House of Commons - Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs

Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence

Annex

BEEHIVE BUILDING BUZZING AGAIN IN BARNSLEY

Up to 48 jobs could be created when a Grade II listed building in Barnsley town centre is restored and converted into a mixed use leisure development.

ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS HAS APPROVED FUNDING OF £300,000 FROM ITS PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT

Programme for the Beehive Building and Linen Warehouse project. The programme will be delivered by Yorkshire Forward, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and local contractor J T Whitworth & Son in partnership with English Partnerships.

The two derelict and vacant buildings were once the centre of a thriving trade and retail area. Dating from the 16th century, the buildings are attractive three-storey warehouse type structures.

The Beehive Building will have a café-bar to the ground floor, a bar on the first floor and a specialist restaurant on the second floor. The scheme for conversion and restoration of the existing buildings aims to capitalise on the central location of the site that is enclosed by George Yard to the south and Hanson Street to the east. The central courtyard will be roofed in glass, providing a covered link between the two.

Negotiations are taking place with interested parties regarding one of the shops that will be part of the mixture of speciality shops, office and studio space to be created in The Linen Warehouse.

Work has recently started on site clearance, and the project will take 12 months to complete.

Yorkshire Forward's Senior Development Executive Phil South said:

"These buildings are part of Barnsley's heritage and we are delighted that they will be brought back into beneficial use whilst retaining their original features."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Yorkshire Forward, the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Development Agency is one of eight which were established in England in 1 April 1999, under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998.

2. It has five statutory objectives to:

— further economic regeneration;

— promote business competitiveness and investment;

— promote skills development;

— develop employment opportunities;

— contribute to sustainable development.

3. Yorkshire Forward's vision is to create a region which is world class, prosperous and:

— is sustainable;

— has empowered partnerships and communities;

— has a culture of enterprise and creativity;

— is a self reliant region;

— has ladders of opportunity for all;