URL: https://westmorlandandfurness.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=134

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: To approve a Strategic Outline Business Case for Barrow Town Centre, and to consider this within the context of the Plan for Barrow

Content: The Leader presented a report which sought approval to progress the development of an Outline Business Case for a transformational ‘Heart of Barrow’ town centre regeneration initiative, using funding from the Barrow Transformation Fund, following a recommendation from the Barrow Delivery Board in May. As outlined in the report, this represented a significant decision for Cabinet, with implications for the current Barrow Market Hall, project that was being delivered. Cabinet considered the progress of the Plan for Barrow and agreed to act as Accountable Body for the funding associated with the Barrow Delivery Board in January 2025. Since then, the Plan for Barrow had been agreed, setting out how Team Barrow and its partners would support Barrow’s critical role in enabling and sustaining delivery of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, as well as ensuring that Barrow and the wider Furness area, was a place where people choose to live, work and thrive. Regeneration of the town centre, was key to delivering the Plan for Barrow.  At a special meeting in May, the Barrow Delivery Board universally accepted the strategic case for a transformational scheme for Barrow town centre, including use of the Barrow Transformation Fund.  The Board also recommended that the current regeneration of Barrow Market Hall, be stopped to allow further investigation of this new opportunity. This report outlined there were significant risks associated with this, that needed to be considered, given the early concept stage of the proposed ‘Heart of Barrow’ scheme.  However, in light of Barrow’s changing economic context and the significant extra funding now available through Team Barrow, which would be in addition to the funding already committed by government for the current town centre works, this meant there was now a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a more ambitious and transformational scheme for the ‘Heart of Barrow’. The design and the development of the alternative scheme would be done with, and alongside with, the community, to ensure it was delivered against residents’ needs and wishes.  The vision was that the new scheme would comprise a culture-led, mixed-use scheme, supporting place-making and a strong town centre identity, as well as unlocking private sector investment. The five recommendations in the report all related to seeking agreement for the Council to support the development of the ‘Heart of Barrow’ scheme, and to make the decision not to proceed with the current Barrow Market Hall project.  In doing this, Cabinet would be supporting the Plan for Barrow, enabling lasting change for the benefit of its communities, in line with the expressed wishes of the Barrow members. The Leader moved the recommendations. The Cabinet Member for Finance seconded the recommendations and supported the need for regeneration of the town, which had currently not got the sense of community and place that it deserved.  The funding provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for change in Barrow.  There was strong support from the elected members in Barrow and Cabinet should listen to this.  All of the Cabinet members supported the recommendations which were then put to a unanimous vote. RESOLVED,     that Cabinet (1)      agrees to commence the development of an Outline Business Case in respect of a transformational scheme for Barrow town centre in line with the Heart of Barrow draft Strategic Outline Business Case accepted by the Barrow Delivery Board on 12 May 2025; (2)      agrees to allocate (on receipt of the funding) £970,000 from the Barrow Transformation Fund for the development of the Heart of Barrow Outline Business Case(s) as recommended by the Barrow Delivery Board; (3)      agrees to accept £970,000 from the Barrow Transformation Fund and delegate the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Thriving Communities the authority to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Heart of Barrow Outline Business Case(s); (4)      agrees not to proceed to award the stage 2 contract for the Barrow Market Hall project; (5)      further to discussion with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (“MHCLG”), to authorise the Director of Thriving Communities, in consultation with the Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer), and Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer, to seek to amend the Memorandum of Understanding in respect of the Levelling Up Funding (February 2022) or enter into such further agreements with MHCLG as necessary to give effect to the recommendation 2.1 and 2.3 above.

Date of Decision: June 3, 2025