29th July 2002
NEW DEVELOPMENT SIGNALS 90 JOBS IN GRIMETHORPE

The regeneration of the village of Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire received a major boost this week with the official opening of four new business units at Park Springs strategic employment site that are set to attract new businesses to the area and create around 90 jobs

Representatives of the Yorkshire region's commercial property community were treated to a guided tour of the £1.6m units at a breakfast reception attended by leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (BMBC), councillor Stephen Houghton, Yorkshire Forward's Head of South Yorkshire Ian Bramley, Barnsley Development Agency's (BDA's) Economic Development Manager Jeff Pickering, and Grimethorpe Regeneration Executive's (GRE's) Shaun Higginbottom.

Park Springs is supported with funding from Yorkshire Forward, English Partnerships, European Regional Development Fund (Objective One Programme), Single Regeneration Budget, and private sector investment from UK Coal and Barnsley Miller Partnership.

Shaun Higginbottom of GRE, commented: "After many years of decline Grimethorpe can start to focus positively on the future again, and these business units form part of the overall regeneration strategy that is set to bring new jobs and stimulate inward investment at a local level. The units are of an extremely high standard and are in an excellent location alongside the new £9.5m link road which connects Grimethorpe to the A1, M1, and M62 in a matter of minutes.

"Park Springs is within an Economic Zone designated under South Yorkshire's Objective One Programme, enabling a significant proportion of eligible costs to be recovered by investors. Many new jobs will be created on the site over the coming years, making a real and tangible contribution to the economic and social regeneration of the area."


Barnsley Development Agency brings together the partnership-based resources to effectively tackle the broad range of economic development and regeneration tasks required to significantly transform the Barnsley economy and the prospects of Barnsley’s citizens over a ten year period. GRE and BDA are working closely together to secure a more positive future for Grimethorpe, with a genuine partnership approach and commitment to a vision of change.

Stephen Houghton added: "The construction of these industrial units is part of the long term plan to bring new life to the community of Grimethorpe, bringing new businesses and jobs, whilst simultaneously giving a boost to the sub regional economy as part of the wider regeneration of South Yorkshire."

Yorkshire Forward is working on the reclamation of several former coalfield sites in South Yorkshire, making land available for housing, industrial and leisure uses, providing new opportunities for communities to develop and grow.

For more information on Park Springs or GRE, contact Shaun Higginbottom at Grimethorpe Regeneration Executive, The Acorn Centre, 51 High Street, Grimethorpe, Barnsley S72 7BB. Tel 01226 716700, Fax 01226 716499.

E-mail: enquiries@gre.park-springs.com
or shigginbottom@barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk



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