Redstart gears up for Marina Village phase two

Westmorland and Furness Council has appointed the Stockport-based remediation, geo-environmental, and demolition experts to get nearly 50 acres of land ready for hundreds of new-build homes in Barrow.

Marina Village is one of the flagship projects for the local authority in Barrow. The entire 64-acre site sits between Cavendish Dock and Salthouse Road and, when complete, will house 808 homes.

Redstart Northwest’s contract with the local authority covers ground assessments and surveys, the submission of an environmental impact assessment and a planning application, remediation, demolition, and site clearance for the second phase of the scheme.

Redstart is also charged with managing utility diversions on the site and realigning Cavendish Dock Road. The contract for the programme of works had been valued at £16m in April.

Richard Horsnell, director and founder of Redstart, said: “Redstart is delighted to have been awarded one of Westmorland and Furness Council largest schemes and will work closely with the delivery team to make it a continued success.

“Winning a complex remediation project is not just about presenting the best solution; it’s about understanding the unique challenges of the site, building trust with stakeholders, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and the local community,” he concluded.

The first phase of the site remediation at Marina Village was completed by Thomas Armstrong in November. This part focused on 15 acres and was supported through a £5.5m Getting Building Fund grant from the government.

Homes England has gotten involved with supporting the second phase of remediation, pledging £24.8m to the cause. Money for the scheme also comes from the #BrilliantBarrow project, which has granted £25m from the government’s Towns Fund to support seven projects, including Marina Village. Westmorland and Furness has also been working with BAE Systems on Marina Village.

Westmorland and Furness Council Leader Cllr Jonathan Brook, noted that Marina Village has been in the works for a considerable amount of time.

“Marina Village was long an ambition of Barrow Borough Council, which did a tremendous amount of work to get this significant project to a point where Westmorland and Furness Council are able to take this forward,” he said.

“This is one of the biggest schemes for the council. It is key to the future sustainability and viability of Barrow and, indeed, the wider Westmorland and Furness area and beyond…”

Brook added later: “This is a very exciting moment. I look forward to seeing phase two get underway. This will unlock this former industrial land and see it transformed into a thriving residential community in the centre of Barrow, close to shops, places of work, education, and transport links.”