Thousands of jobs in pipeline as £17m M1 investment announced
PLANS for a £17.1m infrastructure development project near junction 36 of the M1 have been announced by Sheffield City Region (SCR).
The funding, along with two development agreements with Harworth Estates, CRM and Hoyland Developments will fund the redevelopment of around 34 hectares of land which has the potential to create 4,500 jobs.
The funding, provided through the SCR Investment Fund (SCRIF), is being supplemented with “significant” private sector investment.
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “The Sheffield City Region Investment Fund money will allow developers to provide the right key infrastructure needed to create the conditions for investment at Hoyland now and a critical supply of employment land into the future. This is essential in helping to attract and retain new and existing businesses, which in turn will create a more competitive private sector employment base.
“Confidence in the area is already growing, with developments at Harworth’s Gateway 36 site and local Enterprise Zones.”
Nigel Brewster, vice chairman of Sheffield City Region LEP, said: “This latest announcement takes us another step towards the LEP’s ten-year vision to create 70,000 jobs and 6,000 new businesses. Growing number of investors from around the world are looking to do business in Sheffield City Region as we continue to lead the way at the forefront of the Northern Powerhouse. This latest development is one of the first major investments from our fund, which gives local leaders control over Government money to make local decisions which give our residents the biggest return on their investment and the maximum of jobs.”
The initial stage involves substantial road infrastructure improvements to the area around the Rockingham roundabouts. SCR said the tender will soon be awarded, with work due to begin in late spring.
It said the total future potential jobs to be created at Hoyland is in the region of 4,500, including future phases of Harworth’s Gateway 36 Business Park. A speculative 75,000 sq ft unit is now under construction as part of the site’s first phase, with the second and third phases of the site estimated to deliver a further 1m sq ft of commercial space for a range of businesses.
SCR also said this scheme will also lay the foundations for the future accessibility of the proposed employment site at Goldthorpe which cannot be opened up in the future without improvements at Junction 36.
