A plan has been agreed to drive post-Covid prosperity and economic resilience around the Morecambe Bay area.

The Bay Prosperity and Resilience Strategy has been jointly developed by an economic partnership between Barrow Borough Council, Lancaster City Council and South Lakeland District Council.

In a joint statement, the leaders of the three councils – Councillor Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, Councillor Dr Erica Lewis, leader of Lancaster City Council and Councillor Giles Archibald, leader of South Lakeland District Council – said: “This strategy re-states our intent to work together on developing solutions that will bring real lasting benefit to the Bay area.

“We are an existing, functioning economic area with many shared interests and priorities and we believe that working collectively we can more effectively support the area’s economic recovery from the pandemic and drive future growth and prosperity.

“We are now asking Government to back our strategy so that we can progress this work and really develop and enhance the area’s economic potential.’’

The three councils have written to the Government's chancellor Rishi Sunak, requesting Whitehall backing for the strategy.

Hoping that the Bay area can become a staple of the Northern Powerhouse, the partnership is seeking Government funding for projects over the next two years.

In the strategy’s document, eight themes are listed which the councils believe will help build economic wealth as well as tackling poverty and climate change.

Finding new roles for the ports at Barrow and Heysham, building on the area’s arts and culture,and focusing on renewable and clean growth are some of the themes listed.