Town's skyline set to change as project develops

Westmorland and Furness Council wants demolition companies to submit bids for the potential knock down of Barrow Market Hall and the Forum

The skyline of a town could be transformed as several council-led projects develop.

Westmorland and Furness Council has awarded a £1.1m contract to carry out work at Barrow Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat-led authority is also inviting companies to tender for the potential demolition of the town's market hall and the Forum - an arts and entertainment venue.

Councillor Helen Chaffey, who is responsible for communities and culture, said while no decision to knock down the buildings had been made, the authority wanted to be in a position to move quickly if such a move was agreed.

Work to the Grade II listed town hall, which was awarded to Top Notch Contractors Ltd among five firms to submitted a bid, is expected to start soon and finish by December.

It would see the reception and waiting areas refurbished, as well as staff offices and toilets.

'Project to define Barrow'

In June, Westmorland and Furness council voted to reconsider plans to redevelop the town centre, as part of the Heart of Barrow project.

Funding worth £17.5m had been secured to redevelop the town, but further cash was made available through a partnership between the council, the government and nuclear submarine builder BAE Systems, which employs about 14,500 people in the area.

The partnership decided to pause work currently under way to reconsider plans in light of the extra funding, to potentially extend projects in what it called a "once in a lifetime" transformation.

Plans included refurbishment and asbestos removal from the market hall and the Forum.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chaffey said the Heart of Barrow would "define" the town "for generations to come".

"We need to get this right and it's therefore important that we get all the information we need so we have a full range of options to consider," she said.

She added the council would be talking to residents and businesses to deliver projects that people wanted.

She said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the town centre and deliver lasting improvements in retail, leisure, housing, health and education."