ECF wins 1,350-home Barrow waterfront job 

The regeneration consortium has added another North West project to its growing portfolio: the 67-acre Marina Village.

Westmorland and Furness Council has selected Muse “and its supply chain partners within ECF” – the JV between Muse, L&G, and Homes England – to deliver the long-awaited brownfield project, the council said in a statement.

Muse and ECF will develop 1,350 homes at the waterfront site seen as critical to Barrow’s regeneration efforts. The renewal of the Cumbria town, which is constrained geographically, is underpinned by more than £200m of government investment at the town’s shipyard, where the UK’s next generation of nuclear submarines are being built.

Marina Village has been a regeneration priority for Barrow for more than 20 years and could provide homes for some of the thousands of staff expected to relocate to the town to work on the submarine programme.

Peter Anstiss, chief executive of Team Barrow, said: “Housing is a strategic priority in our 10-year plan for Barrow and Marina Village is critical to the delivery of this.

“The government’s long-term commitment to its submarine programme is driving substantial growth in the shipyard, and this in turn creates significant demand for thousands of new homes, for employees and their families.”

Situated on Barrow waterfront, Marina Village would provide more than a third of the total allocated housing for Westmorland up to 2031.

The scheme has received £24.8m in grants from Homes England courtesy of a deal in January of last year.

The 67-acre site has been a regeneration priority for decades. Credit: via Westmorland and Furness Council

Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader of the council, said: “This scheme will play a vital role in the future success of Barrow. It is a key part of the delivery plans for Team Barrow.

“A significant amount of time, work and funding has gone into getting us to this stage. We are now very much looking forward to working with Muse and ECF on this project and together with partners and the local community, to develop the vision for this site and for it to become a thriving residential community.”

Barrow’s flagship project is the latest in a long line of recent wins for ECF and its developer Muse.

ECF has long been active in Salford and is also behind the 1,300-home Stockport 8.

Acting alone, Muse is active in Blackpool, Wythenshawe, and Oldham town centres and is also drawing up plans to revitalise Eccles.

Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, said: “Marina Village is a significant opportunity for Barrow, and we’re pleased to be working in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council as plans move forward.

“The appointment of a development partner marks an important step, allowing the council and its partners to start shaping how Marina Village can come to life, building on its waterfront setting and responding to the needs of the local community.

“At ECF, we take a long-term, partnership-led approach to regeneration, and we’re excited to work closely with the council and local stakeholders to help create a new neighbourhood that Barrow can be proud of.”

DWF and CBRE advised the council on the procurement process, which was led by Pagabo.