From left to right - Chris Rowlands of Chris Rowlands & Co, Paul Barber of Priority Sites, Andrew Ainsworth of BDA and Karen McFarlane of Priority Sites at Wharncliffe Business Park.

The high quality schemes at Park Springs Business Park, formerly Grimethorpe colliery, and Wharncliffe Business Park, formerly Wharncliffe Woodmoor colliery, Athersley, represented a total investment by Priority Sites of £4.5 million.

Priority Sites – the joint venture company owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and national regeneration agency English Partnerships – is the first developer on site at Wharncliffe and has created a £2.7 million scheme of eleven workshops and six industrial units, ranging from 750 sq ft to 8,000 sq ft. The £1.85 million Park Springs development consisted of two units of 10,000 sq ft and one of 15,000 sq ft.

Local companies looking to move to larger, more modern premises and companies from outside of the area were quick to recognise the quality of the new units and many benefits Barnsley has to offer as a business location.

Paul Barber, Chief Executive of Priority Sites, said: “These developments marked our first investment in Barnsley and we are delighted that they have proved so popular with businesses.

We have no doubt that our latest development in Barnsley, at Shortwood Business Park, will be just as successful and we are already receiving enquiries from interested businesses well in advance of the developments’ completion in August.”

Andrew Ainsworth, Business Development Officer at Barnsley Development Agency, said: “These schemes are great news for local people as they form an important part of the regeneration strategy for the area. This is a further vote of confidence on the Barnsley economy.”

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