23 April 2009
Former submarine boss to chair new Barrow regeneration
board
A high profile Chair with a distinguished career in the
maritime industry has been appointed to oversee the delivery of
Barrow’s multi-million pound regeneration programme.
Murray Easton CBE, former BAE Systems Submarines Managing
Director, has been appointed Chair of the newly-created Barrow
Vision. Murray brings more than three decades of experience working
for ship building operations across the world. He spent six years
as head of Barrow shipyard, during which time he was responsible
for the Astute class nuclear “Hunter Killer” submarine
programme.
Murray will Chair a Board which has become the single
decision-making body for all regeneration activity across Cumbria’s
second largest urban centre – consolidating and building on the
work carried out by West Lakes Renaissance and the Barrow and
Furness Peninsular Task Force.
Its primary function will be to ensure projects identified in
the Cumbria Sub Regional Action Plan as having greatest potential
to create sustainable jobs, attract private sector investment and
boost tourism, become a reality in Barrow. These include The
Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness development, comprising 650 new homes
and a new business park; a multi-million pound Housing Market
Renewal programme and a new Academy for the town. It will also play
a role in supporting the development of Barrow’s shipyard and seek
to capitalise on business links with West Cumbria’s growing energy
sector by becoming “gateway” to Britain’s Energy Coast™.
The Cumbria Sub Regional Action Plan contains 20 priority
projects* which could create 11,000 new jobs and was endorsed as a
“market leader” for the United Kingdom by Lord Mandelson, Secretary
of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at the
recent Cumbria Economic Summit 2009.
Murray Easton said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed
Chair of the Barrow Vision Delivery Board. It gives me the
opportunity to support our Programme Director Bob Pointing and his
team and, in doing so, will ensure the Board has the full impact it
should in achieving prosperity for all aspects of the Barrow
community – making it a place where people want to work, are happy
to live and justifiably proud to belong.
“I look forward to building on the firm foundations which have
been created by West Lakes Renaissance and Steven Broomhead, in his
capacity as interim Barrow Vision Chair and as the Chairman of the
Barrow and Furness Peninsular Task Force.”
Barrow Vision will operate under the guidance of urban
regeneration company West Lakes Renaissance and under the strategic
umbrella of economic development agency Cumbria Vision. West Lakes
Renaissance is being maintained at Board level only to monitor the
collective performance of Barrow Vision and West Cumbria Vision –
the new delivery Board for Copeland and Allerdale.
The creation of Barrow Vision and West Cumbria Vision form part
of a wide-ranging restructure of Cumbria’s capacity to deliver
regeneration based around four new delivery boards**. The new
West Cumbria Vision Board will be formally launched at Sellafield
Visitor Centre on Monday, April 27, when newly-appointed Chair
Brian Wilson will be formally introduced.
A board for Carlisle, Carlisle Renaissance, is already
up-and-running; while the Eden and South Lakeland Delivery Board
will be responsible for leading regeneration across a largely rural
area encompassing most of The Lake District National Park.
All boards will be private sector-led, with representatives from
local, regional and national public sector organisations. In the
case of the Barrow Vision Board two private sector representatives
have already been appointed – Rob Cairns, Chief Executive and
Director of Furness Building Society; and Dale Williams, General
Manager of Robert McBride Ltd. Further appointments are
imminent.
Ian Haythornthwaite, Interim Chair of West Lakes Renaissance and
Executive Director – Resources for the Northwest Regional
Development Agency, said: “Attracting such an experienced and high
profile chair as Murray from an extremely high quality shortlist of
applicants is a real coup for Barrow and indeed Cumbria.”
Roger Liddle, Chairman of Cumbria Vision, said: “The appointment
of Murray demonstrates the calibre of person we need to drive
forward Barrow’s exciting regeneration programme. In the past
Barrow has often felt forgotten, but with Murray’s experience and
tenacity I’m confident the town’s rightful position as a key player
in Cumbria’s economic prosperity will grow and strengthen.
“Barrow’s industrial base is finally being recognised as a key
national and international asset which, in spite of the current
economic climate, offers huge opportunities. The maritime industry
is strong with potential for significant growth, and Barrow’s
growing reputation as a hub for energy production and technology
means it is ideally placed to establish itself as ‘gateway’ to
Britain’s Energy Coast™. Strong leadership is now needed to
transform this potential into real results on the ground for all
our benefit.”
Councillor Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member
responsible for economic development, said: “Having spent more than
three decades working in the shipbuilding industry Murray will
bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role that will
be invaluable in overseeing Barrow’s regeneration programme. As a
former head of Barrow’s shipyard he has extensive links and
contacts with the town and he’ll be an excellent appointment.”
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
A profile and picture of Murray Easton is available. To arrange
an interview, and for further information, please contact Luke
Dicicco on 07799035390 or email luke.dicicco@cumbriavision.co.uk
** The creation of four new Delivery Boards has been led by
Cumbria Vision and Cumbria County Council, working alongside the
Northwest Regional Development Agency. Below is the status of
key posts within each Board.
Barrow Vision
Chair: Murray Easton Programme Director: Bob Pointing
Board: Public sector Directors recruited. Two private sector
members recruited, further appointments imminent
West Cumbria Vision
Chair: Brian Wilson
Interim Programme Director: Mike Baker. Appointment of
permanent post imminent
Board: Public sector Directors recruited. Appointment of private
sector members imminent
Eden & South Lakeland Delivery Board
Interim Chair: Mandy Dixon
Programme Director: Recruitment process underway
Board: Public sector Directors recruited. Appointment of private
sector member imminent
Carlisle Renaissance
Chair: Bryan Gray Programme Director: Ian McNichol
Board: In place
*The Cumbria Sub Regional Action plan is available to download
at www.cumbriavision.co.uk. The
plan is based around two priority and four supporting themes
Strategic Priorities
1: The Opportunities of Energy and the Low Carbon Economy
2: Raising the attractiveness of ‘Destination Cumbria’ as a place
to live,
invest, work and
visit
Main Support Facilitators
a: A once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Cumbria’s
Education,
Skills and Research and achieve a step change in aspirations
b: Better focused support for Business, Enterprise and Employment
c: Development of key Infrastructure as a platform for business
growth
d: Innovative stewardship of Cumbria’s land and landscape to build
a thriving Rural Economy and improve access to
services
Major projects contained within the Plan are (projects
concerning Barrow marked in bold);
1) Carlisle Renaissance
2) Building the case of nuclear new build at Sellafield
3) Academy Schools – Barrow, Carlisle, West Cumbria and Energus, in
Lillyhall
4) Waterfront Business Park, part of the Waterfront
Barrow-in-Furness
5) Marina Village, part of the Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness
6) Windermere Necklace Programme
7) Penrith New Squares
8) Carlisle Airport
9) New hospital and health campus in West Cumbria
10) Port Derwent development
11) K Village, Kendal
12) Britain’s Energy Coast™ - Commercialisation programme
13) Housing Market Renewal – Barrow and West Cumbria
14) Carlisle Northern Development Route
15) Destination Cumbria – International tourism marketing
campaign
16) M6 Employment Sites – Junction 44
17) Roman Maryport and Camp Farm
18) Reducing Worklessness in Cumbria
19) Kendal Canal Head
20) Lowther Castle and Gardens
1: Cumbria Vision is the organisation charged with leading the
economic regeneration of Cumbria and is responsible for identifying
clear priorities for investment; bringing together skills and
higher paid jobs; promoting private sector investment and growth.
www.cumbriavision.co.uk.
2: Cumbria Vision is supported by the Northwest Regional
Development Agency (NWDA), which leads the economic development and
regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
Supporting business growth and encouraging investment; Matching
skills provision to employer needs; Creating the conditions for
economic growth; Connecting the region through effective transport
and communication infrastructure; Promoting the region’s
outstanding quality of life. www.nwda.co.uk.
3: Cumbria County Council is a founding partner of and the
accountable body for Cumbria Vision. www.cumbria.gov.uk