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™.

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.