A LOCAL engineering group will begin 2018 with a talk on one of the most significant building projects in Barrow's modern history.

Barrow and District Association of Engineers (BDAE) will host a lecture on the design and construction of BAE's new facilities at the shipyard, set to take place at The Forum on Thursday January 18.

At a cost of £350m, the project represents the largest building investment in the Furness area since the Devonshire Dock Hall was built in the 1980s.

BDAE will welcome Allan Day, director of the site redevelopment programme at BAE, to explain the size and complexity of the new facilities, which are now nearing completion.

Mr Day is well qualified to give this talk, having been involved since the initial stages of this huge construction task. He began his career with Babtie, Shaw and Morton in 1989 in Preston as a graduate civil engineer

Initially a bridge engineer, he worked on the Dalton bypass and designed Goldmire Valley Railway Bridge. In 1993, Mr Day became a chartered engineer, and joined British Aerospace in 1997 as a civil engineer working on the Saudi British Defence Co-operation Programme in Saudi Arabia.

In 2013 Mr Day relocated to the area as the facilities programme director, overseeing the significant investment on the shipyard.

The progress of the construction so far is evident in the change to the Barrow Island skyline. The most visible part of the project, known as the Central Yard Complex (CYC) stands higher than the DDH and is capable of housing the largest of submarine hulls.

Mr Day will explain the design and construction of this building, and also explore its use in the construction of future vessels. He will also talk of the other new buildings, such as the New Storage Complex near Ramsden Dock, which incorporates state of the art warehousing and retrieval facilities.

The talk will also cover the ongoing investment in updating the existing construction areas, which will make the Barrow shipyard among the most modern in the world.

Mike Kittley, a BDAE council member, said: “We are very pleased Allan has agreed to give this talk, especially now the concept is nearing reality.

"The new facilities represent not only a change to the skyline but also a huge opportunity for Barrow once again to adapt to change and show the many skills of the workforce. I am sure this will be an interesting and enjoyable evening”

The talk, which has free admission and is open to all, will be held in the Studio of The Forum on Thursday January 18 at 7.30pm.