THE future of Barrow remains bright with new jobs in the pipeline, redundant buildings being restored, housing regeneration projects under way and a fresh push to lure new inward investment to the town.

Over the last six months, Barrow Borough Council has been involved in a series of landmark decisions aimed at giving the area an economic boost from new businesses and development projects.

The council’s number one priority is the economy and it wants to see the borough capitalise on its enviable manufacturing base and opportunities to grow tourism.

Major events such as The Tour of Britain in September last year, have proved that Barrow can lay on huge crowd-pullers to boost footfall.

The event drew an estimated 20,000 spectators and delivered a £400,000 boost to the town’s economy, with upcoming plans to stage a 10k race and a Super Soapbox Challenge this summer, organised by Barrow’s Business Improvement District, of which the council is a partner. Unlike many other areas, Barrow continues to “make things” with its manufacturing sector accounting for nearly a quarter of all jobs, compared to just eight per cent nationally.

Yet despite its proud “industrial” image, Barrow also has a beautiful landscape and natural heritage on its doorstep - listed as number one by English Heritage.

One of Barrow Council’s flagship projects is the £3.5 million “gateway” office building at the Waterfront Business Park on Barrow Island.

Work has started on the 16,000sqft two-storey building on Harding Rise – formerly a neglected area of the Barrow docks off Ramsden Dock Road,

The project aims to help lure companies in the shipyard supply chain and was only made possible due to being part-funded by the European Union to the tune of £2.3 million following a successful council bid.

In terms of regenerating the town centre, a transformational scheme is the long-awaited development of 58 new homes in the former Arthur Street area.

Sheffield-based Gleeson Regeneration Ltd won planning permission to create a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses – both detached and semi-detached and with gardens — in a shift from Barrow’s traditional town centre terraces.

The hope is it will regenerate the area and give people a leg up on the housing ladder with 40 percent of the two-bedroom houses being “affordable” starter homes.

The council continues to run The Forum in Duke Street, where attendances rocketed during the last year – climbing to 46,000 in nine months – a leap of 18,000 on the previous 12 months.

Fifty new jobs are also being created at the Abbey House Hotel after £2.5 million plans to create a world class venue for weddings were agreed by Barrow council planners.

It is part of a long-term development programme at the four-star hotel to put it in the top 10 wedding venues in the North of England. As Cumbria Tourism says, the town has a proud industrial heritage but also benefits from internationally-renowned wildlife sites and sandy beaches. “With the sea on one side and the Lakes on the other, Barrow-in-Furness makes the most of its enviable location.”