Former mining site set for industrial revamp creating 450 jobs

PROPERTY regeneration firm Harworth Estates, has begun work on a new industrial development at a former Barnsley mining site.

Owned by the Harworth Group plc, Harworth Estates is developing R-evolution @ Gateway 36 off the Dearne Valley Parkway.

Harworth is working in partnership with Barnsley Council, which granted planning consent for the development on March 17.

R-evolution @ Gateway 36, will, in total, create more than 450 new jobs in addition to having the potential to add £20m in Gross Value Added to the local economy.

The first phase will comprise the construction of the initial site infrastructure and the first three units, totalling 65,000 sq ft, which are available for lease and expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

All occupiers will have access to comprehensive business support through the council’s experienced investment team, including free guidance on access to finance, recruitment and training, as well as the potential to receive business growth coaching from the nationally-recognised Enterprising Barnsley programme.

Campbell Carruth, director of Business Space at Harworth Estates, said: “We are delighted that we are bringing forward a high-quality scheme with Barnsley Council’s support. There is a significant lack of new units of less than 50,000 sq ft in Yorkshire and R-evolution @ Gateway 36 addresses this need”.

James Newman, chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This scheme epitomises public-private collaboration in our City Region. I am pleased to see that local business is responding to market demand by bringing forward vital development”.

Funding for infrastructure works and the construction of the first three units has come from a £4.8 million loan from the Sheffield City Region Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas (JESSICA) Fund.