Eden Project Morecambe has received a major boost after a philanthropic foundation pledged a further £2.5 million towards the landmark development.
Pears Foundation has announced the investment to support the Eden Project charity's plans for its £125m visitor attraction on Morecambe's seafront, which is expected to open in 2028.
The funding will help deliver the project's ambitious Habitations Zone, a signature attraction designed to explore how people can help shape a better future through innovation, community action and sustainable living.
Project leaders say the investment will help strengthen plans for a destination expected to bring significant economic, cultural and educational benefits to Morecambe, Lancashire and the wider North West.
Eden Project Morecambe is projected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and support more than 1,000 jobs across construction and the wider regional economy.
The Habitations Zone will feature four immersive areas known as High Street, Market, Farm and Town Square.
Visitors will be encouraged to explore ideas around food production, community life, consumer habits and environmental challenges through interactive experiences designed to spark discussion and inspire change.
The Town Square attraction will draw on Morecambe's rich entertainment heritage, including its history of comedy, music hall and live performance, while High Street will focus on people's connections to place and culture.
Market will examine consumerism, waste and alternative economic models, while Farm will explore the future of food production and ways of growing in harmony with nature.
The latest announcement comes amid growing momentum behind the scheme.
Planning permission was granted in February 2026, before VINCI Buildings was appointed as main contractor in April.
The project also gained national attention at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May with the award-winning Bring Me Sunshine Garden.
In June, a further £4.5 million was raised through an Omaze house prize draw, helping secure the project's planned central exhibit, known as The Elder Tree.
Groundworks for a new 1.5-acre free-to-enter community garden are expected to begin soon as the first phase of development gets underway.
Andy Jasper, chief executive of the Eden Project charity, welcomed the latest funding announcement.
He said: "We are so grateful to Pears Foundation for their help and generous support.
"This milestone £2.5 million gift to Eden Project Morecambe will leave a lasting, tangible and transformational legacy for Morecambe, for communities across the North West and the UK.
"Their support brings us another important step closer to creating the extraordinary destination we are building in Morecambe.
"It will bring people together, connect them with the natural world and create new opportunities for future generations to come."
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Sir Trevor Pears, chair of Pears Foundation, said the organisation was proud to support a project that builds on Morecambe's existing strengths.
He said: "Eden Project Morecambe is a bold and ambitious investment in Morecambe and its people, creating new opportunities while building on the town's identity and strengths.
"We're particularly pleased that our support will help create the Habitations, spaces designed to encourage conversation, participation and exploration of some of the challenges we face."
The Eden Project charity, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is delivering the Morecambe attraction in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster University, with support from the UK Government.
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