A GLOBAL search for landscape and architectural designers with big ideas has been launched – as multi-million pound plans to transform a unique beauty spot in a UK town gather pace.
Working with Copeland Borough Council, the Millom Town Deal Board secured an offer of £20.6 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative earlier this year for projects it identified as local priorities.
The money has been allocated to four projects that required the support of the Government that will help ensure the area thrives now and for future generations.
Now, a competition has been launched to find a design partner for one of these projects – The Iron Line – which aims to sensitively transform the area around Millom’s coastal lagoon and sea wall into an inspirational, fully inclusive and multi-sensory nationally significant visitor attraction.
The five proposals in the competition that best meet the criteria after the closing date of October 21 will be shortlisted to go through to a second round. These design concepts, created during the second-round stage, will be showcased in a local exhibition so that stakeholders and members of the public can feed into this once-in-a-lifetime process.
Robert Morris-Eyton, chair of the Millom Town Deal Board, described the competition as a pivotal moment in the life of The Iron Line project.
The Iron Line would feature the historic sea wall and include the area covered by RSPB Hodbarrow.
Millom and Haverigg were among 101 towns invited to bid for a share of the Towns Fund in 2019 – part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
It’s proposal includes four projects set out in Millom and Haverigg’s Town Investment Plan. They aim to help maximise inclusive economic growth and better connectivity for the area while developing a welcoming arts, culture and tourism offer, thriving independent businesses and healthy, active people.
Colander Associates Ltd has been brought in to run The Iron Line design competition on behalf of the Borough Council and Town Deal Board in order to seek the interest of firms both in the UK and internationally.
A dedicated webpage has been launched to offer information for design and architecture firms thinking about putting themselves forward for the project. It can be found here:
https://www.colander.co.uk/architectural-competitions/colander-competitions/iron-line-millom-cumbria