The town of Barrow-in-Furness developed rapidly in the mid 19th
Century around iron and steel and shipbuilding. Indeed the town
still relies heavily on submarine building, together with other
naval and commercial shipbuilding capability.
The closure of the steelworks in
1985 and substantial job losses in local shipbuilding in the early
1990's resulted in economic difficulties for the Borough. Through
the development of strong local partnerships and a determined
willingness to tackle these problems the Borough is now moving
forward again.
Leading this Regeneration is the West Lakes
Renaissance Urban Regeneration Company.
" West Lakes Renaissance, the Urban
Regeneration Company for Furness and West Cumbria, is attempting to
turn around the economy of the sub region which stretches from
Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth. This has and still is suffering
from industrial decline, resulting in out-migration (particularly
of our young people), unemployment and a worn out infrastructure.
Yet we have many assets -a coastal environment second to none,
close proximity to the Lakes, Georgian gems such as Whitehaven and
Maryport, some of the largest sites in the NW which are available
for development and high levels of talent, skills and
expertise.
The key will be to co-ordinate existing regeneration activity more
effectively and to attract new investment on the scale that is
needed. With others, we shall be creating a knowledge economy based
on new skills and business growth."
See more on Barrow's Regeneration on http://www.westlakesrenaissance.co.uk/.