Eden Project Morecambe now 'certain'

The Morecambe and Lunesdale said the funding bid was now at an advanced stage and a formal announcement was expected shortly.

"I have been working extremely hard with the Eden Project team to present our economic case to the Treasury," said Mr Morris, who will defend the seat for the Conservative Party in the forthcoming General Election.

"I secured the backing of Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the first meeting of the 1922 committee for the project to go ahead, and we also have support of the Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP.

"I am now in advanced discussions with the Chancellor Sajid Javid and am certain that the Chancellor will give us the funding we need to secure this project."

Mr Morris said he had been working with Government officials for a long period in order to secure the green light for the Eden Project to go ahead in Morecambe.

However, he pointed out that the project, which will be led by the Eden Project team from Cornwall, could only proceed if the key funding from the Government was secured.

But he said his understanding was that this aim had now been achieved and that the long awaited announcement was to have been included in the now cancelled budget which was due to have been delivered by the Chancelllor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid yesterday, November 6.

Mr Morris said he had met with Mr Javid to discuss the issue in detail this week and he was confident it would be included in the delayed Budget, a date for which has not yet been decided.

And Northern Powerhouse Minister Mr Berry MP backed Mr Morris's viewpoint.

"I’ve always been clear that Eden North would be an integral part Lancashire’s growing economy," he said.

"David has done an excellent job putting forward a clear and compelling case for the project to come to Morecambe.

"I am completely committed to this project and I have asked officials in Government to work on a business case to secure the funding needed in the next Budget."