Westmorland and Furness Council has appointed  Muse Places, supported by supply chain partners within the ECF partnership (Homes England, Legal & General and Muse), as the strategic development partner to deliver the Marina Village housing project in Barrow‑in‑Furness, agreeing a pre‑development services deal to progress around 1,350 new homes, public open spaces and a nature conservation area on the Marina Village waterfront site.

Marina Village plays a key role in Barrow’s future development, providing new homes within easy reach of schools, major employers, and local amenities, while enhancing the town’s reputation as a desirable place to live. Once completed, the project will reinforce the council’s collaboration with government and BAE Systems through the Team Barrow partnership, helping to deliver employment initiatives that are transformative, inclusive, and sustainable for Barrow, Westmorland and Furness, and the wider region. 

Work has begun on remediating the second phase of 19 hectares to prepare the land for new homes, supported by £24.8 million in Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) funding from Homes England. The first phase, which involved remediating six hectares with £5.5 million from the Government’s Getting Building Fund administered by Cumbria LEP, was completed in November 2023. The second phase encompasses ground remediation and the installation of essential infrastructure, including a realigned Cavendish Dock Road and the diversion or protection of key utilities. Additionally, the council’s Salthouse Road waste depot will be temporarily relocated during the works. Planning permission for phase 3, which covers remediation and the realignment of Cavendish Dock Road, was granted in November and will unlock an additional 16% of the site once a biodiversity net gain credit application is approved. A Pre-Development Agreement with Muse and ECF will initiate early work to advance Marina Village to the next stage, including initial design, planning, funding strategy, and project governance. Subsequently, a Master Development Agreement will define how the Marina Village development will be delivered over time.