BAE Systems has officially lodged plans to use the former Debenhams store in Barrow as a learning facility.
The firm has submitted a planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council to use the former department store on Portland Walk as a replica facility to those the company used to build submarines.
The aim of it, it said, was to create an environment which replicated the Central Yard Facility and Devonshire Dock Hall, plus other on-site facilities.
It said the proposed campus hall would allow all employees, including early careers and those new to submarines, to experience more realistically the operations and functions the company employs throughout the business.
The application said: “The design of the PWC Hall allows everyone using the facility to relate back to the product and have a physical and visual connection to what BAES does – builds submarines.”
The hall would consist of simulated environments for physical work tasks, workshop and machinery areas, meeting rooms, offices, demonstration areas as well as a virtual reality delivery area among other sections.
BAE Systems said: “The project vision is to increase the capacity and capability of a growing workforce through knowledge transfer and experiential learning within a purpose-designed facility.”
The former Debenhams closed its doors in 2021 and was bought by the defence company in 2022 alongside several other empty shops.
This formed part of plans from BAE Systems to create a town centre location to develop their educational facilities in a project known as the Portland Walk Campus.
The application said: “The proposed campus seeks to build upon BAE support for the community, strengthening the long-term prosperity of both the business and the town of Barrow-in-Furness.”
The conversion of the former Debenhams would represent stage three of the campus with phases one and two either complete or under construction.
BAE Systems said: “The proposed use will deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits by bringing a prominent town centre building back into active use and preventing it falling into disrepair.”
