£2.5m of Eden Project Morecambe funding unlocked to ‘prepare site for activation’

The first tranche of the £50m government funding for Eden Project Morecambe has been released as the new attraction moves one step closer to becoming reality.

The Eden team now has access to £2.5m 'cash in the bank' which has been unlocked following the signing of the first stage of a Grant Funding Agreement.

The money, which is part of the £50m investment committed to Eden Project Morecambe by the UK Government, will be used to bring in external contractors to "further develop the designs as part of the next stage of development ahead of the construction phase", said Lancaster City Council.

The design team, who will be procured through the North West Construction Hub, will further develop the design and will undertake the next major design phase as part of continued project delivery.

The new Eden attraction will be located on the former site of the Bubbles/Dome/Super Swimming Stadium leisure complex with the Grade II* listed Winter Gardens and Midland Hotel its near neighbours.

Eden Project Morecambe will cost £100m, £50m of which was secured from the previous UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The remaining £50m will be sourced from private and philanthropic funds, which Eden bosses say is in ‘advanced stages’ of being finalised.

In April, Si Bellamy (pictured above), the Eden Project’s Chief Transformation Officer, told Beyond Radio that he expected the full funding package for the new Eden to be in place "by the middle of summer, if not before" and for work to start on site "towards the autumn, early part of winter" this year.

Following today's news, Mr Bellamy said: “This is a crucial step on the road to making Eden Project Morecambe a reality.

‘’The release of this investment from the Government will enable us to undertake the work needed to ensure that Eden Project Morecambe design is maturing at pace and prepares the way for a site activation.

“We will work closely with the North West Construction Hub and our project Partners to ensure that we can secure the services of leading contractors while also representing the best use of public funds.”

Former Morecambe MP, Conservative David Morris, speaking in a Beyond Radio debate before the general election earlier this month, said that £5m of funding was available so construction could begin as early as late summer.

Mr Morris said: "Eden is already working for the community. You've started to see buildings being done up, more investment going in from hoteliers into the area, to cater for the expected influx of new tourism.

"I got £5m unlocked from the £50m to get the bulldozers in, in September. So the government is already moving forward on getting the Eden Project built.’’

But in his monthly Leader's Report to Lancaster City Council, council leader Phillip Black said: "The unexpected general election prevented the previous Government from releasing the full £5m of early draw-down funding which had been agreed.

"However, the City Council was able to take steps necessary to facilitate the release of £2.5m of early draw-down funding despite the procedural frustrations of the pre-election period.

"Whilst I am delighted that Eden Morecambe now has access to £2.5m of cash in the bank, I remain committed to securing the remaining £2.5m promised, to ensure the continued smooth delivery of the project in terms of liquidity in these vital early procurement stages.

"I have written to Lizzi (Collinge) as Morecambe’s new MP to request her assistance in engaging with the civil service to help achieve this ambition for our district."

Before the general election, Mrs Collinge gave what she described as a "cast-iron guarantee" that the Labour Party would honour the £50m funding should they win.

Mrs Collinge said: ‘’ "It is a fantastic opportunity. We have accessible natural beauty in Morecambe, we have wonderful local businesses who are just ready to take on this opportunity and create more good jobs and more economic development for the area, and we have a Port ready for further investment under a Labour government.

"We have to be realistic about the risks and make sure we mitigate that ahead of time. We cannot wait for day one and for there to be problems and deal with them. We have to look ahead and maximise every benefit for local people."

Speaking after news of the £2.5m release, Councillor Catherine Potter, Lancaster City Council cabinet member with responsibility for the visitor economy, community wealth building and culture, said: “We’re all eager to see ‘spades in the ground’ and there has been an awful lot of work taking place behind the scenes to ensure the project progresses as swiftly as possible. Securing this funding is another significant milestone and brings the vision of Eden Project Morecambe one step closer.”

Sarah Kemp, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Lancaster University, said: “This is an important step forward to bringing this transformational project to Morecambe. All the partners have been working hard to support it and help secure the funding Eden needs to deliver Eden Project Morecambe for the community.”

Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "This is an important step in securing the funding needed to bring this dynamic project to life. We’re working with Eden and partners to ensure a strong and clear vision and strategy for this project, which will bring more visitors to the town and into Lancashire in general. This will bring undoubted benefits for jobs and growth, with a positive impact on the region."

Mike Tyler, Business Development and Client Liaison at the North West Construction Hub (NWCH), said: “As a public sector framework with a strong focus on ethical procurement and economic impact we have been delighted to support the Eden Project Morecambe team over the last few years.

“The project is a beacon of regeneration and investment for Morecambe that will benefit the town and the wider communities. The NWCH will continue to work closely and support the teams to ensure positive outcomes throughout the procurement, project delivery and beyond.”

The Grant Funding Agreement is the formal process by which the funding package for Eden Project Morecambe is confirmed with the Government.

The North West Construction Hub is a leading public sector construction framework that has led the way for over a decade. Being a truly public sector organisation allows the framework to understand, advise and align with clients’ drivers to deliver effective and appropriate procurement solutions. 

It is a public not-for-profit framework, which means it plays a unique and impartial role, working with the construction industry to share knowledge and promote fair play.

Next month, members of the public on a fully booked free 'Wonder Walk' will learn about the plans for the new attraction, and will be shown around the site on Morecambe's central Promenade, discover some of Eden's plans and explore any concerns that they have about the project.

The event has been organised by The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery community hub in the Arndale Centre, Morecambe.

What is the Eden Project Morecambe?

The proposed Eden Project Morecambe is earmarked for 4.8 hectares of land on the central promenade in Morecambe, near the Midland hotel.

The mixed-use complex will be housed in shell-like domes and will combine indoor and outdoor attractions, themed around Morecambe Bay.

The facility is set to include plants, art and interactive exhibits, a concert area for live music events, three cafe/restaurants and a visitor centre. 

It will include:

• Above the Bay/The Realm of the Sun: an environment filled with plants and art exhibits, showcasing natural abundance and the rhythms of life linked to the sun.
• Below the Bay/The Realm of the Moon: an immersive series of theatrical experiences that bring to life lunar rhythms and tides.
• The Natural Observatory: the home of Eden Project Morecambe's research and education programmes.

There will be "groundbreaking immersive experiences" and "a beautiful and sustainable architectural design".

It has been estimated that the Eden Project Morecambe would pull 740,000 visitors annually, as well as providing around 300 high-quality green jobs, plus more than 1,000 additional new jobs supported in the region.

The existing UK Eden Project visitor attraction in Cornwall has transformed the region's economy since opening in 2000.