Barnsley Council has launched its ‘Levelling Up for Barnsley’ bid which gives local authorities the opportunity to access grants for important local projects from a share of £4.8bn of funding.
Deputy Leader Chris Lamb explained via a video on the council's Facebook page that the town has been on its own "levelling up journey" for 20 to 30 years.
Barnsley is a place with a catching-up economy and is now in the top 10% of council areas in the country for jobs growth over the last five years. Around 2017, the South Yorkshire town has been in a difficult spot for several years before the the old market was closed and replaced with a new one.
The uptake wasn't immediate however and there was some hesitancy from traditionalists. Things have really started to perk up since.
So much so that many local residents believe the town should have been named a city before Doncaster. This was helped by the Glass Works which was a major re-development scheme regenerating the centre of Barnsley as a thriving market town attracting plenty of big name shops, restaurants and bars.
Barnsley Museums and Barnsley Libraries has also recently received a significant amount of funding from Arts Council England to support cultural activities across the borough. One of the town's historic streets, Eldon Street, is nearing the end of its 'facelift' after it was chosen as a 'heritage action zone.'
We took a look at the way that Barnsley has come back from the brink and is now thriving with new developments that have brought visitors to the town - with more to come in 2023
New Market Gate Bridge
A 'landmark' bridge that will connect Barnsley Interchange and compliment the new-look town centre is set to open in October of this year. The new £9m Market Gate bridge over the railway line will permanently replace the former Jumble Lane level crossing, which was closed to improve safety in the area.
It will be fully accessible with lifts at both ends with cyclists will being able to take their bikes into the lifts, or walk them up the steps using the dedicated cyclist groove.
Eldon Street regeneration
Regeneration work costing £3.2m to improve Barnsley's historic Eldon Street entrance is not far off completion. The four-year programme saw Historic England and Barnsley Council team up to improve one of the town's most iconic streets.
This includes restoring broken cobbles and the refurbishment of several key buildings such as the Civic and Parkway Cinema. The 180-year old road was chosen as a heritage action zone.
Despite having the three attractive listed buildings, the Yorkshire ‘Penny’ Bank, the Queens Hotel, and the late-19th century Civic, Eldon Street had deteriorated over the years and is currently in poor condition with many vacant buildings.
Youth Centre
A new youth centre is to be built in Barnsley town centre on the site of a former electricity depot. The £9.2m two-storey building on Schwabisch Gmund Way will have a sports halls, dance studios, recording facilities, arts and crafts rooms and music recording facilities as well as a rooftop football pitch.
Youth charity OnSide set up the project with the scheme creating up to 70 jobs.
New Adventure Park
As part of £10.2m in levelling up funding previously granted, Barnsley is set to get an activity park next to the town centre’s forthcoming Youth Zone sports and arts facilities. The new activity park will include a skate park, bike track, new active routes and play spaces.
New special school
This month, a joint bid submitted by Barnsley and Sheffield councils to create a new school to provide high-quality, specialist education has been approved by the government. The school aims to ensure that all children have access to high-quality education, closer to home and that they are able to achieve their aspirations.
The venture will see a 200-place school for primary and secondary school pupils with autism and communication and interaction needs. The places will be split equally between Barnsley and Sheffield pupils.
Dot's Tipple
Brand new micropub Dot's Tipple opened this month on Racecommon Road. The venue has a fine selection of cask ales, ciders, gins and wines.
So far the, bar has also seen appearances from acoustic performers.
The Salt House
The Salt House, one of the latest additions to Barnsley's flourishing food and drink scene in the Glass Works, offer diners an "immersive bar and restaurant experience". The new venue part of the True Independent Group includes an island bar, open theatre kitchen, private dining booths and a VIP DJ area - all split across two floors.
The bar that sits just off Eldon Street has been a hit with customers so far offering tasty food and delectable cocktails.
TGI Fridays
Since opening in November last year, TGI Fridays has employed 70 people form the local area so far. It has been a busy few months for the restaurant that offers an indulgent menu with a selection of American dinner specialities like burgers and steaks and an extensive cocktail menu.
The 86th of its kind to open across the UK, it is based near Superbowl and Cineworld in The Glass Works. The spacious restaurant area, accommodates over 200 guests with both indoor and outdoor seating available.
Urban Burgers
Urban Burgers offers fresher-than-fresh burgers, fries and shakes all week long. Recently opening here in Barnsley, the independent chain already run a series of popular restaurants in Rotherham, Doncaster and Halifax.
The Botanist
Eagerly anticipated cocktail bar The Botanist had it's launch party last week which saw live music, entertainment, complimentary drinks and food samples. Another major addition to The Glass Works, the UK chain has become known for its unique cocktails, extensive craft beer and signature hanging kebabs.
The award-winning brand prides itself on live music to help create a relaxed and atmospheric social space. It is currently on the hunt for talented Yorkshire-based musicians, across a range of genres including rock, pop, soul and R&B, to join a roster of artists in delivering live entertainment at the new venue.
Cineworld
Cineworld, the nation’s leading cinema chain, open its doors to the public in Barnsley in September 2022. The cinema in The Glass Works has 13 state-of-the-art screens including an IMAX with Laser auditorium, a multi-sensory 4DX extreme cinema experience and ScreenX - a 270-degree wrap-around screen that surrounds you in your seat.
The cinema also has onsite Starbucks. Despite Cineworld filing for bankruptcy, Councillor Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture confirmed that is is business as usual for the cinema in the Glass Works.
B&M
Barnsley's brand new B&M store opened at the start of this month boasting a huge garden centre. Taking over the former New Look and Outfit plots at Cortonwood Shopping Centre, the discount retailer was given a complete comprehensive internal and external refurbishment.
The new ground floors sales area takes up 17,907sqft and has its own 8,162sqft. garden centre where bargain hunters can buy hundreds of plant varieties and any gardening essentials.
M&S Food hall
The decades old Marks and Spencer store closed on the high street however a new store will be opening in Barnsley in Autumn 2023. Company bosses announced plans to open 20 new M&S stores across the UK.
This will include eight full-line stores selling both food and clothing and 12 new food halls. It is planned to create 3,400 jobs in total.
JYSK
Denmark’s largest global retailer is opening a new store right here in Barnsley as they plan to open five new UK shops. JYSK will be launching the new branches by the end of August with the five new additions creating an estimated 100 jobs.
Known for their homewares and garden supplies, the chain was founded in Denmark in 1979 by Lars Larsen. Over the past four decades JYSK has expanded to 51 countries with more than 2,900 stores worldwide.
As well as Barnsley, the new UK stores will be located in Leeds, Bury, Stockport and Gainsborough.
Elsecar Valley sculpture
A stunning new sculpture that reflects on and celebrates Elsecar’s industrial past, and the popularity of its canal valley, is due to be unveiled this Spring. Industrious Revolutions is a life size horse sculpture made from corten steel by artist Patrick Murphy.
It will be installed close to the heritage centre at the start of the Trans Pennine Trail, looking across the original location of the Elsecar canal basin - completed 225 years ago this year.
Standing over 6ft high, it will be an eye-catching and thought-provoking piece in fitting with the area’s beautiful surroundings, and carefully placed and designed to enhance its built environment.
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