Eden Project North up for approval
UPDATE 31 January 2022: Eden Project North has secured planning approval
Planning officers are recommending Lancaster City councillors give the £125m project in Morecambe the go-ahead.
The application will be voted on at the council’s planning committee meeting on 31 January.
The report from planning officers suggests approval with the condition that a full travel plan, visitor access and parking strategy, and outreach and education plan are submitted and implemented. The officers also asked for a travel plan contribution of £10,000.
Plans for Eden Project North were submitted in September last year. They call for the demolition of the existing buildings on the more than 11-acre Seafront Headland site of the central promenade. Eden Project North, if approved, will be bound by the promenade to the north and east, Marine Road Central to the south and Midland Hotel to the west.
Under the plans, Eden Project International wants to build a nearly 200,000 sq ft visitor attraction with an internal floor space of 185,000 sq ft. Eden estimates the Morecambe facility will attract an average of 760,000 visitors per year and will boost the area’s economy by around £47.3m.
Eden Project North will feature four shell-like dome structures, all constructed with a timber framework and covered in a transparent membrane with integrated solar cells. The shells will be named Rhythm Machine, Natural Observatory, Bay Glade, and Bay Hall. There will also be a visitor centre with a café and store.
The Lancashire attraction will also have several gardens and landscaped areas to explore, including the Four Seasons Garden, Tide Garden, and Rhythm Garden. Rhythm Garden will also have an arena stage built into it for events.
Grimshaw Architects designed the scheme, with TEP handling the landscape elements. WSP is the planning consultant for the project, as well as the transport and environment expert.
The development team for Eden Project North includes Buro Happold as civils, utilities, engineering and MEP consultant and Schlaich Bergermann Partner as the structural engineer.
3 Adapt is responsible for sustainability strategy and Art of Fact is charged with experiential design. Charcoal Blue is the consultant for performance engineering. Rider Levett Bucknall is handling cost management and Trivandi is the project manager.
Interested in learning more about Eden Project North? The application’s reference number with Lancaster City Council is 21/01113/FUL.
Eden Project North is one of Place North West’s “schemes to watch out for in 2022”. See what other developments made the cut.
I really hope this comes off. It would be brilliant
By Anonymous
A great boost for not only Morecambe…but the North West generally…a brilliant attraction
By Tercol