AMBITIOUS plans which could change the lives of Barrovians for generations to come has received a multi-million pound shot-in-the-arm.

Projects in the pipeline which have been boosted by a £25m investment by the Government include:

la university campus

limproved homes

lcommunity hubs

better cycling infrastructure to Barrow.

The town has been offered a deal worth up to £25million through the Government’s Towns Fund to boost the local economy, the Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick will announce today.

“This is a pivotal moment for our borough and all those who live and work here,” said Councillor Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council.

“The funding will ensure we are able to move forward into an exciting future through the launch of the innovative new projects identified through #BrilliantBarrow.

“These projects have the potential to generate long term benefits for our communities through opportunities in further and higher education, regeneration and economic prosperity.

“Developing the proposals took a huge amount of hard work and that will continue now with the detailed further work required for us to draw down this cash from the government.”

Barrow is one of the first seven towns across the country to have a funding offer made as part of the £3.6 billion scheme aimed at ‘levelling up’ local economies.

The area is set to benefit from investment in projects such as Barrow Learning Quarter, which will include both a university campus and a skills hub.

Plans to make Barrow cleaner and greener could also be funded, including the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure project, which could see cycle routes introduced at Abbey Road, the A590 and the A5087.

MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell said he 'could not be happier'.

“It’s a vote of faith in both Barrow and the plans which the Town Deal Board put together," he said.

“This will be absolutely transformational for our town, bringing a university campus, improved homes, community hubs, and better cycling infrastructure to Barrow.

“Huge credit goes to Steve Cole from BAE who chaired the Board so well.

"What a result.”

Steve Cole, chief infrastructure officer at BAE Systems and chair of the Town Deal Board, said: “This is fantastic news and a huge boost for Barrow.

"An enormous amount of work went into developing these proposals and engaging with the people of Barrow to make sure their voices were heard.

“We had fantastic levels of feedback and insight from residents of the town which, alongside the excellent work of the #BrilliantBarrow team, enabled us to put forward a very strong bid. Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a very bright future for Barrow and we now look forward to developing the various exciting projects and seeing the wider benefits they bring.”