Construction gets underway at £120m town centre redevelopment scheme

Construction of the first permanent building within The Glass Works, Barnsley’s £120m town centre development scheme, has begun.

Last month, Barnsley Council announced its commitment to invest an additional £70m in the scheme, making a total investment of £120m.

Named The Glass Works, the scheme will provide shops, restaurants, a 13 screen Cineworld and Superbowl UK, alongside a new home for Barnsley Markets, a new central library and community space, multi-storey car park and public realm.

The futuristic £5.3m central library and community space will have a transparent glazed skin that emits light to illuminate the new public square.

David Shepherd, service director economic regeneration,  said: “We launched The Glass Works just over six weeks ago and here we are today marking the construction of the first building in the redevelopment. There has been a lot of demolition in the town centre over the past couple of years, so it’s great to see building works commence. We’re moving forward and giving Barnsley what it deserves; a vibrant town centre.”

Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr Linda Burgess, added: “We have reached another exciting milestone in the redevelopment. During my mayoral year I have had the privilege of seeing the town centre really progress, changing the skyline of Barnsley forever.”