Winner announced for Millom’s Iron Line design competition

Layer.Studio has been chosen as the design partner for the scheme, which will turn the Cumbria coastal lagoon into a visitor attraction.

The competition was overseen by Colander Associates, on behalf of Millom Town Deal Board and Copeland Borough Council. It was judged by a jury panel, which considered community feedback in its decision making.

More than 20 landscape and architectural teams entered the competition, and five were shortlisted in November 2021. Those teams were led by Bauman Lyons Architects, Collective Architecture, Farrer Huxley, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, and Layer.Studio.

The panel ultimately unanimously chose Layer.Studio, praising its submission as “sensitive to place, heritage, ecology, culture, and community,” according to a press release.

Layer Studio’s team includes Gagarin Studio, Greengage, Placed, Curtins, BWA and Project Four.

“We’re absolutely delighted to win this international design competition and be selected as the design partner to enhance Millom’s coastal lagoon, sea wall and nature reserve,” said Layer.Studio director Matthew Warner.

“With the Iron Line project we have a unique opportunity to create a world-class visitor attraction that will breathe new life into Millom’s visitor economy and help drive forward its ambitious Town Deal,” he continued.

“We’re looking forward to working with partners and the local community to bring this exciting vision to life.”

The team will now work to craft a design proposal for the Iron Line by March this year. The project will be funded, in part, through a share of Millom’s £20.6m award from the government’s Towns Fund.