Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, Lizzi Collinge, visited the site earlier this week to see progress as groundworks get under way on the £100m scheme, with £50m funded by the Government.
Eden Project Morecambe is expected to deliver significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the town and wider region, creating new opportunities for tourism, skills, and investment.
The scheme is already emerging as a landmark attraction for the North West and UK, continuing the Eden Project’s mission to connect people with nature and inspire positive action for the planet, while celebrating the unique environment of Morecambe Bay.
John Pye
Earlier this year, John Pye was appointed project director, working with Ridge and Partners, WSP and Grimshaw Architects to oversee the next stage of development.
Conor Leyden, managing director at LK Group, said: “We’re proud to be supporting WSP and Eden Project Morecambe at this early and vital stage.
“Our investigations will provide the insight needed to ensure the project is built safely and sustainably, helping bring long term benefits to Morecambe and its community.”
Federico Mazzetti, technical director at WSP, said: “This site investigation is a key milestone for Eden Project Morecambe.
“The data that will be provided by the LK Group will allow WSP to refine the design with confidence, helping to deliver a project that creates lasting value for the local community and environment.”
The project is being delivered in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council, and Lancaster University.
Eden Project Morecambe is due to open late 2028.
In 2023 Morecambe secured the full £50m of levelling up funding it sought for the planned eco-tourism project development Eden Project Morecambe.
The scheme is modelled on the original Eden Project which opened near St Austell, in Cornwall, in 2001.
The bid, submitted in August 2022, has been 10 years in the making and marks the most significant investment into the Lancashire seaside resort in decades.
It is claimed around 300 high quality green jobs will be directly created by the renamed Eden Project Morecambe, plus more than 1,000 additional jobs supported in the region.
Annual visitor numbers are projected to be 740,000 and additional revenue brought into local businesses is set to exceed the £50m government investment within months of the project opening.
Eden Project Morecambe will be situated on the central promenade of Morecambe, on the former site of the Bubbles leisure complex with the Grade II-listed Winter Gardens and Midland Hotel its near neighbours.
The project has been designed in a way which is sensitive and complementary to these important buildings and sightlines across the Bay.