The Eden Project has been awarded £50 million from the government’s Levelling Up fund to build its new eco-tourism attraction in Morecambe, Lancashire.
Lancaster City Council, which submitted the bid, will be the recipient of the funding. It will work with the Eden team to allocate it in accordance with the government’s requirements.
Lancaster City Council leader Caroline Jackson said Morecambe is “once more very firmly on the map”.
“This is fantastic news and presents a once in a generation opportunity to reinvent and rejuvenate Morecambe into a 21st century seaside resort and I’m excited to see work start this year,” she added.
Phillippa Williamson, the leader of Lancashire County Council, said the “transformational project will bring a huge boost to Morecambe and its economy”.
The £50m funding will cover half of the £100m needed to build the coastal-themed attraction, previously known as Eden Project North and now called Eden Project Morecambe.
The remaining funding will come from private and philanthropic sources. Eden will now carry out preparatory ground work on the site on the Morecambe seafront before starting construction.
21st century seaside resort
An expanded project delivery team will be formed for the construction phase. Information about the first round of recruitment will be announced soon.
Approximately 300 green jobs will be directly created by Eden Project Morecambe, and more than 1,000 additional new jobs will be supported in the region.
“This is a historic moment for the town of Morecambe and the surrounding area and for the Eden Project and our partners,” said Rob Chatwin, group CEO of the Eden Project.
Eden Project Morecambe, which was granted planning permission last year, is situated on the former site of the Bubbles leisure complex.
“What started off as a dream has now become reality and this will secure prosperity in Morecambe for generations to come,” said Morecambe and Lunesdale’s MP David Morris. “This decision has quite literally changed Morecambe forever.”
Eden hopes to open the Morecambe attraction by 2026.
Images: Eden Project
