A £2m makeover has made it much easier and safer for people to access one of Cumbria's most popular destinations.

The project has upgraded the Glebe in Bowness with a series of public realm and access improvements, enhancing the area as a top destination for visitors.

Work has included:

Road and footway improvements on Glebe Road.

On-street parking bays rearranged to reduce the ‘barrier effect’ of parked cars and more crossing opportunities for pedestrians.

Public realm improvements to the foreshore area.

Cumbria County Council led the project, with funding secured from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership through the Growth Deal and from South Lakeland District Council.

Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The Glebe Road scheme has significantly enhanced this key lakeside destination, with public realm improvements to the foreshore area, enhanced footways and surfacing, and improved parking provisions.

"The project has made a big difference to the Glebe Road area and will benefit both local residents and visitors.

"This scheme is part of the Wider Optimising Connectivity project, which has brought improvements on the A591 at Town End, Grasmere."

South Lakeland District Council funded improvements to the promenade and the shingle beach area, including new surfacing for footways, new street furniture and planting along the highway.

Councillor Graham Vincent, SLDC's portfolio holder for economy and assets, said: "The work and the Glebe progressed well and the end result is very impressive.

"We are delighted to have helped fund the work as part of an overall investment in this world-class waterfront destination."

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership director Graham Haywood, said: "It is good to see a key element of the Optimising Connectivity programme being completed.

"Better transport links and connectivity support business growth and a more diverse economy for the South Lakes area.

"Cumbria LEP has invested £2m in this project overall to increase the range of sustainable transport options available in the Lake District, including highway improvement schemes in key tourist hotspots at Grasmere and this one for the Glebe in Windermere.

"The project has also included cycleway improvements on Dunmail Raise in the heart of the Lake District."

Construction of the Optimising Connectivity highway scheme on Glebe Road started on 15 February 2016.

What is the growth deal?

The Cumbria Growth Deal builds on the existing strengths of the county across manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and logistics that have already seen economic growth of 46.1 percent between 2002 and 2012.

The Growth Deal supports further growth through improving key infrastructure and brings sites forward for housing and commercial development.

The Cumbrian Growth Deal provides local people with local people with more training opportunities, new and better jobs, more local housing and better transport to access the opportunities being developed by international and local businesses.

Subject to a satisfactory conclusion of the funding agreement, the Growth Deal will bring together local, national and private funding as well as new freedoms and flexibilities to focus on the four key priority areas as identified in the LEP's Strategic Economic Plan.