First Look At £22.9m Plans For New Theatre, Homes And Shops In Barrow

​Early plans for a £22.9m transformation of Barrow town centre include new homes, retail space, cultural facilities and improved public areas.

The Heart of Barrow vision has been developed by Team Barrow, a partnership involving the Government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems. The proposals represent the first phase of a much larger regeneration programme expected to take place over the next decade. Initial concepts have now been presented to the public, with residents invited to examine the ideas and provide feedback before more detailed designs are developed.

The early proposals include a mixed use development featuring several different areas and buildings designed to accommodate residential, commercial, cultural and community uses. The plans currently identify 275 residential units alongside a hotel and a dedicated cultural quarter. The intention is to make greater use of vacant town centre sites and areas that become available following demolition, helping to reshape the centre while the longer term development programme progresses.

Commercial space covering approximately 4,500 square metres is included within the initial proposals. A new theatre measuring around 1,500 square metres is also shown, alongside a 900 square metre market and additional car parking. The plans are intended to create a combination of spaces that can support retail, entertainment, cultural activity and everyday town centre uses rather than focusing on a single type of development.

Health and education facilities are also incorporated into the early concept. Some of these buildings could include residential accommodation above the facilities, creating a more integrated mixed use environment within the town centre. The proposals remain at an early stage, meaning the exact form, layout and uses of individual buildings could change as architects develop the plans and feedback is gathered from residents, businesses and other local stakeholders.

Team Barrow has committed an initial £22.9m from the Barrow Transformation Fund towards the first phase of the project. Additional phase one funding includes £10.91m from the Local Regeneration Fund and £1.56m from Westmorland and Furness Council. The investment is also intended to support the appointment of a development partner and the acquisition and demolition of properties required to prepare sites for future construction.

The proposals include a dedicated cultural quarter and a new theatre as part of the longer term vision for Barrow. The future theatre is significant because the existing Forum theatre has been closed since July 2024. The plans therefore place arts and cultural facilities within the wider regeneration programme, although the exact arrangements for a replacement venue have yet to be finalised.

Lord Simon Case, chair of Team Barrow, said the partnership understood the concerns surrounding the future of the Forum and the need for a replacement theatre. He said arts and culture would need to form an important part of future town centre plans. Team Barrow has previously stated that it has ambitions for a new theatre but is still considering the options for how such a facility could be delivered.

The proposals are not yet final designs and are expected to change as the public consultation develops. Residents are being encouraged to identify elements they support, areas they believe need improvement and facilities they think are missing. People can also complete a questionnaire and suggest a name for the proposed market village, providing an opportunity for local views to influence aspects of the developing scheme.

A temporary event space is another part of the initial programme. The concept is intended to provide a flexible venue for events and activities while the wider regeneration work takes place, with the proposal drawing comparisons with temporary event spaces used during major cultural festivals. A new market village is also planned, alongside improvements to public areas around Barrow Town Hall.

Further work is proposed for the town hall itself, together with lighting and arts activity across the town centre. These measures are intended to improve the appearance and use of public spaces while the larger construction programme is being prepared. The approach allows some improvements and temporary facilities to be introduced before the full regeneration scheme is completed.

The wider project could take up to 10 years to deliver, with an interim programme expected to begin from next year. This means some elements of the vision could appear in the town centre before the major redevelopment is complete. The programme is designed to make use of vacant spaces and sites cleared through demolition during the transition towards the longer term plans.

Demolition of the Forum and Market Hall is not expected to take place until a masterplan has been presented to the public and feedback has been considered. The Forum has remained closed for more than two years, while the indoor market was also closed after the council raised health and safety concerns. Market traders were subsequently moved into temporary containers while longer term arrangements for the town centre are developed.

The future of the Forum has generated public discussion, with Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham previously calling for greater clarity over plans for a professional standard replacement theatre. Her comments reflected concerns about the length of time the existing theatre has been unavailable and the importance of a clear cultural facility within the town. Team Barrow has responded by confirming that a new theatre remains part of its ambition while stressing that options are still being explored.

The Walney Theatre Group has also sought assurances about the future of theatre provision in Barrow. The group is among those interested in the cultural element of the town centre plans, while the wider proposals also include opportunities for businesses, community activity and educational facilities. Public feedback is expected to form part of the process of deciding how these different uses are incorporated into the developing masterplan.

Enabling work is scheduled to begin towards the end of this year, subject to the necessary preparations and approvals. If planning permission is secured, demolition is expected to begin by early 2028, with construction potentially starting later in 2028 or during early 2029. The current programme indicates that the full project could be completed by 2035, although the timetable remains dependent on planning, funding, procurement and development decisions.

The £22.9m investment represents the first phase of the wider Heart of Barrow programme rather than the total cost of every element included in the long term vision. The proposed theatre, homes, retail units, market facilities, public spaces and parking form part of an ambition to create a substantially different town centre over the coming years. The initial concepts will now be considered alongside feedback from residents, businesses and community organisations.

Public exhibitions are being used to give residents an opportunity to view the proposals directly and speak with architects and senior representatives involved in the project. The first event is being held at Barrow Town Hall, while a further exhibition is scheduled at The Bridge on Portland Walk. The consultation process is intended to gather local views before the plans move towards more detailed development and formal planning stages.

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