Barrow-in-Furness :  Barrow Town Investment Plan

Part of the first, UK wide cohort of Town Investment Plans (TIPs) Barrow Borough Council and stakeholders set out an ambitious investment strategy for the town, seeking to improve infrastructure, community facilities and secure skills development.

OPEN advised on the development of the spatial elements of the strategy, working collaboratively with stakeholders, the Council and wider team of economists to create a spatio-economic vision for the town that future funding could help deliver. OPEN also led on creating a visually engaging approach to support the strategy. A bold, graphic designed desk top produced document, alongside infographics and 3D concept plans helped to communicate the scale of ambition. Barrow’s Town Investment Plan was the first to undertake this visual approach to communicating its vision and was shared as an exemplar.

The TIP was successful in securing its £25m funding shared across 7 projects - unlocking brownfield development, delivering enterprise hubs and improved walking and cycling infrastructure and benefiting over 51,600 residents.

The successful funding has contributed to a wider significant funding commitment to Barrow from Central Government, focused around town centre regeneration, brownfield development and infrastructure investment, to help deliver on nationally significant growth priorities in the defence and technological / science sectors. The Town Investment Plan and OPEN’s ongoing involvement across Barrow are helping to secure and realise these investment priorities.