One of UK's worst coastal towns planning exciting future with huge new tourist attraction

On a grey day Morecambe is not the best place to visit - but all that could be set to change.

Morecambe, a seaside town in Lancashire that was previously ranked as the 5th worst coastal town in the UK by the Telegraph, could be on the brink of a major transformation. Two significant investment projects are potentially on the cards for the town, which has been criticised for not living up to its potential.

The first of these is the second incarnation of the Eden Project, set to open by 2028. Developers are hopeful that Eden Project Morecambe will emulate the success of its Cornish counterpart, The Sun reports. The £100 million attraction will feature a "hyper-real forest" , large installations, an immersive theatre, and three shell-shaped pavilions overlooking Morecambe Bay. Additionally, it will include a well-being landscape called the "Bay Glade", a Natural Observatory for research and education, an exhibition area named the Bay Hall, play areas, eateries, and a gift shop.

Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing about the regeneration of Frontierland, a theme park in Morecambe that has been abandoned since 2000. The site has remained vacant for the past 24 years, but local council members are keen to restore it to its former glory.

The BBC reports that the future of the Frontierland site was a hot topic at the recent Eden community conversation event, hosted by the local council. City council officer Jonathan Noad disclosed that approximately "35 regional and national developers" were set to visit the town to discuss the fate of the derelict theme park.

However, he emphasised that these developers would need to "need to up-their-gears and put their ideas to us" as they kickstart the procurement process. Lancaster City Council took ownership of the land in 2021 and has since invited potential developers to submit their plans for its redevelopment. The city council official also noted: "We've also got the rest of central Morecambe to look at."

He added that the council's work will also focus on improving Morecambe's environment and enhancing the public realm to attract more visitors. The council is hopeful that a developer will come forward with an "exciting idea" capable of transforming the site within the next 18 months. But it's not just the Eden Project and the potential redevelopment of Frontierland that's putting Morecambe on the tourist map.

Last year, the town saw a surge in visitor numbers thanks to one of its most famous residents, heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, and his Netflix series At Home With the Furys. In the first episode of the series, Fury explains why he has never left the town, citing the view of the bay - where he is often spotted running - as one of its main attractions.

He remarked: "I've often tampered with the idea of living abroad and living in Monaco and America, but there's always something that keeps me here in Morecambe Bay. I believe it's probably the sea air calling to me, 'Don't go! Stay!

"Every time I jog down the front, I look at the bay and the view and I think, 'Wow, no matter where I go in the world, I will never get that anywhere else'."