30th July 2004
£1.85 MILLION INVESTMENT BRINGS NEW JOBS TO PARK SPRINGS


Priority Sites, one of the most active commercial developers in the country, has started work on a major industrial development in Park Springs.



The high quality scheme at Park Springs Business Park was launched recently in the presence of VIP guests including the Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Councillor Stephen Houghton.

The scheme is designed to meet the needs of existing local businesses looking to move to larger, more modern premises as well as attracting investment from outside the area.

Priority Sites, the joint venture company owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and national regeneration agency English Partnerships have invested £1.85 million in the Park Springs development consisting of two units of 10,000 sq ft (one of which can be divided into two 5,000 sq ft units) and one of 15,000 sq ft. The development is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

Paul Barber, Chief Executive of Priority Sites, said: “Although we have already created a number of very well received schemes in South Yorkshire which have resulted in about 400 jobs so far, this is an exciting project for us as it marks our first investment in Barnsley. “We have no doubt that this latest development will be just as successful as the others and, in line with our other schemes in the region, we expect enquiries from interested businesses well in advance of the developments completion.”

David Kennedy, Executive Director of Development at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “This scheme is great news for local people as it forms an important part of the regeneration strategy. This is a further vote of confidence on the Barnsley economy.”

This scheme is being developed in conjunction with Renaissance South Yorkshire. Tony Kildare, Managing Director, said: “The development and success of this high-profile scheme is evidence that South Yorkshire can offer investors a quality range of sites and property, backed by the highest levels of public funding available in Europe for eligible companies. “Redevelopment of former coalfields in our region is key to ensuring that the South Yorkshire region builds productively on its proud industrial heritage to deliver a 21st-century economy.”

Rob Pearson, Head of National Programmes at English Partnerships, which funded the remediation at the colliery site through its National Coalfields Programme, said: “This successful working partnership will further increase the momentum for regeneration in and around Grimethorpe, and will attract new jobs and wealth to the area.”


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www.barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk

Press Contact: Sarah Hopwood
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Barnsley Development Agency
Telephone: 01226 640 086
Facsimile: 01226 286 606
Email: shopwood@barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk


Editor’s Notes:

Established in 1997, Priority Sites is one of England’s most active developers with a new building contract starting on average every four weeks. Its success is due to the fact that it provides quality business premises – often on a speculative basis and outside high-profile industrial areas – that fit the needs of the companies that regional and local enterprise agencies want to attract, bringing with them new, long-term jobs to parts of England that need them the most. For further information visit the website www.prioritysites.co.uk

Renaissance South Yorkshire is the new regeneration company conceived by Yorkshire Forward – the Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber – and the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, in a groundbreaking partnership to transform the economic prospects of South Yorkshire by delivering significant and strategic development projects and investment in the region. For further information visit the website www.surprising-sy.com

English Partnerships is the Government’s national regeneration agency delivering high quality, sustainable growth in England. We do this by developing our portfolio of strategic sites and acting as the Government’s advisor on brownfield land. We also ensure that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider Government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan. English Partnerships helps create communities where people can afford to live and want to live. More information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

The £386.5 million National Coalfields Programme is assisting coalfield communities throughout England to recover from the decline of the coal industry by creating new employment, homes, leisure facilities and open space. It works closely with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), the Coalfields Communities Campaign, local authorities and many other groups to help rebuild fragile economies. It now covers 100 sites across some 4,000 hectares.

Barnsley Development Agency (BDA) is home to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Inward Investment and Development Team, which offers potential inward investors a comprehensive friendly and professional service, free of charge. It is the one stop shop for business support in the Barnsley area. BDA work in partnership with key players in the economic development and regeneration of the area including Business Link South Yorkshire, Barnsley Voluntary Sector Forum, Barnsley Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Barnsley College and Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre. Visit the website at www.barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk



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