A series of major planning applications have been approved in 2023 which will change the face of Barrow and the surrounding areas.

Here is a lowdown of some of the biggest planning applications to get approval this year:

University of Cumbria Barrow Island campus 

AN AMBITIOUS project that is to see a university campus created in Barrow was granted full planning permission.

The multi-million-pound campus, which is to be situated at the end of Buccleuch Dock Road, is scheduled to have 1,400 students within a decade, a Barrow Borough Council planning committee meeting heard last year.

Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council then in November gave the green light for officers to finalise and enter into a grant funding agreement of £11.17 million with the University of Cumbria to develop the Barrow Island campus.

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visited the dockside site where the university’s campus is to be constructed in November this year.

Barrow Market Hall and Forum revamp

A £17.5m scheme to transform part of Barrow’s town centre is going ahead after planning permission was secured for a key part of the project.

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Barrow area planning committee members approved a proposal related to Barrow Market Hall and The Forum in June.

The frontage of Barrow’s Market Hall, along with the neighbouring venue The Forum, will be given a new look. The council, which will deliver the project, says that this will better reflect its prominent location opposite the Grade II-listed Barrow Town Hall.

Portland Walk transformation

PLANNERS gave the green light to BAE Systems’ proposals to transform empty shops in Barrow amid hopes the plans will act as the ‘catalyst for revival’.

Westmorland and Furness Council approved the company’s planning application to carry out work on the site of the former WH Smith’s, Body Shop and Sweet Emporium in Portland Walk.

The development includes the creation of a learning hub as part of BAE’s proposed Portland Walk Campus (PWC).

Munitions factory demolition

BAE Systems was given the go-ahead to carry out a series of demolitions and removals in Barrow in preparation for a new development project on the site.

Westmorland and Furness Council agreed that no prior approval was needed for BAE Systems to demolish Building 36, an early 20th-century warehouse and former munitions factory on land north of Buccleuch Road and east of Michaelson Road.

The plan is part of BAE Systems’ Site Regeneration Programme (SRP), for which an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Screening was prepared in 2014.

Major solar farm

Senior councillors agreed to build a £2 million solar farm in Barrow.

The 2MW solar farm will be at Sandscale Park and cost an estimated £2.781m to build.

The site will bring about reductions in carbon for the council and is expected to result in savings of around 607 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.

This is equivalent to planting 700,000 trees and would provide enough electricity to power the council’s five leisure centres or approximately 730 homes per year, based upon average UK households.

Barrow AFC stadium expansion

BARROW AFC received a major boost as plans to permanently keep temporary seating were given the green light – ensuring the club complies with league regulations and can receive ‘vital’ funding.

Westmorland and Furness Council approved the planning application for the SO Legal Stadium which meant the club complied with English Football League (EFL) rules.

The Bluebirds previously had a planning application approved for the ‘temporary’ installation of two new stands needed to provide 2,000 covered seats for fans by August in order to stay in line with league rules.