Leading Yorkshire property developers Sterling Capitol have now started work on site on a major £60 million business park in Barnsley.

Aerial photo of the site at Junction 37 M1

The 36-acre business park, which is situated by Junction 37 of the M1, could accommodate over 650 new jobs. It is a classic mixed-use scheme, with provision for 450,000 sq ft of offices and business space, a new 130-bed hotel with ancillary facilities and a 250-space park-and-ride, linking the project to Barnsley Town Centre.

This prestigious park is being built in conjunction with a new by-pass for the village of Dodworth, due to open in Spring 2006 and will transform the area north west of Junction 37 of the M1 with high quality buildings set in an attractive semi rural landscape.

Subject to detailed planning permission, the first phase of development will include 30,000 sq ft of high quality speculative “hybrid” business units fitted out with office accommodation at first floor and with remaining floorspace divisible between production, warehouse or further office accommodation to meet the needs of end users.

The hybrid units will range from 2,000 to 8,000 sq ft and will be available for sale or lease. At the same time it is intended to develop a 30, 000sq ft “category A” office building, close to the main entrance of the park.

The developers are also talking to a number of prospective users interested in design and build options to accommodate manufacturing and distribution operations.

The development is supported by a £2.65m public sector grant under the European Objective One scheme and has been carefully planned and brought forward, working closely with Renaissance South Yorkshire, Yorkshire Forward and Barnsley Development Agency.

Martin Croxen, the chief executive of Sterling Capitol, commented: “This is a very exciting scheme for Barnsley, a town with a proud industrial past and a great future. We are delighted to be involved in a development which will assist in the regeneration of one of South Yorkshire’s most important towns”.

“As developers, Sterling Capitol have a proven track record in delivering highly successful business parks in prime motorway locations in Yorkshire. Capitol Park Thorne and Capitol Park Leeds have revitalised their communities and created more than 2,500 jobs between them. I have every confidence that Capitol Park Barnsley will be equally successful,” said Mr Croxen.

The agents for the development are the Leeds and Sheffield offices of Knight Frank.

Mike Dove, the partner in charge of Knight Frank’s Leeds office, commented: “Sterling Capitol have established an enviable reputation as developers who deliver. Their development is excellent news for Barnsley and excellent news for South Yorkshire, because it will provide jobs and business opportunities across all sectors”.

“There are imaginative plans to transform Barnsley into a market town for the 21st century and Capitol Park Barnsley will be the perfect complement to this. The future is bright for this proud and historic town,” he added.

The architects for the scheme are the Harris Partnership from Wakefield.