Construction of a new £100m Eden Project site will begin next month on Morecambe’s promenade, with a proposed opening date of 2028.

Cornwall’s Eden Project has been a popular visitor attraction since it opened in 2001. The botanic gardens are known for its dome biomes that emulate various climates and house some two million plants.

Plans were announced in 2018 to open a new site in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe, focusing on marine life.

Construction is finally set to begin in August after planning permission was granted in February for a revised design. The site will now feature one – rather than the originally-proposed four – biodomes, as plans were scaled back due to a funding gap.

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Eden Project Morecambe will be set across two buildings named the Realm of the Sun and Realm of the Moon, built within shell-shaped structures.

The Realm of the Sun will be a bright “living landscape” filled with plants, while the Realm of the Moon will be darker, featuring a “hyperreal” tidal rockpool that emulates the seasons.

Some £4.5m was raised through an Omaze prize draw in June to secure the project's central exhibit, The Elder Tree.

The Elder Tree will be an 18-metre-high sculpture placed in the centre of the biome.

Ahead of the full opening, the public will be able to visit a 1.5-acre free-to-enter community garden from spring 2027, as it will be the first attraction completed during the development.

The project is expected to attract more than half a million visitors each year and to support more than 1,000 jobs across the wider regional economy, providing long-term economic benefits for the town.

The project is estimated to cost £100m, with £50m of that backed by UK government investment and support from Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University and Lancashire County Council.

Councillor Caroline Jackson, Leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “Eden Project Morecambe brings a wonderful sense of hope to the town: it is the opportunity to create jobs, to inspire young people and bring new energy and investment into the district.

“At this time when we need to understand our environment and how to live sustainably, Eden brings us both knowledge, passion and entertainment.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of making it happen and look forward to seeing this important next chapter in Morecambe’s story unfold.”

More Eden Project locations are also in various stages of development, including in Dundee, Costa Rica and Anglesea, Australia.

An Eden Project also opened in Qingdao, China, in 2025 as an interactive water experience.

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