Esther McVey visited the Eden Project site in Morecambe on Monday to learn more about the upcoming attraction.

The Cabinet Office Minister was taken on a tour to see first-hand how the location, looking out onto Morecambe Bay, will be transformed into a key site for visitors.

The Minister also discussed how the newly announced reallocation of £494.4 million of local transport funding from HS2 into Lancashire could support Eden and Morecambe to handle future visitors.

Mrs McVey said: "It is a visionary project which will put Morecambe on the map and create hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds for the local economy.

“With Lancashire also receiving almost half a billion pounds from our new local transport fund, announced today, we are also investing in the local links needed to make the Eden Project a success.”

The Westmorland Gazette: Esther McVey with those involved in the project, including MP David MorrisEsther McVey with those involved in the project, including MP David Morris (Image: Eden Project)

The Minister’s visit began at The Platform, where she sat down for a discussion with representatives from the Eden Project team, project partners Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University as well as David Morris, the MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale.

Eden Project Morecambe will continue the scheme’s mission of connecting people to the natural world, celebrating the unique environment of Morecambe Bay.

Blair Parkin, the Eden Project's Chief Experience Development Officer, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Esther McVey MP to the future home of Eden Project Morecambe today and we’re grateful she has taken the time to visit us.

"It was a fantastic opportunity to highlight our exciting plans for the project, as well as the community work our team are already delivering in the region."

In January 2023, Eden Project Morecambe was awarded £50m in the second round of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The bid, submitted by Lancaster City Council, was chosen as a recipient of the largest investment possible under the fund, earmarked for large-scale cultural regeneration projects.

Blair added: "Our team has been working hard on finalising the remaining £50m needed to deliver the project and we hope to be in the position to provide positive updates on that soon.”