Nan Tait Centre to be transferred to community organisation in Barrow

Barrow’s Nan Tait Centre is set to be transferred to a community organisation, according to a charity which occupies the building.

The Nan Tait Centre on Abbey Road is one of the most distinctive buildings in Barrow, having been built in the early 1900s.

But the former technical college has been made surplus to requirements by Westmorland and Furness Council, sparking concern among townsfolk.

The council said that the centre, alongside nine other properties it owns across Cumbria, would be screened for use by other council services, transfer to community organisations or listed for open market sale.

Now it is understood that the council is considering a potential community asset transfer for the Nan Tait Centre.

A number of charities and community organisations are based at the centre, including Women’s Community Matters, which offers support, courses, activities and support groups to vulnerable women and girls aged 11 or over and to young men and boys aged between 11 and 19.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to Rebecca Robson, senior officer at the charity, about the situation with the Nan Tait.

She said: “The building being declared surplus to requirements is part of a legal process.

“It is part of the process leading up to a potential long leasehold community asset transfer.”

A community asset transfer is the transfer of a publicly-owned asset, such as land or a building, to a community organisation at less than market value or even at no cost.

Rebecca added: “We have been a long-term occupant, alongside other charities, and the council has been an excellent partner and supporter of us.

“My understanding is the council are happy with us being here, but ultimately it is a legal process they have to go through and it will be the council’s decision to make as to who uses the building.”

She added that the council had ‘kept them up to date’ and that the charity is ‘happy with the process’.

Rebecca also said that when the building was passed to the council, there was a legal clause which meant that it had to be used for educational purposes.

Other organisations based at the building are artist-led charity Art Gene, which celebrates the uniqueness of Barrow-in-Furness with exhibitions, events and more.

Also based there is community radio station CandoFM after it had to move from Barrow Market due to its closure.

Three other properties earmarked for disposal in the Barrow and Furness area are: 22 Sutherland Street in Barrow; land at Long Lane/Billings Road in Dalton-in-Furness; and land east of the A595 at Foxfield near Broughton in Furness.

The remaining sites are spread across the wider council area and include land at Grasmere Crescent in Kendal, land at Fowl Ing Lane in Kendal, land at Silver Street in Kirkby Stephen and three former public conveniences in Ambleside, Cartmel and Milnthorpe.