The overwhelming local reaction as Eden Project Morecambe gets funding go-ahead

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced last night that the project has been awarded £50m in the second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund to build the new Eden Project Morecambe.

The eco-tourism attraction was named as one of more than 100 projects across the UK to win a share of £2.1bn.

Eden Project Morecambe is the new official name for the scheme, which was previously known as Eden Project North

It will transform Morecambe's seafront and be a sister site to the original Eden Project near St Austell, Cornwall.

The bid was chosen as a recipient of the largest investment possible under the fund, earmarked for large-scale cultural regeneration projects.

The news has been greeted with delight across the district and further afield.

Coun Dr Erica Lewis, leader of the Lancaster Labour Group and former leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “Securing the funding for Eden North has truly been a team effort and shows the best of Morecambe and the district.

"An idea that started on campus, as a masters project, is now well on its way to being a world class visitor attraction that will grow tourism across Lancashire, Cumbria and the north.

"Eden Project North has committed to the principles of Community Wealth Building, which means local suppliers, jobs and training for local people, support for community projects and a sustainable approach to building & operation.

"Congratulations to everyone who has played a part in getting Eden Project North this far.”

Morecambe Central County Councillor Margaret Pattison said: “I am over the moon to hear Morecambe has won the bid for Eden North to come to Morecambe Central.

"I have campaigned and supported residents for a few years now in bringing good ideas for Eden North which the people of Morecambe deserve. We have waited long enough for the project, which will bring work into our beautiful town, raise tourism and help us make the most of our beautiful Bay.

"I will be watching the development of Eden North closely."

Coun Cary Matthews, chair of Morecambe Town Council, was “overwhelmed” that Eden Project North has been given the green light.

"The town has been awaiting this decision for a number of years, and the development will breathe new life into Morecambe,” she said.

"This funding is thought to be the single largest ever investment into our town and is especially welcome at a time of major economic challenge.

"The funding will transform the area and unlock the huge potential of culture to enrich lives, communities and local businesses in the north - ensuring Morecambe is a better place to live, work and raise a family for years to come.”

John O’Neill, chair of Morecambe BID, said: “It's fantastic news for Morecambe and the district and will help put Morecambe back on the map as being one of the premier seaside resorts in the country.

“The work is just beginning now but firm foundations have been laid. It will turn us from a seasonal resort into an all-year-round resort with all the opportunities and challenges it will present.”

Morecambe and Lunesdale Labour Party has also welcomed the news.

Group chair, County Coun Lizzi Collinge, said: "This is wonderful news, I am so pleased for Morecambe and Eden to finally get the recognition and funding from Government. It's had cross-party support throughout and I know we can work together to make it a success.

"Morecambe is a brilliant place to live, work, and visit and I'm so pleased more people will now be getting to know us.

"The Eden Project team have impressed me with their dedication to Morecambe and the wider district.

"Their work with local schools and colleges has shown they are serious about developing the talent we have here in Morecambe and I look forward to this expanding as the project develops."

"This makes a massive difference to our future students and their studies and we can't wait to get started!" said a spokesman for Lancaster & Morecambe College, who are partners in a brand new Eden Curriculum launched across the region.”

Morecambe and Lancaster Liberal Democrats warmly welcomed the announcement of government funding. “This is a project which has had support across all our political parties and has been actively promoted by all local authorities in our area,” they said.

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to support the Eden project and to work for the improvement of Morecambe on every level, from street cleaning to large scale investment.”

Wes Johnson, principal at Lancaster & Morecambe College, said they were “delighted” to hear the news.

"The college is honoured to have worked with Eden Project since 2018 and have co-created the Eden Land Based and Eden Traineeship provision for our community.

"As a founding partner of the Morecambe Bay Curriculum, the college is proud that through partnership we are embedding sustainability and place-based environmental education across our local education landscape.

“Eden Project North provides a fantastic opportunity for our community and the college will continue to play a central role in ensuring the inclusive and sustainable impact of this hugely significant development.”

Bay Tourism Association welcomed the announcement as "amazing news!" while the Morecambe Bay Partnership charity said: "We look forward to working with the Eden Project team, to develop innovative ways which ensure that the benefits to nature, heritage, and people, generated by their exciting programme, are felt right around the Bay from Fleetwood to Barrow."

At Marketing Lancashire, chief executive Rachel McQueen said: “From the very beginning of this journey, the first visit to Cornwall to meet the team at Eden, Marketing Lancashire has believed in, championed and supported the vision of an Eden Project in Morecambe.

"Eden Project Morecambe was always much more than the creation of a new visitor attraction, it is a significant catalyst in the regeneration of one of Lancashire’s most beautiful locations; bringing employment, investment, global recognition and renewed pride to a town that has played such an important part in the Lancashire story.

“Today we celebrate with the teams at Eden, Lancaster Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster University and the LEP and look to the exciting future that Eden Project Morecambe will bring to the tourism and hospitality sector in the north.

“As destination management organisation for the county, Marketing Lancashire will continue to work with our local partners, our regional counterparts and with Visit England and Visit Britain, to help develop domestic and international visitor markets for Eden Project Morecambe, as well as supporting and equipping the very many tourism businesses in Morecambe and beyond with the skills and tools to deliver Lancashire’s famous warm welcome.

“There couldn’t be a better start to 2023 and the national Year of the Coast, when our tourism activities will highlight Lancashire’s beautiful coastline and introduce more people to the delights of Lancashire’s seaside destinations.”

Meanwhile, leader of the Shadow Authority for Westmorland and Furness Council, Coun Jonathan Brook, described the news as a ‘major boost’ for the whole Morecambe Bay area, and said it would help to deliver far-reaching economic, environmental and social impacts that would benefit Westmorland and Furness communities.

Coun Brook said: “This is fantastic news and I am very pleased to see that government has finally backed the ambitions of Eden Project Morecambe.

“It will be a major boost to communities right around Morecambe Bay and beyond. Here in Westmorland and Furness we recognise the significance of this project and can see the obvious synergies with our own priorities and the opportunities for our area to benefit from the development in Morecambe.

“Eden Project Morecambe has always been about connecting people with the significant natural environment of Morecambe Bay, enhancing wellbeing and delivering an economic boost to the whole area.

“In our own Council Plan, which was adopted just before Christmas, we have key priorities around working to tackle environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, improving and enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities and growing a thriving economy.

“Eden Project Morecambe is a wonderful complement to these aims and objectives and we see some obvious links with our own natural environment visitor attractions, including some of the most beautiful parts of the Lake District UNESCO World Heritage site, areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the wonderful nature reserves of the Furness peninsula, such as those at Sandscale Haws and Walney.

“It will also connect well with other Morecambe Bay projects such as the work to restore the historic lido and promenade at Grange, the outdoor centre at Earnse Bay as part of the ‘BrilliantBarrow’ Town Deal and Morecambe Bay Partnership’s proposal to create a new cycling and walking route across the viaduct between Arnside and Grange.

“We are very excited about the opportunities that Eden Project Morecambe will present for the whole of Westmorland and Furness and beyond.’’Ross Shine, head of real estate (Preston) at leading independent law firm Brabners, said: “Eden Project North has the potential to be transformative for Morecambe and the wider Lancashire economy.

"Ambitious infrastructure projects such as this will create sustainable growth for the northern economy and, moreover, attract further inward investment for future development.

"The determination shown by Lancaster City Council and Eden Project International to get to this point is hugely admirable and we look forward to seeing its vision become a reality in the not-too-distant future.”

Brabners has supported Lancaster City Council throughout the development process, including helping agree a deal to lease the site to Eden during design, planning and development, and has played a key part in the funding process.