A £17.5m programme of redevelopment in Barrow town centre is set to take a step forward. 

The package of work, backed by government funding, is to result in a revitalised' market hall that will feature a play area for children, a 'pocket park' in Stephen Street, a 'town centre community hub area' at The Forum, and 'better transport infrastructure and improvements to the public realm'.

And a series of planning applications to determine if prior approval is needed for the demolition of buildings has now been submitted by Barrow Borough Council. 

The submissions relate to 77-79 Dalton Road, 81 Dalton Road, 83 Dalton Road, 10 Stephen Street, and numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 along The Ginnel. 

Cllr Lee Roberts, deputy leader and lead member for economic development at the borough council, said the council had been working with affected traders to find 'suitable alternative premises where appropriate and required'.

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"These changes are necessary to make way for the exciting regeneration scheme that is being designed to ensure Barrow’s town centre has a thriving future ahead of it," he said.

"We are entering a transformative period, where the hard work to realise this ambitious regeneration scheme moves on to physical changes to existing buildings – the next stage of the ambition to bring about the positive change we all want for a happy, healthy town centre for the future."

It is hoped work to remove the buildings will begin early in 2023.

Councillor Roberts added: “The demolition notices are another important step on the journey towards a revitalised town centre and a bright future for this area.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this work get underway.”

Sweet Pepper Café is among the businesses to have been impacted by the regeneration project.

The café closed in October, with a spokesman taking to social media to say a 'tiny sacrifice' was necessary as part of the council's levelling up plans.

READ MORE: Popular town centre café announces impending closure

"It is our decision to fully support whatever they require of us as we believe it will be for the betterment of the entirety of the project," said the spokesman.

"We had hoped that we could be here for longer but we learned that things don't always go as planned and to never take anything for granted."