Investment Area
Morecambe Bay
The town was the place to be seen, some of the first moving picture footage ever filmed was along a stretch of the fantastic 5-mile promenade in the early 1900’s. Once home to a myriad of entertainment including theatres, picture houses, ball rooms and three piers, Morecambe was even the destination which launched the commercial Miss World and Miss Great Britain beauty pageants, hosted within it’s incredible lido.
This very popular, premium hotel still looks positively futuristic to this day. Guests take in the ‘Best View in Britain’ across the sands as the sun sets over the Lakeland Fells every single night. Truly magical, and absolutely priceless.
Morecambe Bay Regeneration
Morecambe faced serious decline in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s losing almost all of its tourist attractions, hundreds of guest houses, multiple theatres and venues and all three piers.
The council master plan for regeneration halted abruptly in 2008 as the recession kicked in, however in recent years things have really begun to turn with public and private investment in the area becoming more obvious by the month.
One regeneration project which did sneak in before the recession was the revival of the iconic Midland Hotel. Originally designed by Oliver Hill, some of Eric Gill’s decorative touches still adorn the unique building.
Morecambe Bay Presently
Morecambe is in some respects a typical northern seaside town, in others it is extraordinary…
Morecambe is situated in the North West just 30 minutes south of Lake Windermere, home to some of the most sought-after real estate on the planet, and just one hour north of Manchester. Morecambe town shares its name with the astonishing Morecambe Bay a 120 square mile site of special scientific interest (SSSI) coined ‘Nature’s Amphitheatre’.
The town itself was a roaring holiday destination for a hundred years or more through the Victorian and Edwardian eras and sadly, like many a seaside town, faced huge decline upon the advent of low-cost international flights in the 1970’s. In its heyday the beautiful 3-5 stories and stone built Victorian terraces of Morecambe’s historic West End were almost all run as guesthouses.
The massive structure was said to be the largest outdoor pool in Europe when it opened in 1936, accommodating some 1,200 bathers and 3,000 spectators. At it’s peak it is estimated that 27,000 bathers enjoyed the lido at a weekend. In short Morecambe was THE DESTINATION. Built to cater for the masses but with a nod to the wealthy, the iconic art deco Midland Hotel was actually constructed to entice our friends from America in a showy “Welcome To England”.
Having attracted guests such as Coco Chanel, Sir Lawrence Olivier and Noel Coward, this spectacular property is currently seen as the jewel in the crown of the beautiful coastline. Upon its grand opening on 12th July 1933, a correspondent from ‘Country Life’ magazine was so captivated by the illuminated spiral staircase that he likened it to “a fairy staircase that one would willingly climb till it reached to heaven”
The Bay Gateway is a link road which connects Morecambe directly to the M6. Prior to its opening in October 2016, all traffic from Morecambe and the port at Heysham had to travel around the edge of the city of Lancaster causing 40 minute traffic jams at rush hour on a daily basis. It could take 1 hour or more to get from Heysham onto the M6. Now the route from Morecambe to the M6 takes less than 10 minutes and you can travel from the port to the motorway in less than 20.
This highway has brought the neighbouring Lake District to the doorstep and on a clear afternoon a journey from Morecambe to the stunning Lake Windemere takes just 30 minutes by car. With Manchester just 1 hour away and the West Coast Mainline stopping in Lancaster just 3 miles away and a 10 minute connecting train into Morecambe, the town is now well connected and ready for growth of industry and tourism.
Heysham Port of Peel Ports Group is just a 10 minute drive from Morecambe via the Bay Gateway. The port offers efficient access to the Irish Sea and Peel Ports claims it is ‘perfectly placed to become a major distribution hub serving the Isle of Man, Ireland and mainland UK. The port is at the heart of the Irish Sea RoRo hub and the facilities cater for numerous daily sailings.’
West End 1 & 2
Prior to the release of the West End 1 development, the highest rent achievable for a 4+ bed property in the West End was £550pcm. When West End 1 released their first 40 properties, they had a waiting list of 700 tenants eager to move in. The 4 bed properties were marketed at £780pcm. Victoria Hoare Head of Resident Services at Placefirst said: “West End One has demonstrated the clear need for high quality, professionally managed rental properties in Morecambe. Since its completion in October 2016 the development has been fully let and we continue to receive regular enquiries for the homes.
West End 1 was voted the UK’s Best Residential Refurbishment Project at the 2017 Sunday Times British Homes Awards. West End 2, providing 59 new properties for rent in 2019, offers the same quality.
The Broadway
More than 200 people worked on the building, and Mr Stainton said he had received enquiries from across the UK, as well as from Italy and America. “There have been people who have lived in Morecambe previously and have wanted to come back, or those that have seen the great things that are happening in Morecambe at the moment and want to be a part of it. The Bay Gateway is a big factor too. We are becoming the most accessible holiday resort in the UK.”
“Morecambe is a place very close to my heart and I feel extremely proud that the team and I have managed to create such an iconic building right on the seafront. Morecambe has a very exciting future ahead and it’s fantastic that we will have been part of that.”
Nearby Lancaster University is currently ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the UK, despite only being established in 1964. In 2018, Lancaster was named University of the year by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. Lancaster also came on top for Best Campus University and Best University in the North West. Lancaster’s community extends far beyond the campus with research, teaching and student exchange partnerships with leading universities and institutions in 24 countries around the world.
These modern conversions bring the worst properties in Morecambe into the 21st century, producing some of the finest private rental sector properties in the area. This has transformed a mass of derelict properties into fantastic family accommodation. Place First acquired permission to redevelop two blocks of derelict houses in the heart of the West End. These houses had been compulsorily purchased before the 2008 recession by the council for redevelopment.
When the economy failed the houses were left empty. They fell into wreck and ruin and attracted antisocial behaviour, squatting, drugs and arson. Nearly 10 years on Place First astutely made note of the potential and put in a bid to the council. This private developer specialises in converting older properties into new private rental communities, taking troublesome stock from councils in the North West. The first phase West End 1 provided 51 new hi-spec homes in one of the poorest areas in Morecambe.
The Broadway is the flagship hometown development of the very experienced Michael Stainton. MH Stainton has been trading since 1999 and is known for providing hi-spec housing with contemporary architecture. The Broadway is made up of 50 luxury apartments and is built on the site of the old Broadway Hotel. It was perceived by many as a shame to see the derelict historic property flattened by a previous developer but also an encouraging sign of times moving on.
Thankfully,when the development stalled, Mick stepped in and designed an incredible scheme founded on calculated risk and anticipation. It was very encouraging to see a local man putting his years of experience and his faith into transforming Morecambe’s promenade forever.
Morecame Bay The Future: Eden project North
For many years Morecambe has been one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations with visitors attracted to its stunning natural landscape. Eden Project North re-imagines Morecambe as a seaside resort for the 21st Century inspiring wonder and a connection with the natural world inspired by Eden Project’s focus on education, ecology and community.
Approached by Lancaster University, Eden Project International were attracted to Morecambe as the site of a potential second, northern base due to its rich history and natural beauty. Eden Project North, costing around £80m to build, should open in 2023 and bosses at the Eden Project’s St Austell headquarters believe it would create more than 500 jobs and attract 750,000 visitors a year. Inside the five shell-like glass buildings that would comprise Eden Project North, there will be performances paces, immersive experiences, observatories and pleasure gardens, all inspired by the bay and marine life.The Eden Project in Cornwall has attracted 19 million visitors and pumped an estimated £2bn into the local economy since it opened in a disused clay pit in 2001.
By connecting Eden Project North to the local community, we hope to support positive social change. And by encouraging visitors to be curious and creative, we hope to inspire new ways of engaging with the natural landscape; to see themselves as part of the natural world not apart from it.
Morecambe would benefit from a boom in local interest, with an estimated 2,600 supply chains and local businesses benefiting from the £90 million investment. A detailed public and stakeholder consultation is due to start soon and Eden aims to submit a planning application for the project in spring 2021. Eden began the planning process in June 2019 by submitting its Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report to Lancaster City Council.The project is due to open in spring 2023, following a two-year construction period.
The Power of Eden
- £90million Project
- 500 jobs
- 6,500 jobs in the wider community
- Commitment to use local suppliers
- 4,000 visitors per day
- 750,000 visitors per year
- 2 Billion into local economy over 20 years (Evidenced by Cornwall Project)
- Commitment to improve local education ’25 Year Plan – Eden Learning’
- 300% House price increase over 10 years. (Backed by Cornwall Market Shift)