£23m awarded to projects across the Sheffield City Region

A massive £23m was yesterday (28th January) awarded to projects across the Sheffield City Region which are set to boost the tourist economy, revitalise urban centres and improve transport connections.

Regional Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “This funding is transformative. It’s also a great example of the Mayoral Combined Authority and LEP driving real change across the Sheffield City Region.

“By investing in developments such as these, we will create jobs, attract investment, boost our tourism offer and also continue the SCR’s strong track record in building places where people want to live, work and play”.

The award of around £23m to projects across Sheffield City Region will it create and secure hundreds of local jobs, but it also demonstrates how the Local Growth Fund programme is unlocking local economic growth – from improving transport connectivity and growing new tourism assets, to supporting new tech firms and the revitalisation of local town centres.

The largest grant announced is £7.4m for the Glass Works development in Barnsley town centre. Funding will contribute to new retail and restaurant units, a market kitchen food court and offices, as well as the demolition of an existing multi storey car park. The development aims to “revitalise Barnsley’s historic markets with a contemporary twist” and create “a modern town centre with traditional community beliefs”, bringing with it almost 700 new jobs.

A grant of £7.32m has been approved for road improvements along the M1 J36 Economic Growth Corridor in Goldthorpe, to deliver 73 hectares of new employment land. Works will take place on three existing roundabouts, at Cathill, Broomhill and Wath Road, while a new roundabout will also be created off the A635.

A £2.13m grant has also been approved for Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre, to create a Digital Media Centre 2 providing new space for digital and creative businesses. The current Digital Media Centre is close to capacity, so the second phase will enable the facility to become home to creative businesses of the future. The project aims to deliver up to 94 new full-time jobs.

Andrew Denniff, Chief Executive at Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce commented: “This is hugely significant for Barnsley and will enhance those projects already in place, I am pleased these ambitious plans for Barnsley are being supported. Further, it just proves how collaboration across the city region can benefit different areas and deserving schemes. Surely it is about time we made real progress with our Devolution Deal and brought even more investment into the region”.

Additional funding has also been made available for schemes at Parkwood Springs in Sheffield and also to provide additional car parking spaces at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.