University of Cumbria’s Barrow campus approved

Main construction work for the educational facility is set to begin next year, with the school opening to students in summer 2024.

Located on Barrow Island, the University of Cumbria Barrow campus will offer nearly 1,500 students a year courses in advanced manufacturing, computing, business management, project management, and supply chain and logistics.

Barrow-in-Furness Council approved in principle the plans for the Day Architectural-designed project at its planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

Developed by both the University of Cumbria and BAE Systems, the campus was part of Barrow’s successful Town Deal bid. The campus was included in the Barrow Learning Quarter scheme, which also called for the creation of a skills hub. Documents related to the Town Deal bid state that the BLQ project would have a price tag of £23.4m, £13.4m of which would come from Town Deal funds.

The Barrow campus would sit next to BAE Systems’ Submarine Academy of Skill and Knowledge on Barrow Island.

The campus is part of a wider project: the Barrow Learning Quarter. Credit: via University of Cumbria

University of Cumbria vice chancellor Julie Mennell described achieving planning permission as “a key milestone towards realising our ambition to develop a new university campus in Barrow”.

She continued: “Some issues remain but we continue to work collaboratively with others and seek to resolve them so our shared ambitions of enhancing local education opportunities progress.”

Mennell went on to describe how the Barrow Learning Quarter will be “transformational” for the area.

“Innovative, inclusive and inspirational facilities and provision will enhance vitality and vibrancy,” she said.

“The new campus will also increase the accessibility, reach and impact of our academic offer,” Mennell continued. “It will offer new progression opportunities into and participation in higher education for young people and others, driving our mission to transform the lives and livelihoods of our communities and beyond.”

The project team for the campus includes DPP Planning, Hydrock, Miller Goodall, Urban Green, and Curtins.

The application’s reference number with Barrow-in-Furness Council is B12/2022/0263.