£100m Eden Project Morecambe gets green light | Construction Enquirer News
Summary
Lancaster City Council approves a revised £100m Eden Project in Morecambe, reducing its size and visitor capacity, with a targeted opening in 2028.
Why It Matters
This project represents a significant investment in the Morecambe area, aiming to revitalize a previously derelict site into a major tourist attraction. The reduction in scale reflects economic realities while still promising to enhance local community engagement and promote sustainability.
Key Takeaways
- Planning permission granted for a scaled-down Eden Project.
- Visitor capacity reduced from 1 million to 585,000 annually.
- Construction preparation is set to begin in October 2026.
Lancaster City Council granted planning permission for the second time after developers halved the size of the scheme and cut the number of signature domes from four to two. The rethink follows years of cost inflation that stalled the original programme, which had targeted a 2024 completion. Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the project will rise on the 11-acre former Bubbles Leisure Complex and Superdome site on Morecambe’s promenade. Under the revised plans, total internal space drops from 185,000 sq ft to 91,500 sq ft. The height of the main dome falls by 4m to 37.3m. Opening is now pencilled in for late 2028. (L-R) Original plan and scaled-down Eden Morecambe plan now approved Grimshaw’s “colony of shells” concept remains, but only two domes will be built – the Realm of the Sun and the Realm of the Moon – linked by a central Metronome arrival hall. With less built form, landscaping across the bayfront site will be expanded. Two enlarged outdoor gardens – Rhythm and All Seasons – will provide more open-air event and performance space. Visitor forecasts have also been cut sharply from 1m to 585,000 a year, reducing the scale of transport upgrades required. John Pye, project director, Eden Project Morecambe, added: “With planning permission now secured and formal agreements currently being finalised, the project moves forward with confidence. “This marks a hugely significant moment for Eden Project Morecambe and for the entire community that has travelled this journey with...
