A date for spades in the ground at the long awaited Eden Project Morecambe has been revealed for the first time.
Andy Jasper, Chief Executive Officer of the Eden Project, told the BBC that there would be activity on the Morecambe Promenade site on June 24.
Mr Jasper was speaking on a radio show to celebrate 25 years of the Eden Project in Cornwall.
"Spades go in the ground on the 24th June this year and you'll see it opening in the latter part of 2028," he said.
Mr Jasper was interviewed on 'The Eden Project: The Reunion', a programme broadcast on Radio 4 on April 19.
Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project
Morecambe BID (Business Improvement District) reacted to the news with a post on their social media pages.
"Big news for Morecambe – a confirmed start date has now been announced for Eden Project Morecambe.
"Speaking on a BBC Radio 4 programme, CEO Andy Jasper confirmed that construction will begin on 24th June 2026, marking a major milestone for the town’s seafront transformation.
"The project remains on track, with the first phase expected to open in early 2027 and the full attraction opening in 2028.
"With VINCI Building appointed as the main contractor, the development is set to deliver significant local benefits – including jobs, apprenticeships, and investment into the local economy.
"Eden Project Morecambe will celebrate the natural beauty and heritage of Morecambe Bay, creating a landmark destination that supports long-term regeneration and growth.
"A positive step forward for the town and a clear sign of continued momentum."
A design image showing how Eden Project Morecambe will look
The first work is expected to be on the Bring Me Sunshine Garden this summer.
The Eden Project said the garden will become a living classroom, community hub and beacon of regeneration, rooted in both the natural and cultural heritage of Morecambe Bay. It will include areas of shelter and seating, and patches for horticulture enthusiasts and local community groups to work on.
Named after the trademark song of Morecambe-born TV comic Eric Morecambe and his partner Ernie Wise, the garden has been created with help from young people from the town.
The Bring Me Sunshine garden is expected to officially open to the public as it bursts into spring colour in 2027, ahead of Eden Project Morecambe’s full opening the following year.
Harry Holding, garden designer, told Beyond Radio during an interview last Thursday that the team are due to "break ground" this summer, after a first glimpse of the garden goes on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London next month.
Harry Holding and garden architect Alex Michaelis pictured in Heysham last Thursday
Earlier this month, VINCI Building was revealed as the main contractor - the company who will be responsible for building the scheme.
Read more: LISTEN: Contractor tasked with building Eden Project Morecambe revealed - Beyond Radio
The £100m Eden Project Morecambe has been described as "the greatest show of nature’s rhythms, where time is sped up, slowed down or paused - revealing the wonder, rhythms and threats to the health and well-being of people, Morecambe Bay, and planet".
It has also been called a "game-changer" for the local economy, with an estimated 580,000 visitors expected each year.
As well as exhibitions themed on the natural world and Morecambe Bay, housed inside a 'Realm of the Sun' and a 'Realm of the Moon', the attraction will include public gardens, a 6000-capacity concert venue, a cafe and a restaurant.
Eden bosses describe 2026 as a ‘transformative’ year for the scheme, that was originally given planning permission in February 2022, with revised plans approved earlier this year.
The land was previously occupied by The Dome entertainment venue and the Bubbles leisure centre, and prior to that the Morecambe Leisure Park outdoor swimming pool and the Super Swimming Stadium.
Eden Project is an educational charity and social enterprise with a global mission to create and build relationships between people and the natural world to demonstrate the power of working together for the benefit of all living things.
The first Eden Project opened 25 years ago, in a former China clay pit in Cornwall transformed into an immersive experience of plants and people.
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