Ambitious plan for Walney outdoor centre could be set for step forward

The multi-million-pound facility would be built on land to the east of Earnse Bay and would be accompanied by a new 'urban park' supporting sports and other leisure activities.

The building featured in the plan has been 'conceived as two halves', a design and access statement submitted in support of the application says. 

A community centre featuring a 'village hall', café and shop would be delivered by Cumbria County Council.

Office space is included in the plan (Image: Barrow Borough Council planning)

An environmental education centre 'focusing on outdoor and beach activities' would be delivered by Natural England. It would include school rooms, an office and a garage and workshop. 

The outdoor space would include a rounders pitch, 'community gardens and growing space', and camping facilities.

A total of 10 spaces for disabled and staff parking would be provided on site.

The design and access statement suggests that an 'underutilised' adjacent car park, which is capable of accommodating around 170 cars, would account for the remaining provision. 

The overall plan, put forward by Cumbria County Council, is to be looked at by a meeting of the borough council's planning committee on Tuesday. 

Case officer Charles Wilton has produced a report ahead of this in which he recommends that the committee says that it is 'minded to approve' the application.

The application for the outdoor centre was submitted by the county council (Image: Barrow Borough Council planning)

Sport England has objected to the application on the grounds that the site, off West Shore Road, incorporates land that has been used as a playing field within the past five years. 

"The proposal would cause the loss of the majority of the playing field with no replacement playing field or enhancements of other facilities in Barrow to mitigate that loss, loss of the changing pavilion, and does not propose a new sports facility that could be considered of benefit to sport to outweigh the loss," says Mr Wilton. 

It is for this reason that the planning committee can only be 'minded to approve' the application, said the report.

Mr Wilton says the application would need to be referred to the secretary of state/government office.