Millom, Copeland Borough Council
As part of Millom’s Town Deal, the Iron Line project aims to transform Hodbarrow Nature Reserve and the surrounding coastal lagoon into an accessible, welcoming space for residents and visitors. Following a design competition, Layer Studio was appointed to lead the project, with PLACED joining the team to lead on community engagement and ensure local voices shaped the vision.
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We created multiple ways for people in Millom to contribute to the design process - both online and in person. This included an interactive website featuring a survey, ideas wall and map, alongside four local pop-up events in spaces like the community centre and Tesco. These sessions gave people the chance to explore proposals, share feedback, and offer stories and insights about the site. To make sure young people’s voices were heard, we worked with primary schools through a creative classroom activity and ran a design workshop with Year 10 students at Millom School, gathering thoughtful ideas about the importance of play, cleanliness and how the site feels for young people
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Through this process, we were able to represent community views directly within the design team, offering insight into how the site is used, what matters most to local people, and where concerns or priorities lay. We also kept the Town Deal Board and Copeland Borough Council informed, making sure community voices continued to shape the project as the designs evolved.
“This report helps tell the story of the project as it evolves and serves to capture that in real time.”