The Leader of the Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council has welcomed last night’s major announcement on funding for Eden Project Morecambe.

The project has been awarded £50m in the second round of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to build the new Eden Project Morecambe. Eden Project Morecambe is the new official name for the project, which has previously been known as Eden Project North

The bid was chosen as a recipient of the largest investment possible under the fund, earmarked for large-scale cultural regeneration projects. 

Leader of the Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council, Councillor Jonathan Brook, described the news as a ‘major boost’ for the whole Morecambe Bay area, and said it would help to deliver far-reaching economic, environmental and social impacts that would benefit Westmorland and Furness communities.

Councillor Brook said: “This is fantastic news and I am very pleased to see that Government has finally backed the ambitions of Eden Project Morecambe.

“It will be a major boost to communities right around Morecambe Bay and beyond. Here in Westmorland and Furness we recognise the significance of this project and can see the obvious synergies with our own priorities and the opportunities for our area to benefit from the development in Morecambe.

“Eden Project Morecambe has always been about connecting people with the significant natural environment of Morecambe Bay, enhancing wellbeing and delivering an economic boost to the whole area.

“In our own Council Plan, which was adopted just before Christmas, we have key priorities around working to tackle environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, improving and enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities and growing a thriving economy.

“Eden Project Morecambe is a wonderful complement to these aims and objectives and we see some obvious links with our own natural environment visitor attractions, including some of the most beautiful parts of the Lake District UNESCO World Heritage site, areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the wonderful nature reserves of the Furness peninsula, such as those at Sandscale Haws and Walney.

“It will also connect well with other Morecambe Bay projects such as the work to restore the historic lido and promenade at Grange, the outdoor centre at Earnse Bay as part of the ‘BrilliantBarrow’ Town Deal and Morecambe Bay Partnership’s proposal to create a new cycling and walking route across the viaduct between Arnside and Grange.

“We are very excited about the opportunities that Eden Project Morecambe will present for the whole of Westmorland and Furness and beyond.’’