BARNSLEY

Metropolitan Borough Council

BARNSLEY
TOWN CENTRE
PROSPECTUS
Creating a Better Barnsley
Town Centre Prospectus and Feasibility Study prepared for Barnsley
Metropolitan Borough Council by NPS and IBI Taylor Young
Contents
Introduction
1.0 The town centre today
2.0 Our vision for Barnsleys markets area
3.0 The councils role
4.0 Engaging the community
5.0 Opportunities
6.0 Next steps
Appendix
Development Opportunities
4
We have a 30-year vision for regeneration and weve
already delivered successes in the Commercial Quarter,
the Interchange, the Experience Barnsley visitor
attraction and public realm improvements.
A growing population and local economy and
employment rates higher than the national average make
the town an attractive place to invest.
The Council has a central role in delivering change in
Barnsleys town centre as a land-owner, decision
maker and part-funder, we are taking a lead in creating
the conditions for the town centre to fourish. This will
include multi million pound investments in practical
initiatives to improve how the centre functions. This
way we will prepare the ground for continued business
investment in the town centre while keeping the vitality of
our existing businesses.
Central to the future of the town centre is the markets
area, with its mix of indoor and outdoor markets, but the
markets need a new setting to make them more visible
and accessible. We recognise that a more incremental
approach to change should include both refurbishing
parts of the existing buildings and new development
to improve the shopping and leisure experience and
the choice on offer. The quality of the town centres
public spaces is also fundamental to future success:
opportunities for new spaces and improvements of
existing ones are integral to our approach.
Everyone who works in the town centre or visits it for
shopping, transport, entertainment or learning has a stake
in its future. The opportunities set out in this document are
the result of extensive consultation with business interests,
market traders and the wider public. We would now like to
hear from you on how we can work together to bring these
projects to life.
We hope these proposals will give
confdence to local people and businesses,
showing were serious about delivering
these improvements. The next three years
are going to be exciting, creating jobs and
opportunities for people in Barnsley
Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE,
Leader Barnsley Council
We have taken a fresh look at our town centre and its famous
markets area. The role of town centres is rapidly changing
ensuring a long-term future for the town demands action
now and we want to work with the private sector to make the
necessary investment.
5
Our vision for the new town centre includes a range of retail and leisure activities and
events, as well as civic amenities like the new library. Barnsley will support the next
generation of retailing, bringing together physical shops with online purchases, and
providing interactive business and community hubs.
The new town square, shopping boulevard and training and enterprise centre (TEC)
building offer opportunities for businesses to invest, by developing new buildings,
pavement cafes, or new leisure and retail sites.
Diana Terris, Chief Executive Barnsley Council
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Town Hall
Barnsley Interchange
Alhambra Shopping Centre
Peel Square
Council town centre sites outlined in red
1.0 The town centre today
Barnsley is the administrative centre of an urban area
serving over 70,000 people. A rich industrial history
and an attractive setting in South Yorkshires rolling
landscape have shaped a place with a strong identity
one that local people are justly proud of.
Barnsley is strategically placed between two city
regions: only 12 miles from Sheffeld and 17 miles from
Leeds, with excellent rail and road access including
the M1. This strategic location can only be enhanced
by the advent of HS2 to the area.
Barnsley Town Centre Feasibility
Location Diagram
Scale: NTS
Reviewed by: XX
J ob: 6702
Drawing: 0000
Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number LIG0358 2014.
Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2014.
0 xx m
Peak District National Park
Rail
Motorway
A Road
Proposed HS2 Phase 2
Towns/Cities
Peak District
National Park
Carlisle
Barnsley
Leeds /
Bradford
Meadowhall
Doncaster
Manchester
Huddersfield
London
York and NE
Hull
Immingham
NW
Sheffield
M1
M18
M62
M62
M180
30 mins travel
A628
Regional Location Plan
6
There are many other reasons to invest in Barnsley:
y Our economy is growing for instance, the
advanced manufacturing sector in Barnsley has
recorded double the regional growth. Barnsley has
seen a nine times greater than the regional average
employment growth in the construction sector and a
nearly 30% increase in the logistics sector.
y Yorkshire and Humber attracts 216 million visitors
and tourism is worth over 7 billion. Barnsleys
markets are renowned and draw visitors from across
the region and beyond.
y Barnsley has fewer retail voids than the national and
regional average thanks to proactive marketing and
the use of fexible lease arrangements. We have a
signifcant number of independent traders.
y Our population growth is steady and sustainable.
Barnsley Council has a clear vision for the regeneration
and renaissance of the town centre, which is a central
objective in our Jobs and Business Plan. An ambitious
series of investments have been developed and
delivered to support this objective including:
y Experience Barnsley: a high quality visitor attraction
y Centenary Square
y A new transport interchange
y A new cultural/ performance centre
y New high quality offce developments
y Digital Media Centre
Projects so far have a combined development value
of 113m but work is still progressing. A new state-of-
the-art sixth form college has started on site and further
public realm enhancements are underway.
Like many market towns, Barnsley needs to focus
on refreshing buildings and public realm, as well as
increasing connectivity. This prospectus sets out
our agenda for continuing the transformation of the
town centre by targeted investment and opening up
development opportunities.
7
Barnsley Town Centre 1960
Going to town. The markets historically became
successful on the old May Day Green at the
convergence of main routes into the town. In
comparison, the markets today are hidden behind
the shops on Cheapside and routes into the town
from the south and east are now unattractive or no
longer exist. As a consequence, the markets do not
benet from the visibility and footfall that originally
made them so successful. Our plans aim to restore
some of those former qualities in order to provide for
the continuing success of the markets and the wider
town centre.
A nine times greater than
the regional average
employment growth in the
construction sector
8
2.0 Our vision for Barnsleys town centre
A 21st century Market Town
Our town centres remain important for local communities and economies. A vibrant town centre will play an
important part in growing the economy across the borough.
From our discussion with businesses, traders and the public, four themes have emerged that will
guide our plans for the town centre:
Theme 1: more than retailing
We will encourage a wider choice of uses and
activities to add to the vitality of the town centre.
We will invest in public spaces and provide a
programme of events and activities to better serve
all sectors of the community young and old.
We are building a new Central Library linked to other, co-
located facilities.
The town centre will offer a range from quality to value
shopping but also a choice of leisure activities, eating
and entertainment, employment, public events, transport,
education (including Barnsley College), and in the longer term,
potential for residential and extra-care accommodation.

Creating more choice also helps extend visits into the
evening, and provide more for families. We will do this
through our town centre management, policing, car parking
policy and by encouraging retailers and leisure operators to
extend opening hours.
Theme 2: Investing for the long-term
Our vision is to start now with what can be
delivered immediately and create a platform
for future investment that can be made over
the coming years.
Our initiatives prepare the ground to attract private sector
investment. Rather than proposing a rigid plan, we
recognise that planning for incremental change has its own
advantages it helps future-proof the town centre and will
allow the centre to evolve to meet changing needs.
It is important that in creating sites and opportunities for the
long-term, we dont create temporary voids in the town centre.
We will encourage meanwhile uses and pop-up installations
to maintain activity until more permanent fabric is completed.
9
Theme 3: intelligent Barnsley
Barnsley will be in the vanguard of bringing
together the physical and digital town.
The qualities that make traditional places successful
are as important as ever but in the future, town centres
cannot be just bricks and mortar places: retailers
face challenges from e-commerce and our social lives
compete with social media.
We will use new technologies to provide place-specifc
digital content for multi-channel retailing, community
and business hubs, and interactive and multi-functioning
public spaces. For instance, a media screen in a new
square could relay public events or show what is
happening inside the market.
Intelligent Barnsley will also be about promoting
education and linking with the College and facilitating
more informed decision making, The intelligence of the
town will also be demonstrated by smarter ways to use
resources including generating our own electricity to help
power the town centre.
Theme 4: local and distinctive
Barnsley people know that their town is special.
We can offer something unique that you
wont fnd in Leeds, Sheffeld or Meadowhall.
The diversity of the market stalls and the
atmosphere of public spaces will offer a
different experience and one that is distinctively
Barnsley.
We are looking for designs of buildings, open spaces and
public art that will resonate with both our industrial heritage
and our future. The tradition of glass making and the stone-
clad Victorian buildings are just some of the visual cues
that can inspire great design. The undulating topography
offers dramatic views and opportunities for a memorable
townscape. Our vision is to work with businesses to create
unique experiences maybe eating out under a canopy of
trees or perhaps to buy local produce for a chef to cook
for you. Whatever your idea, if it can help deliver our vision,
come and talk to us.
3.0 The councils role - early wins, long-term investment
Our strategy is to open up the markets area to create self-
contained sites that can be developed independently of one
another. This allows the town centre to adapt in a series
of changes. In this way, we can also future-proof the town
centre making it more resilient to changes in the economy and
shopping habits.
By 2017
In the frst few years we will Demolish
Central Offces and invest in a new
Town Square with space for the
open-air market and town centre
events, open new car parks on
the CEAG and Carpet World sites,
refurbish the Metropolitan Centre
and its markets and build a new
Central Library
We will also acquire the Training
and Enterprise Building (TEC) for
redevelopment and encourage
temporary uses for this and other
sites that will help animate the centre
so that throughout this transformation,
the town centre will see noticeable
improvement and increased vitality.
The diagram illustrates just some of
the meanwhile uses that have been
suggested but the fnal decision can
include other ideas suggested by
businesses or community groups: e.g:
temporary Green Spaces,
temporary BoxPark units,
temporary Tree Nursery.
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Library
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
This will be an ongoing process, one that is coordinated within the
overall vision for the town centre and a comprehensive servicing
and access strategy. This way, our vision for the town centre will
be realized in manageable stages, allowing us to get the right
development at each step.
We have identied a 41m budget, to kick-start regeneration in
the town centre with early investment up to 2017.
11
Longer Term
At the same time, we will work
to attract longer-term uses for
the sites that can be delivered as
the economy improves including:
Entertainment and Leisure,
more Shops, Cafes
and Restaurants and
Employment space
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
Temporary
Green Space
Library
Car Parking Employment Retail
Entertainment
/ Leisure
Food & Drink
Outdoor /
Indoor
Market
Garden
Centre
Tree Nursery
4.0 Support from the community
We have talked with a wide range of people who work
in or visit the town centre to ensure that improving the
town centre has broad-based support across business,
community, market traders and local property owners.
When we asked people what they wanted, they
suggested many ways of achieving our vision:
y Retain all the markets (indoor; semi outdoor and;
outdoor markets)
y Library / community hub
y Major public open space and events programme
y Trader servicing & parking
y High quality visitor car parking
y Better sense of arrival to town centre and easier
access across the railway
y A better night-time environment including high
quality lighting
y A more sustainable energy strategy.
y Future-proofed and digital compatibility.
y Safe and welcoming
We would like to thank the many people who contributed
their passion and imagination to shaping this prospectus
and for the exciting ideas they suggested.
Shops
people
store
stores
department
range
parking
quality
facilites
restaurants
clothes
Beter
like
good
family
choice
cinema
independent
places
space
children
wider
retailers
play
larger
music
evening
evironment
get around
Meadowhall
variety
entertainment
pubs
areas
cafe
beter
outdoor
clothing
shopping
shopping
town
centre market
12
13
5.0 Opportunities
Our emerging framework for the town centre aims to create opportunities for development and a platform of
infrastructure and circulation to access and service those sites. The framework aims to be cost effective by working with
the existing Metropolitan centre structure where practicable. The proposals aim to maintain existing businesses and as
far as possible, minimize any disruption and relocation of businesses.
The proposed framework elements are described on the following pages
14
BARNSLEY TOWN CENTRE
Illustrator Template
Scale: 1:2500@A3
Reviewed by: XX
J ob: 6702
Drawing: GIS_04
Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number LIG0358 2014.
Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2014.
0 50 m
Town Centre Diagram
Mandela
Gardens
Barnsley
Interchange
Kendray Street Site
Arcade
New
Street
Alhambra Centre
Lambra
Road
Peel
Square
May Day Green Site
New Town Square
New Shopping Boulevard
Metropolitan Centre
Service Access
New High Quality
Car Park
6
5 1
7
2
3
4
1. The Town Square A new landscaped public space, large enough for open air market stalls and public events.
The Town Square will be at the convergence of routes into the town centre and will provide the setting for new buildings
including a public face to the indoor market. We are aiming to complete this public space by the end of 2016.
15
2. New shopping boulevard leading south from
the new Town Square and linking to Lambra Road, a
new route will provide frontage for development to line
the rear of the indoor markets and new opportunity
sites. For at least the short-term, the Carpet World
building will be replaced by new surface car parking to
help anchor the southern end of this route. Vehicles will
be diverted off to access the undercroft service areas
and car parking. Existing service and parking access will
be maintained for the Alhambra Centre. Demolition of
the multi storey carpark is planned to start in February
2016 to allow this new route to be in place by 2017.
3. Sites to east of new town square and shopping
boulevard- could also accommodate a range of uses.
These sites might be brought forward later on so ideas
for meanwhile uses on these sites are also welcomed.
16
New Shopping Boulevard could have more
development in the future
New Shopping Boulevard and street
level car park
4. The Metropolitan Centre Extended to the north and east to accommodate the existing semi-open market
and create a new, more visually permeable face to the market encouraging better pedestrian interaction between
indoor and outdoor markets. The existing stairs and canopies that block views along Cheapside will be removed and
in due course, a new glazed frontage could be wrapped around the existing retail units on Cheapside. Cheapside
can be widened out at the corner with New Street to encourage shoppers into the Indoor Market from the south
and create a sunny corner for shoppers to sit. The existing multi-storey car park is diffcult to maintain and would be
better replaced by new car parks that are easy to get to and more attractive to use. We aim to extend the market and
complete the refurbishment by early 2017.
17
5. May Day Green will beneft from increased footfall and an improved setting as the backdrop to the west side of
the new Town Square. The site can be redeveloped and could be an excellent location for the new Central Library, which
should open in early 2017.
6. New leisure or retail on Kendray Street - The Training and Enterprise (TEC) Building offers a redevelopment
opportunity facing south overlooking the new Town Square. This site would make a good location for leisure, retail
and a pavement cafe. The north-west frontage might be extended up to Eldon Street to help direct shoppers from the
Arcade and shelter the Town Square from prevailing winds.
18
7. New high quality car park - The former CEAG site is earmarked for a new, high-quality, landscaped car park.
Taking advantage of a the sites visibility and easy access from Harborough Hill Road, the car park would be one of
the locations to replace the multi-storey car park to serve the town centre (along with public parking in part of the
service undercroft and at the Carpet World site). We are on track for the car park to open in November 2015.
We will work with Network Rail to see if the Jumble Lane Crossing can be replaced by a pedestrian bridge connecting
safely and directly from the new car park to the new Town Square.
19
20
6.0 Next steps
The ideas set out in this
Prospectus represent a
guiding strategy for the
Councils property assets in
the town centre but there is
inevitably still a lot of detail to
be worked out.
We welcome your comments
on these ideas.
We would also welcome
ideas from businesses
looking for space in the
town centre or with exciting
ideas that can add to making
Barnsley town centre even
more special.
You can get in contact with us at:
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Asset Management
PO Box 634
Barnsley
S70 9GG
United Kingdom
Tel: 01226 774333
Email: property@barnsley.gov.uk
Twitter:
@BarnsleyCouncil
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/BarnsleyCouncil
As the work progresses, we will keep
everyone up-to-date via our web site at:
www.barnsley.gov.uk/betterbarnsley
21
Appendix - Development Opportunities
The following pages outline how Barnsley town centre will
offer a range of accommodation and development sites.
These provide fexibility and a choice of sizes, tenures
and site conditions, that can be matched by a range of
appropriate land arrangements.
Council and our partners offer a range of services and
incentives to help support existing businesses and
encourage inward investment including:
y The Barnsley Economic Partnership (BEP).
y With South Yorkshire partners and Broadband
Delivery uK (BDuK), we are planning superfast digital
business connectivity.
y The Construction Training Academy and Thinking
Low Carbon Centre will support the growing low
carbon sector.
y Barnsley Business Innovation Centre.
y Inward Investment Team and Enterprise Barnsley.
y Regional Growth Fund
We will explore how structuring business rates can
encourage the right mix of uses.
22
BARNSLEY TOWN CENTRE
Illustrator Template
Scale: 1:2500@A3
Reviewed by: XX
J ob: 6702
Drawing: GIS_04
Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number LIG0358 2014.
Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2014.
0 50 m
Mandela
Gardens
Barnsley
Interchange
Arcade
New
Street
Alhambra Centre
Lambra
Road
Peel
Square
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Town Centre Diagram
The Barnsley District Policy AAP11 identifes appropriate uses including: shops, offces, leisure developments, and food
and drink uses within the Markets District. Residential development on upper foors will also be considered, along with
other uses if they help support the liveliness and economic strength of the town centre.
Town Centre Sites
for new Development
Opportunities
Site area
(Ha)
Suggested uses
Plot 1: May Day Green 0.13 Library, civic, retail, food & drink
Plot 2: Former TEC Building 0.23
Leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment, residential
(upper foors only)
Plot 3: Interchange Square 0.07
Leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment, residential
(upper foors only)
Plot 4: Town Square East 0.18
Leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment, residential
(upper foors only)
Plot 5: Boulevard East 0.35
Car parking, leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment,
residential (upper foors only)
Plot 6: Boulevard West 0.08 Leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment,
Plot 7: Former Carpet World site 0.26
Car parking, leisure, retail, hotel, food & drink, employment,
residential (upper foors only)
23
Lambra
Road
BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council
BARNSLEY
TOWN CENTRE
PROSPECTUS
Creating a Better Barnsley