Haptic Appointed Lead Masterplanners for Marina Village, Barrow-in-Furness

Haptic Architects and Planit are the lead masterplanners for the winning bid to develop the 67-acre Marina Village in Barrow, a critical part of the town’s regeneration.  

Westmorland and Furness Council has appointed Muse Places, supported by supply chain partners through the ECF partnership (the joint venture partnership between Muse, L&G, and Homes England), as its strategic development partner for Marina Village, which will provide over 1000 new homes. 

The masterplan has been designed around Barrow’s unique waterfront, transforming it into a lively, accessible destination with promenades, cultural and leisure uses, event space, and active edges that create year-round activity. Retaining key heritage assets, including the listed former Railwaymen’s Club, reinforces Barrow’s maritime character and establishes a distinctive identity that strengthens the town’s appeal, without compromising the recreational and functional use of the Dock.

Barrow’s housing story has been shaped by industry and the rapid changes it brought to the town. The Devonshire Buildings on Barrow Island were built in the 1870s to attract the Scottish shipbuilding workforce, while Vickerstown followed in the early 1900s to house workers during the rearmament period. Housing in Barrow has continually evolved to meet the needs of its people, and this rich industrial architectural history is a key part of the design and master planning of Marina Village.

The masterplan provides a genuinely mixed neighbourhood, offering homes across tenures and life stages. High-quality streets, green infrastructure, and sociable open spaces foster wellbeing and a sense of belonging.

The masterplan also embeds climate resilience and biodiversity from the outset. Blue-green infrastructure, sustainable drainage, and habitat creation shape the structure of the neighbourhood, enhancing environmental performance and improving quality of life, positioning Marina Village as a benchmark for sustainable coastal regeneration.

With around 12,000 homes needed across the region in the next decade, Marina Village can become a model for sustainable development—delivering high-quality homes, improving quality of life, and shaping Barrow’s future growth.

Scott Grady, Co-founder and Director at Haptic Architects, said: “Haptic is incredibly proud to be part of the chosen team. We hope to help establish Marina Village as a national exemplar of coastal regeneration, celebrating the town’s rich history and drawing on the diverse natural landscape to create a prosperous and climate resilient new neighbourhood. Marina Village will bring new ways of living to help bolster and support communities in Barrow.”

Pete Swift, CEO and Co-founder of Planit said: “Working with the Haptic team is always a process of co-ownership and mutual respect. These qualities and our regenerative approach are stitched into the way ECF and Muse also work, so we are obviously delighted to be selected. The landscape of this coastline, and the fells inland are unique and precious – we will draw on them as primary inspiration to make Barrovians proud of Marina Village for future generations”.

This latest project builds on Haptic’s growing portfolio of waterside developments, including Norwegian housing block Clemenskvartalet.