Barrow’s Forum and market hall to meet wrecking ball
Aged 55, the town centre structures have reached end of life and need to be knocked down, paving the way for the site’s redevelopment as part of the Heart of Barrow regeneration project.
Recent surveys found that the Forum theatre and arts centre and the market hall off Duke Street in Barrow are no longer fit for purpose and that attempts to salvage them would be extensive and costly, according to Westmorland and Furness Council. Plans to refurbish the market hall had been allocated a budget of £23.5m but will now not go ahead.
As a result, market traders have been informed the facility will not reopen. Westmorland and Furness Council said it is supporting them and that the decision to close the buildings was not taken lightly.
The council said details of an “exciting” programme of meanwhile plans would be released soon while longer-term plans for the site’s redevelopment are worked up.
Cllr Helen Chaffey, cabinet member for communities and culture, said: “We understand and recognise the importance of the Forum and market. Not only as an entertainment venue and a retail facility, but as much-loved and valued community spaces. This important role has been clearly reinforced through feedback in the recent Heart of Barrow Community Conversation engagement.
“The project to develop the long-term vision for the future of the town centre will continue to work closely with the community to ensure that the essential elements of the Forum and market offer – arts, culture, entertainment, small business support and retail – along with more housing and a cleaner, safer and healthier environment, will all form part of the plans.”
Heart of Barrow is being led by Westmorland and Furness Council, working on behalf of the wider Team Barrow programme – a partnership between the council, BAE Systems and national government.
Barrow’s regeneration took a large step forward recently with the announcement that ECF had been selected as development partner for Marina Village, a short distance away from the town centre.
