28th May 2002
£20M DEVELOPMENT BRINGING OVER 700 JOBS TO BARNSLEY

One of Barnsley's highest unemployment areas today received a massive boost with the start of construction works which are set to bring more than 700 jobs to the £20M Bleachcroft Way development at Wombwell Lane, Stairfoot. Bleachcroft Way will be home to a new 100,000sq ft B&Q Warehouse which will create over 250 jobs, around 20% of which will be for skilled tradespeople. The construction programme on the site will be followed by B&Q's own fit-out programme to prepare its Warehouse for opening by Spring 2003.

Contractor Bluestone PLC today started demolition work as part of Phase I of the construction programme, due to be completed by February next year. Full Planning has been secured for the B&Q Warehouse including a Garden Centre and Building Centre, along with some 590 car spaces. Over 21 acres of land is then available for additional development, and Stainsby Grange is working with BDA to ensure the required infrastructure is in place to attract further industrial and commercial tenants - and jobs - as soon as possible.

David Williams, Property Director for Stainsby Grange, said: "The start of works was only made possible by a strong public-private sector partnership approach involving ourselves and Barnsley Development Agency and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Without the preparatory work undertaken by BDA over the past two years in particular, the development would simply not have happened.

"The commercial site always needed a strong anchor in the form of a high profile first tenant, and we are truly delighted that this solid foundation is being provided by B&Q who have remained committed to Barnsley and patient throughout the planning process," added David Williams.


As well as the B&Q Warehouse, the scheme will enable more than 21 acres to be developed. The outline planning permission for phase two provides for circa 200,000sq ft of new space. Phase 1 will include 11,000sq feet of industrial start-up space on the Bleachcroft Way site. The overall projected jobs figure of 700 for Bleachcroft Way is based on average occupancy of this type of development, and this could ultimately be higher depending on the type of businesses that move onto the site.

Jeff Pickering, Economic Development Manager at Barnsley Development Agency (BDA), commented: "We've known for some time that there was scope for a major development on the Bleachcroft Way site, and today we are starting to see years of hard work coming to fruition for the collective benefit of the local community and economy. BDA has put a great deal of effort and commitment into securing this development over the past four years in close partnership with Barnsley Council's Planning and Transportation Service, Stainsby Grange, and B&Q, to bring vital new investment and jobs for the town.

"BDA's role in the development is not complete however, it is only just starting. We will now continue working closely with B&Q to ensure that the benefits of this development are enjoyed in local communities including Kendray. Many of the long-term unemployed in the area who have been re-skilling and re-training as part of BDA's Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) programme, for example, will have a chance to apply for any appropriate jobs as they become available."

Some of the communities that will benefit directly from the investment in their area have some of the highest unemployment levels in South Yorkshire; Kendray, Thurnscoe, and Lundwood. The development also fits in well with Barnsley's Objective One Urban Centre Plan and BDA's overall regeneration strategy for the Barnsley borough.



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