It’s official: Lancashire is getting its very own tropical paradise. The Eden Project Morecambe has been awarded £50 million from the government’s ‘levelling-up’ pot – meaning the attraction is that little bit closer to becoming a reality.
The original Eden Project in Cornwall houses the world’s largest indoor rainforest and was built on a clay pit in the 1990s. It attracts up to a million tourists every year and has hosted performances from the likes of Amy Winehouse and Elton John.
Soon, northerners will be able to experience a slice of the world-renowned destination on their doorstep. Similar to its southern counterpart, the site on Morecambe Bay will be filled with fancy plants from around the globe and play host to art, music and theatre. An emphasis will also be placed on the environment and sustainability.
Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: ‘This exciting transformational project will bring a huge boost to Morecambe and its economy, supporting the work we are collectively doing towards levelling up and supporting our future ambitions for the county.’
The move is part of a wider expansion scheme by the Eden Project which will see luxury accommodation at its original Cornwall site, a riverside attraction in Northern Ireland and another new outpost built on a former gasworks in Dundee. Construction in Morecambe Bay is set to begin this year and it’s hoped the destination will open to the public by 2026.
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