Homes England has approved a Business Case for £24.8 million of Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) funding to finance final preparations for a flagship residential development in Barrow.

Westmorland and Furness Cabinet members are to formally decide on Tuesday (23 January) whether to accept the proposed BIL funding – a major milestone in long-term plans to make the 25-hectare brownfield site owned by the council ready for the development of much-needed new homes.

The site, which has the working title of Marina Village, will provide 808 new homes, a nature conservation area and new public open spaces – a vital part of Barrow’s wider regeneration agenda, creating a vibrant community and providing new housing in the heart of the town near to centres of education, major employers and local shops and businesses and changing perceptions of Barrow as a place to live.

Phase 1 of the development – the remediation of six hectares of land funded by £5.5 million secured from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, administered by Cumbria LEP – was completed in November. With the additional BIL funding, infrastructure works will be able to commence to enable the site to be developed for new housing, which will include affordable housing.

A report set to go before Cabinet will recommend that members agree that the council negotiate, finalise and enter into the grant funding agreement with Homes England for the value of £24.8m to support with the remediation and other infrastructure works needed for phase 2 of the site.

The site will be capable of delivering a mix of housing types to include apartments as well as traditional housing, and both open market and affordable housing. The proposed  design principles for the development take into account the historic environment, landscape, sustainable drainage, public realm, energy and infrastructure, as well as climate and environmental risks.

Members will also be asked to support the development of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and Delivery Strategy. The Marina Village Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), if adopted, would guide the transformation of the site into a modern, attractive and desirable place to live. Public consultation would take place on the draft SPD over a six-week period.

Homes England is the government’s housing and regeneration agency, sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.