A SCHEME totalling £5m to revamp and boost out-of-town shopping locations as a knock-on result of Barnsley town centre’s redevelopment is set to get underway.
As part of the Principal Towns project, more than 150 shops will be improved at villages including Athersley, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Cudworth, Darton, Darfield, Dodworth, Hoyland, Goldthorpe, Grimethorpe, Lundwood, Mapplewell, Stairfoot, Royston and Thurnscoe.
During the winter months, improvement works to areas including accessibility, footpaths, public spaces, car parking and public art will begin in Athersley, Darton, Darfield, Goldthorpe, Bolton-upon-Dearne and Thurnscoe.
Barnsley Council is on the brink of selecting a contractor responsible for delivering the next phase of the project and hopes to have a contract signed by the end of next month.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson, said: “The Principal Towns investment project which aims to improve and create thriving local high streets continues to progress.
“We’re currently looking at procuring a contractor to undertake the shop fronts’ improvement works which we hope to have in place by the end of November.
“We’ve worked with local businesses, residents and community organisations in Dodworth, Darton, Cudworth, Royston, Wombwell and Penistone and further schemes are being developed through feasibility funding. We’ll be consulting with the wider public in autumn on the plans for each of these areas.
“We’ve recently launched a scheme which provides new business start-ups the opportunity to access up to £5,000 to help with initials set-up costs. We would encourage any budding entrepreneurs who are looking to launch their business idea to take advantage of this scheme.
“The Principal Towns project is an exciting scheme, revitalising our local high streets will provide more inviting opportunities to Barnsley residents. We’re looking forward to the schemes being brought to fruition.”
A report seen by cabinet members on Wednesday outlines the funding agreed for some of the smaller areas with the lion’s share going to Thurnscoe £146,615 and £116,098 to Bolton-upon-Dearne. Money totalling £56,000 has been allocated to Athersley, £36,000 to Darfield and £90,000 for Darton.
Cudworth, Dodworth, Penistone, Royston and Wombwell have also received a share of £86,000 to pay for feasibility studies to be carried out by consultants to further develop their bids to makeover high streets.
The idea behind the Principal Towns funding, according to the council, is to kick-start wider investment across local high streets to make sure the benefits of economic regeneration are felt across the borough.
Cabinet members have already agreed a shop front improvement scheme and to provide a minimum contribution of £4,000 per shop front, which could see up to 190 businesses taking part.
No time limits have been placed on the spending of the £5m total that’s been set aside to improve the locations, although in the initial shop front scheme, businesses were asked to collectively provide £200,000 or 20 per cent of each shop’s £4,000 allocation towards the overall improvements.
Council director Matt Gladstone said: “The project aims to create a thriving high street with strong and resilient communities, so it’s really important to look at ideas that are ambitious and achievable.
“These exciting improvements will help encourage investment from the private sector and other funding streams to increase income generation across the borough.”
