Eden Project North still on track despite Budget
The Eden Project has reaffirmed its commitment to creating Eden Project North in Morecambe in Lancashire, despite no direct funding for the project being announced in today’s Government Budget speech.
Eden has submitted a business case to the Government for £70m towards the total £125m cost of the project, a major new exemplar attraction that seeks to reimagine the British seaside resort for the 21st century.
David Harland, Eden Project International Chief Executive, said: “It’s no secret that we were hoping the Government would provide funding for Eden Project North in this Budget, but we are not viewing this as a major setback.
“We were encouraged by the Chancellor’s commitments to levelling-up and a green recovery and we feel Eden Project North fits perfectly with these agendas.
“We are as confident as ever that our case for investment is incredibly strong and we know that many in Government feel the same. We will continue making our case and remain hopeful for good news in a future announcement. Our conversations with private and philanthropic investors are also ongoing.
“We are hugely grateful to the support from our partners, Lancaster University, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. Thanks to David Morris, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, and the community in Morecambe for their tireless efforts to help make this project a reality.”
Eden will continue work on preparing a planning application, which is due to be submitted later this year. Eden Project North is due to open in 2024.
Eden’s business case shows that the project can be a key driver for a post-Covid green recovery in the North West. Eden Project North is projected to attract around one million visitors a year and directly employ more than 400 people.
The business case estimates a visitor spend of more than £200m per year in the region (not including money spent at Eden Project North) which would support an additional 1,500 jobs.
Eden Project North is being delivered by the team behind the first Eden Project in Cornwall and is one of the key projects in Eden’s plans to expand around the UK and the world.
The team has a proven track record of delivering regeneration projects, with Eden in Cornwall transforming a former china clay pit, which was sterile, unstable and had no soil, into the world-class destination it is today.
Eden in Cornwall cost £141m to build and to date has welcomed more than 22 million visitors since opening in 2001. In recent years, it has continued to attract around 1m visitors a year.