BAE Systems ‘Project Spartan’ among approved in Cumbria
Westmorland and Furness Council decided on the outcomes of an engineering facility in Barrow and the restoration of a listed hotel in Grange-over-Sands on Thursday.
BAE Systems ‘Project Spartan’
An application for the construction of an engineering facility at BAE Systems’s Barrow-in-Furness shipyard has been approved.
The development and its subsequent production output, known as ‘Project Spartan’, will require the construction of a five-storey building on the nuclear licensed Devonshire Dock Complex.
Across three acres, the facility will provide engineering floorspace and space for research and development.
According to planning documents, the project aims to “support and safeguard” the future of the UK’s ‘Dreadnaught’ submarine production, which is based out of Barrow.
Crew accommodation, an atrium, collaboration space, and a café will also be developed.
The gross internal area of 250,000 sq ft will accommodate a maximum 750 employees.
The proposed building will be 22 metres tall and arranged in an ‘H shape’.
The project’s manager, David Nicholl, said: “Project Spartan facilitates the relocation of existing BAE staff working in aged BAE Systems facilities across Barrow.
“This will allow these older facilities to then be renovated, upgrade and eventually repurposed for other operations necessary to deliver and complete future submarine programmes.”
He added: “Project Spartan is an important facility that has been designed to improve the efficiency and capability of BAE staff and operations and will consequently support and safeguard the future of the UK’s submarine production.”
Before construction can commence, the demolition of bays one to nine and Building B36 must take place.
Planning permission Building B36’s demolition was secured in May 2023, but these works have not yet begun.
This new application additionally seeks consent to partially demolish said building.
Savills is the planning agent, while McBains is the construction consultant and architect.
Royal Haskoning DHV is the transport and heritage consultant.
Also on the project team is Walker Sime, who is the cost consultant.
To find this application, use the reference B06/2024/0225 on Westmorland and Furness Council’s planning portal.
Abbott Hall
An application to alter a Victorian, grade two-listed hotel was also approved.
Located on the coast at Kents Bank in Grange-over-Sands, the site looks out over Morecambe Bay to its south.
Consent has been given to demolish the hotel’s poorly maintained 20th-century extensions, and to aid the restoration of the building to bring it closer to its Victorian proportions and form.
Its conservatory will be removed and replaced with a bespoke veranda.
Works will also include the restoration of the site’s original glasshouse to serve as a function room, and the installation of a replacement pool house.
Three additional ‘contemporary’ one-bedroom lodges have been proposed to the North of the site.
The project’s architect is Architectural Emporium, Blackett Ord is the structural engineer, while Adams Planning and Development is the planning consultant.
Others on the project team are Barnes Walker, Envirotech, Grade A Alternative, and RG Parkins.
This project can be found using application reference 2023/1117/FPA on Westmorland and Furness Council’s planning portal.
