will be able to attend panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions throughout the two days. Sessions are scheduled for 1pm and 6pm on Friday, followed by further sessions at 11.30am and 2pm on Saturday, providing opportunities for people to ask questions about the proposals and their potential impact on the town centre.
Architects and senior representatives involved with the regeneration programme will be available during the event, allowing residents to discuss the proposals and ask questions about the future direction of the town centre. A proposed new venue for Barrow will also form part of the discussions, alongside wider regeneration plans being developed by local businesses and the University of Cumbria.
Members of the public will also be invited to complete a questionnaire during the event, giving them an opportunity to comment on the proposals and put forward suggestions. One element of the consultation will allow people to suggest a name for the proposed market village, giving the community a direct role in shaping part of the emerging plans.
The regeneration programme has been backed by an initial £22.9m allocation from the Barrow Transformation Fund. The funding was agreed by Team Barrow, a partnership involving the Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems, and is intended to support the first phase of the wider Heart of Barrow programme.
More than half of that initial funding is planned to support arts, culture and entertainment. The proposals include a large temporary event space intended to provide a venue for performances and activities, with the concept described as being similar to temporary spaces used during the Edinburgh Fringe. The plans also include a new market village and improvements to public areas surrounding the town hall.
Further improvements are planned for the town hall itself, alongside lighting and arts projects intended to enhance the wider town centre. Vacant premises and sites created through demolition are expected to be used as part of the interim programme, helping provide activity and new uses while the longer-term redevelopment is progressed.
The longer-term vision extends beyond the first phase, with ambitions including a new theatre, homes, retail units and car parking. The redevelopment is expected to take place over several years, with an interim programme due to begin from next year while work continues on the wider masterplan and future development arrangements.
The future of the Forum and indoor Market Hall is also closely linked to the regeneration plans. Westmorland and Furness Council has said demolition of the buildings will only take place after a masterplan has been shared with the public for feedback, while the Forum theatre has remained closed since July 2024.
Questions about a replacement theatre have been a significant part of the public discussion surrounding the town centre’s future. Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham has previously called for a guaranteed professional-standard replacement, while Team Barrow has said it has ambitions for a new theatre but is continuing to explore the available options.
The programme has also attracted comments from Lord Simon Case, chair of Team Barrow, who said the partnership was aware of concerns about the lack of a definitive answer on a Forum replacement. He said arts and culture would be central to the future plans, while Walney Theatre Group has also called for guarantees concerning the town’s future theatre provision.
The existing indoor market has also been affected by the wider redevelopment process. Traders were told the Market Hall needed to close on health and safety grounds and were subsequently moved into temporary containers, with the regeneration programme intended to provide a longer-term approach to the town centre’s commercial and public spaces.
Enabling work for the wider project is expected to begin towards the end of this year. Subject to planning permission, demolition could begin by early 2028, construction could follow later in 2028 or during early 2029, and the full regeneration programme is currently expected to be completed by 2035.
The £22.9m investment will also support the appointment of a development partner and allow progress to be made on acquiring and demolishing properties needed for the future scheme. Additional phase-one funding includes £10.91m from the Local Regeneration Fund and £1.56m from Westmorland and Furness Council, adding to the resources available for the initial stage of the transformation.
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