Eden Project Morecambe - Q&As following community conversation on 4th March 2025
Education
Will Eden be facilitating serious scientific research (post grad and above), in areas such as marine biology?
Eden intend to work with Lancaster University on joint research, just as Eden collaborate with Higher Education Institutions regionally at the Cornwall site.
Parking & Transport
What is the current plan for parking for the Eden project, also rail plans and public transport network plan?
The County Council and City Council are working with Eden to utilise existing car parking capacity at the J34 Park and Ride site and within Morecambe Town Centre to accommodate visitors to Eden. We also remain open to other ideas should viable alternative proposals be identified. Under the terms of the planning permission an acceptable Visitor Access and Parking Strategy needs to be provided by Eden. The County Council's Rail Development manager is working with Network Rail and the train operating companies to seek improvements to rail infrastructure and services to and from Eden Project Morecambe. The project location is already well served by existing local bus provision but the County Council's public transport team will work with Eden as the project develops to identify if any further needs arise, and is already exploring with operators how longer distance services, particularly along the coast from Carnforth and the north, could be improved.
What will be the impact for local resindents to access to the prom or disabled car parks?
There are no plans to make any changes to existing disabled parking provision on the Promenade. City Council owned car parks adheres to the parking legislation for disabled bays.
How can the Community Network Rail industry get involved? The industry network of 75+ partnerships would love to get involved
Lancashire County Council has representation on local Community Rail Partnership management groups alongside the railway industry. The involvement and input of Community Rail will be welcomed as plans further develop.
We believe Carnforth could be the gateway for the north for Eden given its proximity to the road and rail networks. Have you given any consideration to developing this potential link?
Plans to date have focused on J34 Park & Ride in terms of a road gateway from both directions on the motorway on the basis that facilities already exist and on a junction already signposted for Morecambe. It is unlikely having separate gateways from different directions could be made viable from an economic point of view. It would also be counter-intuitive for visitors from the south to pass Lancaster and Morecambe by some distance to exit at J35 to access Carnforth. Carnforth would be a little too far away to be a single Eden 'Park and Ride' location in our view as the journey time and cost of running multiple shuttle buses over that distance would make it unattractive for visitors (who would be more likely to just carry on into Morecambe) and to Eden Operations team. In terms of rail and bus journeys, the multi-modal approach means that we are exploring all options to encourage arrival via public transport and this could include Carnforth as there are already direct services to Morecambe. Lancashire County Council has an ambition to increase the frequency of bus services along the Carnforth to Morecambe corridor to every 30 minutes subject to funding being available. Bus/rail integration at Carnforth would be investigated as part of any service enhancement.
When will plans for improved transport links be published and how long will they take to implement?
Under the terms of the planning permission an acceptable Visitor Access & Parking Strategy and Minor Highway improvements must be prepared by Eden and found acceptable by both City and County Councils. An interim version is required prior to the start of construction and the final version prior to opening. These documents will be available to view on the City Council's website as with all other official planning documentation. In terms of rail, we are working with the industry on how we can socialise the work done on potential rail improvements while respecting commercial confidentiality.
I have read the travel plan and I am not convinced that the local council have taken into account the increase traffic movement, On a nice day the car parks and road are full already.
The Transport Assessment prepared for the planning application sets out the traffic impact of the scheme, based on the multi-modal transport strategy which includes a proportion of visitors driving to and parking within the town centre. Eden visitors who do choose to park in the town centre will be directed to specific dedicated car parks (via pre-paid tickets) which are those where potential capacity has been identified. Analysis of the traffic impact on key local junctions has been undertaken and the County Council as highway authority has agreed that the impacts can be mitigated with the package of transport measures set out in the Transport Assessment and Travel Plan.
What local infastructure will be imput to support the flow of traffic and what else beside Eden will draw people to Morecambe?
A large proportion of Eden visitors and employees will either arrive via non-car modes (public transport, coach, active travel) or will park at the M6 Jct 34 park and ride site. For those Eden visitors who do choose to park in the town centre, they will be directed to specific existing car parks where capacity has been identified (via pre-paid tickets). The Transport Assessment has assessed the traffic impact of these vehicle trips, and a package of improvement measures has been agreed with Lancashire County Council and National Highways. This includes schemes at Marine Rd Central, the "Shrimp" roundabout, and at M6 Junction 34.
For the town to thrive as a visitor destination it is important that there is much more to the offer than Eden. Eden can act as anchor but there needs to be more variety too. Through the work on Frontierland other leisure opportunities are being sought and there is the wider town centre regeneration and investment strategy which will look at what else can be delivered.
Local investment and residential impact
What measures are in place to protect the local area from gentrification? The rise in employment is not sufficient protection as poorer/less skilled residents may simply be forced out. Is this what is happening?
Ensuring the strength of the existing community of Morecambe is a key issue for the project. Housing has been highlighted as a key issue and we are tracking closely the impact on house and rental prices and changes in the housing market. Ensuring supply of housing for local people is an important consideration.
Information is key for the support for the project. Activity on site would encourage further investment in the town, is there anything you can do, that is visible on site?
The final delivery programme is currnelty being finalised. This will likely include more detailed ground investigations during the Summer period, and in early 2026, construction on site. Once the construction stage is reached there will be attractive hoardings and facilities to allow people to observe the construction. There will also be permanantly based Eden staff from the end of May with a larger team being employed over the coming months.
Are there any plans to invest in local area such as the West End, in properties for air BnBs/ guest house etc?
Ensuring the mix of housing and accomodation types available for visitors but also ensuring stock is maintained for the local community is vital to the success of the project. There will be opportunities for new accomodation as part of the Frontierland site and the town centre regeneration plans.
What can we do to help?
Promote Morecambe as a great place to visit before Eden comes along. Please also continue to attend these events and bring concerns, questions and ideas that is so important.
There are few green areas in Morecambe. Are there any plans to change this i,e. - green up the promande, green up the Frontierland site, connect Heysham Nature reserve with the headland?
There are lots of green space projects in the district and any new developments will need to meet our Biodiversity Policies, there are no plans to connect the reserve (due to landowneship) but we are working towards enhacing wild life corridors.
Project progression
What are the key Eden milestones and what is the timing for these?
The appointment of John Pye as Project Director and the commencement of work of our external design team is a key milestone moment for Eden Project Morecambe. The project is in its delivery phase. With this in mind, we are poised to begin site investigation work later this year. We understand that the community is keen to see activity on the site as soon as possible. The shape of the programme of work is in three major parts: Design, Construction and Opening. The remainder of 2025 and 2026 will see further development of the design stages; from late 2026 to late 2028 enabling works and construction; from 2028 onwards is operational development and opening. The milestones for all major projects are always reviewed at each design stage and we will be providing further updates in due course.
Is the project fully funded now?
We are very close to Eden Project Morecambe being fully funded, thanks to a combination of £50m investment from the UK Government and significant progress being made securing the remaining £50m of private and philanthropic investment. We are drawing down the initial development funds of the £50m Government investment. Our total funding package is close to target and, as a charity, fundraising will continue throughout all phases of the project to enable us to continue our charitable work and ensure Eden Project Morecambe is a world class visitor destination.
You have £50m from the Government, what is the current funding gap and how to you plan to close it ?
We are in conversations with a number of potential investors and we are pleased to be making excellent progress in securing the remaining £50m for the project. Because of the commercially sensitive nature of these conversations, we are not able to give detailed updates during the negotiation process, but progress continues to be positive.
Is the funding from the government still guarenteed by the new Labour Government?
As outlined in the autumn statement, Eden Project Morecambe was approved as part of wider package within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. We will continue to work proactively with the Department and Lancaster City Council now that the project is in the delivery phase.
The original estimate for the project was £100m, What is that cost now?
Current economic conditions are challenging but we are confident that our business plan for Eden Project Morecambe – which formed part of our bid for Government funding and has therefore been meticulously scrutinised as part of that process – is rigorous and resilient enough to ensure that the project is delivered on budget. A cost management strategy for the project is to design to cost. That will remain through the design and construction stages to ensure the project is delivered to the £100m budget. As with all major construction projects, the budget is constantly reviewed.
In what way will the average rate payer benefit from Eden?
Eden Project Morecambe is part-funded by UK Government and Eden Project Morecambe Limited is raising its own private funding. We are working in partnership and collaboration with our partners in order to deliver a world-class visitor attraction that will be a catalyst for economic growth both locally and in the wider region. Eden Project Morecambe, like the Eden Project in Cornwall, is a regeneration project and the cost of the project will be paid back many times over in the form of economic benefits for the region. People in the North West will see the benefits in increased tourism, new jobs both directly with Eden Project Morecambe and in the wider supply chain e.g. associated businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and other attractions. We are working with regional tourism bodies to ensure that the long-term benefits are felt across the North West. Eden Project Morecambe will be a long-term driver of increased prosperity across the region, reflecting what we have seen in Cornwall since the Eden Project opened there more than 20 years ago.
Many people I speak still doubt that this project will go ahead. These meetings are very useful but would you consider putting out a single page summary of the actual progression of the project?
The project is developing constantly and therefore the community conversations are key events that help us provide a consolidated position on the progress of the project on a quarterly basis, and to seek feedback and involvement from the community. Information on Eden Project Morecambe can be found on the Eden Project website at www.edenproject.com/morecambe. We also issue press releases on the progression of the project and these can be found at www.edenproject.com/media-relations.
Could the eden project be entitled to gift aid
At the Eden Project in Cornwall, gift aid enables The Eden Trust to reclaim the tax paid on donations, as well as Annual Passes, Locals’ Passes and Eden Project Membership. That means that for those who purchase a Pass or Membership, or choose to make a donation to us, we may be able to claim 25p for each £1 of their donation, which is used as additional funding for our charitable work. Gift aid makes a huge difference to us as a charity and is something we would look to implement at Eden Project Morecambe also.
Local employment
In Jan 2025 Eden project in Cornwall announced it would be cutting at least 80 jobs due to a fall in visitor numbers. What legally binding agreement can you give for Eden Morecambe?
We are 100 per cent committed to our work in Morecambe. Funding for this project comes from a mixture of public, private and philanthropic investment and it operates as a separate business entity to the Eden Project in Cornwall. Eden Project Morecambe Limited has obligations under a grant funding agreement, with the accountable body, Lancaster City Council, for delivery of Eden Project Morecambe.
When Eden opens what level of employment is expected to be able to run the site?
The operational plans for Eden Project Morecambe will evolve over the next few years ahead of opening. The Eden Project team is made up of full-time, core staff, augmented by seasonal staff for peak periods. We envision a direct core team of up to 150 full time employees will make up the core staff, which will be augmented with a seasonal force to meet higher peaks and seasonal demands. The staffing demands will evolve as the project designs evolve.
How many Local jobs will be created and what is the cost of contaracts that have been awarded? What are the plans to create more?
A small number of contracts have been awarded to our professional service teams in areas of design, cost management and project management. No construction contracts have been awarded. The value of contracts is commercially sensitive and Eden Project Morecambe continues to work with Lancaster City Council on our procurement of future services. In terms of more jobs, it is anticipated that the supply chain will respond to the project incredibly positively and that will provide opportunities for indirect jobs. Studies have indicated that could be circa 1,000 indirect jobs within the regional supply chain.
Infastructure
What provisions are planned for the infastructure to the project i.e. utlities, parking, road closures all of which will have a local and enviromental impact?
Our aim is for Eden Project Morecambe construction to have the lowest impact, both environmentally and to the day-to-day lives of people in Morecambe. We will try to keep noise and transport disruption to a minimum and will engage with the community throughout the process.
Have provisions been made for the access to the hovercraft crew and shop volenteers for parking at the RNLI station, also for the hovercraft lowloader to access the main road when needed
Once Eden Project Morecambe opens, public access to the promenade running around the edge of the Eden site will not be affected and access to some outdoor gardens will also be possible without buying an admission ticket. RNLI access will also be unaffected. During certain points of the construction, there may be some short periods of disruption on the prom – although nothing that will affect the efficacy of the RNLI’s vital operations - but the local community will be informed of this in advance.
Will access to the Cenothaph war memorial be maintained during the constriction, especially for rememberance days
Yes, access to the Cenotaph war memorial will remain throughout construction.
Will there be local resident discounts on entry fees?
Yes, as line with the policy in Cornwall
Last updated: 20 May 2025