Page 36 - Barrow Town Deal Board Agenda 14/4/2020

Barrow Town Investment Plan - Stakeholder Insight Report

Table 3.2 Thematic Challenge Analysis
Theme Summary point
Urban • The town centre is identified as a significant challenge which “does not provide an appropriate offer
Regeneration & to encourage spend”. The town centre needs to shift its focus away from retail to other uses to drive
Land Use footfall. A number of commentators reflected on the need for the retail core to “shrink” and
peripheral areas repurposed for leisure and residential uses. “A smaller town centre in Barrow with
an events square could support more dwell time and encourage independent traders to come in”.
However, it was noted that the disparate ownership of freeholds in the town centre makes it difficult
to implement.
• There is a lack of national retail requirements for Barrow which is attributed to a “grim assessment
of the town’s potential” based on demographic indicators. The out-of-town consents are perceived to
have “scuppered the town centre” which is further undermined by a lack of free car parking in the
town centre and business rates considered to be “wildly out of kilter with rental values”. Business
rates were reassessed in the 2017 ratings list and came down “but not far enough”. “Business rates
are double rental values in Barrow which deters interest, particularly from independents… this
makes it very difficult to negotiate rents”. It is considered that the impact of COVID19 could drive a
fundamental review of business rates.
• There is a need for better repurposing of existing housing stock and delivery of new housing to meet
aspirations and demand. Barrow has an oversupply of terraced housing, and issues of non-decency
in private sector stock. Condition issues relate to low income owner-occupation, poor landlords, and
weak housing market. However, there is a lack of public funding to support regeneration and
renewal of existing stock.
• Barrow has some fantastic green space assets, but they are not accessible to everyone. Some areas are
poorly served by green space.
• Whilst the industrial market in Barrow has been buoyant, it is difficult to get investor interest in the
town. “Demand is pent up and there is a lack of sites for industrial”.
• There are gaps in the leisure offer to facilitate dwell time and spend.
Skills & Enterprise • The vulnerability of the town when a third of all employment is directly linked to BAE
• There are gaps in the HE offer within Barrow, for example health which is a priority sector. It was
noted that “the need to accelerate skills in health has been reinforced by COVID19”. We need to
understand where the gaps are, and what courses young people are leaving Barrow to access. It is
important to ensure provision isn’t duplicated, and providers work together to enhance existing
provision, including building R&D capabilities and an extended HE course offer. The “element of

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