Lancaster City Council is expected to give its backing to the potentially town-transforming Eden Project Morecambe attraction for the second time next week, having granted consent for the original, larger version of the scheme more than four years ago.
Place North, an independent, employee-owned news publisher and event organiser, reports the version of the attraction up for approval next week features two domed eco-systems, the Realm of the Sun and the Realm of the Moon.
The two “shells” would be connected by the 7750 square feet Metronome building – the arrival point for guests.
You can view the revised planning application here in the Lancaster City Council website
Beyond Radio reports design changes and flood defences at the Eden Project Morecambe – now expected to open in 2028, with building starting later this year – have been backed by council planning officers.
A council report published ahead of the meeting says: “There continues to be genuine optimism that the positive impacts arising from the development will quickly become firmly embedded within the town, through this varied scheme of a deliverable leisure attraction.
“The benefits arising from this weather-proofed attraction will be experienced by local hoteliers, retailers, food and drink providers and other businesses within Morecambe and the wider north-west region.
“The development itself represents a new landmark building within the town, with its bold architecture and dynamic landscaping and an embedded appreciation for the natural environment.”
Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the £100m Eden Project Morecambe would be constructed on the 11-acre former Bubbles Leisure Complex and Superdome site on the town’s promenade and has long been thought of as a potential catalyst for Morecambe’s revival.
“For many years Morecambe has been one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations with visitors attracted to its stunning natural landscape,” the planned attraction’s official site notes. “Eden Project Morecambe, a major new attraction, re-imagines Morecambe as a seaside resort for the 21st Century, inspiring wonder and a connection with the natural world drawing on the Eden Project’s focus on education, ecology and community.
The project underwent a “strategic recalibration” last year, on viability grounds. While the version of the scheme approved in 2022 featured four domes totaling just shy of 200,000 square feet, the built elements of the latest iteration total less than 100,000 square feet.
Meanwhile, the external spaces – including the 1.5-acre Bring me Sunshine Garden – have been enhanced.
Local businesses say they approve of the revised plans, although transport infrastructure concerns remain, and one commentator has asked the Eden Project North identify reflects MorecambeBay, and not just any coastal location.
• You can view the revised planning application here in the Lancaster City Council website
• Read the full Place North report here
• Eden Project Morecambe – Official Site
• lnformation on upcoming events as well as recordings of previous events are available on this dedicated Eden Project Morecambe community page