4. Civic and The Lanes

The Grade II listed Barnsley Civic Hall will draw from some of its past cultural elements to undergo its £11 million transformation into a creative arts and specialist retail centre.

It will accommodate studio, exhibition space, offices, meeting rooms and retail space along with the unique Design Centre and the Council’s Community Information Service. Opening out into Mandela Gardens and George Yard as well as Eldon Street, the Civic will include a mill type retail outlet and create an informal meeting and outdoor performance area with a café/restaurant pavilion.

Most of the original structure, and many of the original features, will be sympathetically preserved. The frontage onto Eldon Street will be repaired and remain a strong statement of Barnsley’s Victorian heritage, whilst new aspects to Mandela Gardens will be transparent, offering a great view of a vibrant building from many areas.

The Lanes will comprise an intimate selection of more specialist craft shops, clothes shops like the current Pollyanna, studios, boutiques and restaurants.

The mixed-use redevelopment is crucial in the Remaking Barnsley programme and will bring together the many creative elements that exist in the town to foster arts, crafts and other creative industries.

An award winning project team with a wealth of expertise have been appointed to manage this unique scheme. Regeneration specialist Allen Tod Architecture, who produced the initial feasibility study and early designs for the Civic and Mandela Gardens, will carry the design through to completion. Building contractor ISG InteriorExterior is carrying out the work. Professional management specialist Mace is project managing the scheme, with property advisor Knight Frank responsible for letting the retail units.

From left to right – Ruth Rovira, Remaking Barnsley; Cllr William Newman; The Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Joe Hayward and Leader of the Council Stephen Houghton look on as representatives from building contractor InteriorExterior bury a time capsule at the Civic Hall ground breaking event

A ground- breaking ceremony took place in March 2006 to mark the £11 million transformation.

Members of the Harvey family, descendents of Charles Harvey – the hall’s creator and famous linen entrepreneur who commissioned the Civic Hall in 1878 - joined The Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Joe Hayward; Cabinet spokesperson for Development, Cllr William Newman; and Leader of the Council Cllr Stephen Houghton to mark the start of work on site.

Cllr Newman explained: “This vibrant redevelopment will breathe new life back into the Civic and Mandela Gardens. The community and visitors alike will be able to enjoy the buzz of the diverse facilities on offer in Barnsley’s new cultural and creative heart. The development will undoubtedly be the only one of its kind in the North of England.”

The major facelift for Barnsley Civic Hall is due to be complete in June 2007. The project is supported by Barnsley Council, Single Regeneration Budget, Objective 1 (European Regional Development Fund), Yorkshire Forward and the Arts Council of England.