A seaside town “unfairly” dubbed the worst in the UK will soon get a multi-million-pound facelift as officials seek to mount a British landmark on its shores.
Morecambe, a town home to fewer than 35,000 people, was ranked low on a list of communities with a beach view late in 2023, receiving 24 of 100 possible points despite its stunning shoreline.
The score placed Morecambe close to the bottom of the list, above just Blackpool, Weston-Super-Mare, South Shields and Rhyl, the worst of the lot – but its favour could soon change.
The town will receive a £50 million cash injection from UK authorities handling Cornwall’s famous giant greenhouse conservation programme, the Eden Project. The project – expected to cost £100 million in total – is on course to cause a local economic boom, with thousands of jobs on the horizon.
Locals hope 2024 is the year construction crews finally break ground on the Eden Project Morecambe. The project was announced in 2022 as Eden Project North and initially tipped for completion in 2026 before it was delayed.
In January 2023, it was announced that the town would receive £50 million from the Levelling Up fund following a “thorough review of progress”.
But despite its initially intended opening now being just over two years away, construction is yet to begin in earnest.
Locals want “spades in the ground” in 2024 to signal the exciting next phase in the project’s development. Proponents of the development have said the business and supplier opportunities, potential tourism, training, education and more will bring a host of benefits to Morecambe.
Reports have claimed that Eden Project Morecambe could pull up to 740,000 annual visitors, helping raise the profile of the local beach, where concept art envisions the domed conservation zones will be placed. As well as drawing nearly three-quarters of a million tourists, the development could also create local jobs.
The plans are expected to produce approximately 274 jobs in total, with other estimations suggesting up to 300 green positions may open up from the opportunity. Tourism and visitor spending could generate another 1,083 in the wider economy, with Lancaster University collaborating directly in the process.
Bev Dumbleton, the company’s chief operating officer said: “Staycations remain incredibly popular as we head into 2024. It’s easy to see why, with the ease of travel, affordability and an endless list of beautiful UK destinations to explore. This is driving many people to have holidays closer to home.
“This is good news to local economies up and down the country – including seaside towns like Morecambe. They can benefit from the spending of holiday-makers, with the staycation industry also helping to create jobs and support independent businesses.”
She added: “We work closely with all owners to ensure properties are let responsibly and booked out year-round to benefit local communities. From providing a clear list of ways holidaymakers can support local restaurants and communities, to partnering with local businesses to support with change-overs or maintenance, easy things like this can make a big difference to those in the area.”
Bev Dumbleton, the company’s chief operating officer said: “Staycations remain incredibly popular as we head into 2024. It’s easy to see why, with the ease of travel, affordability and an endless list of beautiful UK destinations to explore. This is driving many people to have holidays closer to home.
“This is good news to local economies up and down the country – including seaside towns like Morecambe. They can benefit from the spending of holiday-makers, with the staycation industry also helping to create jobs and support independent businesses.”
She added: “We work closely with all owners to ensure properties are let responsibly and booked out year-round to benefit local communities. From providing a clear list of ways holidaymakers can support local restaurants and communities, to partnering with local businesses to support with change-overs or maintenance, easy things like this can make a big difference to those in the area.”
