The Government has announced the appointment of former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the UK Civil Service Dr Simon Case as chair of the Barrow Delivery Board.
Announcing the news the under secretary of state for local growth and building safety Alex Norris MP said: “This is a crucial, outward-facing role that will set the strategic vision of the Board, deliver the Plan for Barrow, and ensure that Barrow’s community sees the fullest benefits.
“Dr Simon Case was most recently Cabinet Secretary and Head of the UK Civil Service, bringing with him a wealth of leadership experience and understanding of complex policy and delivery challenges.
“As Cabinet Secretary, Dr Case was part of the development of the Plan for Barrow, providing him with an understanding of both the area and the defence imperative of the work required.”
Last month Team Barrow, a partnership between central government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems, set out the 10-year year plan for the town. BAE Systems, which already employs more than 14,500 people across its Submarines business, needs to increase its workforce to enable delivery of the Astute, Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarine programmes.
“To appoint someone of Simon’s calibre shows that this Government means business in its support for Team Barrow and the redevelopment of our area,” Michelle Scrogham, Barrow and Furness MP said. “Simon has been working behind the scenes with us for some time, but it is great to get the formal confirmation of his appointment in today’s Ministerial Statement to the House of Commons.”
She added: “I worked closely with Simon when we were getting the £200m investment sorted for Team Barrow and have had a number of really good conversations with him over the last few months about the plans for the area.
“I know just how passionate he is about Barrow and the Furness Peninsula, and his genuine love for the place.
“I also know he will work tirelessly alongside the rest of the Team Barrow Board to deliver on this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
During his time in Government, Dr Case helped establish the Team Barrow partnership and chaired the first two meetings of the delivery board on an interim basis.
Dr Case said: “I’m delighted to be appointed Chair and take on this important role. Barrow is critical to our national security; there’s nowhere else in the country with the unique set of skills and supporting infrastructure required to deliver complex nuclear submarines, so it’s vital we invest now to sustain this capability.
He added: “Barrow is a fantastic town and the Government’s long-term commitment to the UK’s submarine programme means it has an exciting future, but it’s not without its challenges. Our task is to address these, turn ambition into reality and help transform Barrow into a place where people choose to live, work and thrive.”
