Barnsley’s revised regeneration plans reborn with new name

TOWN centre regeneration plans which fell victim to the recession were given a new name yesterday as council bosses signed off a “revised” agreement that will see the scheme significantly scaled back.

Documents for the £180m Barnsley Markets Project were first drawn up in 2006 and signed by Barnsley Council, regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and developer the 1249 Regeneration Partnership.

But by 2008 the idea had stalled in the downturn, and the demise of Yorkshire Forward left council bosses in an even more difficult situation, as it owned some of the land required for the development.

Yesterday, council bosses unveiled the scheme’s new name – Marketplace Barnsley – while revealing that they had also now signed a new £125m agreement with developers with the authority alone responsible for sponsoring the work.