THE expected opening date of a 697-space car park at BAE has been revealed.

The plan, which has been submitted to Barrow Borough Council, constitutes a development on a previous application for a 675-space site. 

A spokesman for BAE said the design of the car park, to be located off Hindpool Road, had 'matured' and that the company had 'seen an opportunity' to increase its size. 

Employees who are to use it are currently parking in other parts of the BAE site.

Once opened, the facility will provide employees who work in Devonshire Dock Hall with parking closer to where they work. 

In February of this year, it was revealed work on the 675-space car park had begun. 

The BAE spokesman said the new car park was expected to open in early 2023.

The project is also to include new security fencing, pedestrian access and pedestrian access gates, hard and soft landscaping, and security lighting. 

The new car park project began life as an application for a 509-space site in 2015. 

In 2016, an application for an amendment to the application to increase the number of spaces at the car park by 166 was given approval by Barrow Borough Council.

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A cover letter was submitted by Henrik Dorbeck, of Porta Planning, in support of the application at the time.

It said: "The need for additional car parking has arisen due to changes in car parking strategy for the wider BAE Systems site, namely the removal of the 'Channelside' car park, as was reviewed and discussed at the meeting of representatives of Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council on December 16, 2015."

In addition to the 675-space car park, Mr Dorbeck referred to the provision of additional parking at sites such as Buccleuch Dock. 

"The additional spaces are required to allow for the delivery and continuous implementation of a sufficient supply of off-street parking facilities for BAE Systems employees, contracted staff and visitors," he said.

There has been a history in Barrow of complaints against BAE around parking, with residents jostling with shipyard workers for spaces.