8 LEVELLING UP
EDEN’S GREEN SUPPORTERS ARE LEFT FEELING BLUE
Amid all the ‘levelling up’ announcements in Rishi Sunak’s March Budget, one flagship project was conspicuous by its absence.
There had been high hopes that a £70m funding request for the transformational Eden Project North development in Morecambe would be greeted favourably by the chancellor and the Treasury.
Eden had submitted a business case to the government for the cash towards the total £125m cost of the project, a major new attraction that seeks to reimagine the British seaside resort for the 21st century.
It is a case that would seem to fit perfectly with the levelling-up agenda being pursued by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The business case shows that the project can be a key driver for a post- Covid green recovery in the North West. Eden Project North is projected to attract around one million visitors a year and directly employ more than 400 people.
It estimates a visitor spend of more than £200m per year in the region - not including money spent at Eden Project North - which would support an additional 1,500 jobs.
Standing up in the Commons to deliver his speech, the chancellor declared the government was committed to its levelling up agenda and “spreading prosperity across every part of the UK”.
However, while Darlington got Treasury jobs, the new National Infrastructure Bank will be based in Leeds and Freeport locations on Teesside, Humberside and Merseyside were unveiled, there was no mention of this vitally important Lancashire regeneration plan.
Calls for a favourable cash announcement for Eden North had gathered strength in the run up to Budget day with the leaders of the three councils in the Bay area, including Lancaster, adding their collective voices.
South Lakeland’s leader Giles Archibald summed up their position, describing the planned attraction as “a huge boost for communities across the whole Bay area”.
He added: “We hope that the chancellor recognises the opportunity that this presents and commits to support the project.’’
Despite there being no direct funding announcement in March, those behind Eden Project North have reaffirmed their commitment to making it a reality.
David Harland, Eden Project International chief executive, said: “It’s no secret that we were hoping the government would provide funding for Eden Project North in this Budget, but we are not viewing this as a major setback.
“We were encouraged by the chancellor’s commitments to levelling-up and a green recovery and we feel Eden Project North fits perfectly with these agendas.
“We are as confident as ever that our case for investment is incredibly strong and we know that many in government feel the same.
“We will continue making our case and remain hopeful for good news in a future announcement. Our conversations with private and philanthropic investors are also ongoing.”
Eden will continue work on preparing a planning application, which is due to be submitted later this year. Eden Project North, which would be built on the site of the old Bubbles swimming pool on Morecambe promenade, is due to open in 2024.
It is being delivered by the team behind the first Eden Project in Cornwall and is one of the key projects in Eden’s plans to expand around the UK and the world.
The team has a proven track record of delivering regeneration projects, with Eden in Cornwall transforming a former china clay pit, which was sterile, unstable and had no soil, into the world-class destination it is today.
Eden in Cornwall cost £141m to build and to date has welcomed more than 22 million visitors since opening in 2001. In recent years, it has continued to attract around a million visitors a year.
According to reports, the levelling up agenda is moving to the top of the government’s agenda with a White Paper planned for later this year.
And the Prime Minister is said to have written to all cabinet minister calling for them to come up with “ambitious plans” to turn the agenda into reality.
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