Investment Opportunities
In Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria
There are significant investments already planned for Westmorland and Furness, creating the conditions for further investment and supporting our plans for growth in housing and employment.
Through a range of transformational housing projects across the area we aim to attract and retain a skilled workforce who can actively develop their careers across a range of sectors.
Use the map to find investment opportunities in the Westmorland and Furness area or scroll down to read more…
Investment Opportunities
Port of Barrow
This major asset supports the shipyard’s growth and private sector investment in green growth and supply chain development. There are over 200 hectares available for further development and we seek to advance the port as a marine gateway that facilitates development of our nationally significant sectors, including offshore wind and other clean growth opportunities, as well as cargo handling and visitor cruise opportunities from this gateway to the Lake District. Associated British Ports have developed a Future Ports Masterplan for Barrow. For more information please see Associated British Ports | Future Ports Barrow
Marina Village, Barrow
This is a place-shaping opportunity to create an exceptional residential offer that can attract people to relocate and become part of our growing workforce. We want to provide contemporary, aspirational housing to accommodate those looking for high quality family homes in a vibrant new community.
At Marina Village, a 25-hectare brownfield site in Barrow town centre owned by Westmorland & Furness Council, investment of over £30m from Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund and the Getting Building Fund will remediate the land to allow the development of 800 new homes, a nature conservation area and new public open spaces. The Council is currently preparing a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to guide the transformation of the site into a modern, attractive and desirable place to live.
GSK, Ulverston
A 42 hectare site owned by GSK, on the eastern edge of Ulverston within five miles of the Lake District National Park and overlooking Morecambe Bay. There is a future investment opportunity in the production facilities on site, which have a unique capability manufacturing lifesaving cephalosporin products exported and used around the world.
Proximity to the A590, M6 and Furness and West Coast Main Rail Lines gives easy access to Manchester and Liverpool airports and the ports of Barrow, Heysham and Liverpool.
Cross-a-Moor
A combined 52 ha of land available for housing across four allocated sites south of Ulverston. The sites can deliver a significant proportion of housing to meet local needs, with around 1,000 new homes, and help provide the workforce needed by local businesses in Westmorland and Furness. All sites are now served by a newly built roundabout, with a £12m investment made into enabling infrastructure.
Eden 41
Penrith will significantly benefit from the £1.5bn national investment planned for dualling of the A66 Trans-Pennine route and the council is supporting the development of a strategic employment location at Junction 41 of the M6, located to the north of the town. The 18 acres of commercial/employment land around the junction is presently undeveloped with outline planning permission having been given to an initial area of 7 ha and the potential of extending into adjoining areas now being explored. The council would be particularly interested to discuss future investment with those with links to advanced manufacturing and clean growth.
Scroggs Wood, Kendal
This is a prestige 18 ha site on the main southern approach to Kendal. It is a highly accessible development site adjacent to the A591 dual carriageway and just 5 minutes from M6 Junction 36. The site is allocated for employment and is intended for high quality, campus-style development reflecting its prominent location and draws upon the heritage and character of the site’s riverside setting at the gateway to the Lake District.
Investment Pipeline
Team Barrow
Government, BAE Systems and Westmorland and Furness Council are now working together as Team Barrow, a dynamic partnership formed to enable the significant new development required to deliver the Astute, Dreadnought and AUKUS submarine programmes as part of the UK’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
To fulfil the long-term requirements of the national submarine programme, BAE Systems will create 5,000 new employment opportunities in the next 15 years. This presents the potential for long-term transformational growth and Team Barrow will ensure the area can benefit from this once-in-a-generation opportunity in the coming decades and ensure it delivers for the people of Barrow, Westmorland and Furness and beyond.
In March 2024 the Government announced the creation of the Barrow Transformation Fund, with the Government committing an immediate £20 million and a further minimum of £20 million a year over the next 10 years to make Barrow an even more attractive place to live, work, and build a career. This investment of over £200 million will include projects to support people towards work, improve health outcomes, build more homes, develop the transport network and support local schools.
These investments and opportunities create a compelling offer that will help to transform the town and the wider area and will leave an enduring legacy for future generations. There are massive opportunities to help us deliver this work.
Brilliant Barrow
With more than £40 million of regeneration investment already secured, it is an exciting time for Barrow-in-Furness. Barrow was one of the first towns in the country to secure a £25m Town Deal from the UK Government for seven exciting projects that will help the area to thrive for generations. These include a new Learning Quarter and campus for the University of Cumbria, improved active travel infrastructure, support for start-ups and entrepreneurship and a network of community hubs including a £6 million Outdoor Learning Centre. A further £17.5m regeneration scheme funded by UK Government will reinvigorate the town centre so it is ready to embrace a prosperous and healthy future.
A66 Trans-Pennine Dualling
National Highways have begun the preparatory works for the construction of a £1.5bn strategic highways upgrade scheme to provide a high quality, high-speed dual carriageway route on the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1(M) at Scotch Corner. Dualling will provide excellent connectivity along a key local, regional and national route for east/west journeys in the north of England for freight, tourism and businesses across the UK.
Digital Infrastructure
The Cumbria Project Gigabit programme will see £56.4m invested in full fibre infrastructure in Westmorland and Furness, with coverage rising to well above 95% by its completion in 2026. The Shared Rural Network, a £1bn investment across the UK, will improve 4G geographic coverage from all four Mobile Network Operators.