INTERVIEWS: Residents speak out after hearing latest update on Eden Project Morecambe

Residents have spoken out after hearing the latest news on plans for the new Eden Project Morecambe at a public meeting.

Beyond Radio spoke to some of the audience, including several people who live in Morecambe and Heysham, as they left a 'Community Conversation' at the Winter Gardens.

Guest speakers, including members of the Eden team and their partners in the project, had just given them updates on the latest progress on building the Morecambe Bay-themed facility on the central Promenade.

The latest news is that a business case for the project was presented to the new Labour government on August 23. Once full sign-off is given, expected in October, firm dates for starting work on-site will be announced.

Eden chief Si Bellamy said a team of "world class designers" will be appointed this month.

He said that initial on-site work will be further "ground investigations", expected to take place some time between November and March 2025.

And he said the latest estimated opening date is 2028, with actual construction work likely to begin in 2025/6.

Around 300 people had registered to attend the meeting, held at the theatre on Tuesday evening, and had the chance to ask questions to the team.

We asked audience members for their thoughts on what was said.

LISTEN to our interviews at the Eden Project 'Community Conversation' on Tuesday

Tina, who lives in Morecambe, said: "I thought it was really interesting.

"There were some informative answers, but I still think there's a long way to go.

"One quite worrying thing is they've still got to do some ground work investigations this autumn. That coiuld potentially throw up all manner of issues that could add to the bill.

"Personally I don't think £100m is a realistic figure anyway. I think it's going to inevitably cost a lot more than that.

"The inevitable increase in traffic is also a concern. There's only this road along the Prom that is the main way to get to Eden."

Her partner David said: "I've been following the online presentations. Tina's right about transport. We all know if there's an accident on the M6, traffic completely snarls up here. So with adding thousands of visitors every day, it's going to become a bit of an issue.

"The one thing I think that's not particularly been addressed that much, is that yes it will benefit people to learn about nature, but the actual impact on the Bay itself, that's not something that's really talked about a great deal.

"There seems to be a little bit of a lack of detail on some of the major things like finance, transport and maybe the impact on the environment as well.

"I'm sure more will come, and it is very welcome, potentially for the impact it will have on people's lives in Morecambe. But I think there needs to be a bit more transparency from them."

Chris, from Derbyshire, whose wife is from Morecambe and sister lives in Morecambe, said: "We've been following the Community Conversations on the internet. Today we thought we'd come in person. The Winter Gardens is amazing.

"(The meeting had) good information but nothing new really. It's all stuff that we have heard before. It's all just time now, getting everything in order.

"Until they actually start building it, I think a lot of people don't really think it's going to get done. So I can't wait for it to get done. It will absolutely transform the area and Morecambe deserves it."

Margaret from Heysham said: "I thought it was very informative and I'm feeling very positive about what's going on.

"I've just been to one other (Community Conversation) which was quite a while back. There were a lot of questions about people staying longer, rather than just coming for the Eden Project.

"It seems to be moving along quickly. I feel there's great optimism regarding it.

"I think it will be a great asset. I feel now we feel that we're getting there."

What was said at the meeting

Speakers at the meeting included Councillor Catherine Potter, cabinet member for the visitor economy on Lancaster City Council, Jonathan Noad, chief officer working on the Eden Project for Lancaster City Council, Dan Spencer from Lancashire County Council Highways, Sarah Walker-Smith, new chair of the Eden Programme Board, and Tracey Robbins and Si Bellamy from the Eden Project.

Councillor Potter (pictured below) said: "I have exactly the same concerns (about transport).

"I'll be lobbying for improvements to local public transport, to rails services in particular and to make sure we have sufficient parking and in the right places, I promise you this will be my mission."

She also said that Lizzi Collinge, the new MP for Morecambe, was "100 per cent behind the project".

Sarah Walker-Smith said: "I've waited for a long time for this thing called Eden Project Morecambe and I thought, why aren't they getting on with it?

"I can tell you that I've been on the inside for the past two months and you would not believe the amount of work that has gone into this already. We're about ready to start to see something. Most of what's going on is unseen. There is an enormous amount of work needed to get us to this point. This wonderful team who are behind this are working their socks off."

In January 2023, the previous Conservative government announced they would be awarding £50m towards the project.

Since the general election and the new Labour government took office, £2.5m of this has been released to Eden.

Read more: £2.5m of Eden Project Morecambe funding unlocked to ‘prepare site for activation’ - Beyond Radio

Si Bellamy (pictured below) said on Tuesday: "We are in delivery, after seven years on this project. We are in receipt of public money and this is really important.

"A fantastic result is that they have confidence that they are putting development funding in right now ahead of the business case going through.

"We are out to procurement through the North West Construction Hub and we are recruiting our brilliant world class design team. We will get them formally appointed in the next couple of weeks. Then a detailed programme of work will take us to the end of the year on the next phase of design.

"When are we going to start seeing things happen on site? The government has asked us to look again at our programme and we're looking to announce how that programme will change, probably in late autumn.

"The indicators are that we're moving to an opening in 2028.

"Site activation...we have a window for that for ground investigations between November and March. This will be the next level of investigation.

"We're trying to get as much design done as we can, before we engage with a construction contractor. The more certain we can be about the design, the more certain we can be about the costs. If we can take our time in those foundation parts of design, then we can build it really quickly.

"The next design phases will be another year, year and a half, then we've got a two-year build cycle. We're looking at getting some big spades in the ground in 2025, 2026, that's when you're going to see big construction contractors coming in. We will confirm that towards the end of the autumn.

"There is no more exciting place to be right now than in Morecambe."

Mr Bellamy was also asked how confident he was that the project will cost the projected £100m.

"We've got a really strong cost management plan," he said.

"It's a £100m project, we've virtually raised all the money we need to raise. Then we're going to manage costs all the way through, working with our design team. It's my duty to make sure we stay on cost, we stay on budget, and more important we stay on quality. Morecambe deserves an outstanding project."