Barrow town centre to get £4.13m revamp
Cumbria County Council has agreed to take on overall responsibility for delivering the multi-million pound revamp of Barrow town centre.
At a meeting in Carlisle, it was agreed the county council should become the funding applicant and client for phases two and three, the Dalton Road phases, of the Barrow Town Centre Public Realm Scheme.
The project has been in progress for several years and phases one and four have already been completed.
Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council, West Lakes Renaissance and the North West Development Agency are all involved in the scheme, but as the county is the highway authority and responsible for the roads and pedestrian areas being revamped, Barrow Borough Council has requested the county takes on the role of applicant and client.
Around £3.8m has been agreed in principle between Barrow Borough Council and the NWDA, while Capita Symonds has drawn up outline designs for the scheme.
Phases two and three are estimated to cost around £4.13m and will be funded by:
- NWDA – £3.72m
- Barrow Borough Council – £160,000
- Cumbria County Council – £252,000
The next step being taken involves the scheme being put out to tender for phases two and three, which will be a continuation of phases one and four. This will see improvements in Dalton Road, Portland Walk and surrounding streets, including revamped footways and new street furniture such as benches.
Work is due to start on site in mid-September this year, with the transformation of the current town centre expected to be completed by December 2010.
Works will be suspended in key areas on the run up to Christmas to reduce disruption to local businesses and shoppers.
