25th July 2003
REMAKING BARNSLEY WITH WARMTH AND WIT

Billed as a celebration of ‘Remaking Barnsley’, July 9th’s event hosted by Barnsley Council at Brooklands Hotel, Dodworth, was attended by a large number of the area’s “movers and shakers”.

On the list included some of the region’s architects, developers and dignitaries, along with Yorkshire Forward, Council officers and members of the Town Team, who have worked on Rethinking Barnsley since January 2002.

In welcoming everyone to the event, Council leader Councillor Stephen Houghton opened proceedings together with Yorkshire Forward’s Chief Executive Martin Havenhand, who formally launched Barnsley’s Strategic Development Framework.

The highlight of the evening was the screening of a second film about Barnsley made by film-makers Squint Opera, called ‘Post Barnsley’. The short film, narrated by Ian McMillan, poet and broadcaster, looks at what life could be like in Barnsley in the future as the ideas developed under the creative leadership of international architect Will Alsop.

Within the Strategic Development Framework, Professor Alsop says, “I believe Barnsley will be a beautiful place. The region is one of stunning countryside and there is a robust civic pride. Local people pride themselves on possessing warmth and humour. All this has become apparent in our year’s work here and rendered our undertaking a pleasant and stimulating one.”


The evening progressed with Yorkshire Television’s Tim Iredale hosting a panel discussion where the audience were invited to ask questions. The panel comprised of Stephen Houghton, local entrepreneur Rita Britton, Martin Havenhand, Will Alsop and local developer Jason Brook of the Brook Group.

‘Rethinking Barnsley’ is formally complete, and ‘Remaking Barnsley’ is the next stage - a major programme of projects and developments aimed at turning the new vision for the future of Barnsley into reality. What has made the programme of Rethinking and Remaking Barnsley unique is the public’s ongoing involvement, providing a great deal of the inspiration for the plans to redevelop our town. Younger people have also had an involvement in the way Barnsley is run and developed. Speaking at the event were Elliot Bond and Danielle Williams, who have been elected to the Barnsley Youth Council. They have been involved with the whole programme, but particularly with the ‘Barnsley Wheels Complex’, an urban-style skate park aimed at teenagers. Councillor Houghton added, “Remaking Barnsley is about our young people and giving them a vision for the future.”

Whilst the Framework has been developed with a long-term outlook of some 30 years, projects within the first five years will be the catalyst for change that will bring new confidence and investment into the town centre. These include a £12 million Digital Media Centre providing high-tech incubation space for nearly 70 businesses, the expansion of Barnsley College, conversion of the Civic Hall into living, working and exhibition space, the £20 million redevelopment of the Interchange and significant public realm works. Although the focus is on the town centre, the plan envisages a transformation in economic performance across the entire Borough.

The most important project is the Barnsley Market Project, the complete redevelopment of the Market and the Metropolitan Centre. Eileen Molloy, Head of Property Development at Yorkshire Forward, told the conference that this major development could be complete in 2007 or 2008 and would transform the retail and leisure core of the Town.

Stephen Houghton is responsible for starting and driving through Rethinking and Remaking Barnsley with the support of fellow councillors, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and many members of the public, as well as Yorkshire Forward. His view is that, “We must have a dream about the future and be prepared to invest in new ideas in the knowledge that, if the ideas are right, then visitors and investors will begin to see Barnsley as something different from what it is now and different from other towns. This does not mean that we will have to lose our heritage; only that we need new ideas to sustain the best traditions of Barnsley and its people. “


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



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