Barnsley has announced ambitious plans to transform the town’s landmark digital business district into a sustainable urban village for the 21st century.
The Seam digital campus in Barnsley town centre is already home to two digital media centres and Barnsley College’s SciTech Building. The new plans for the site propose to add a range of accessible, inclusive and inspiring community facilities for the benefit of all. These will include an active travel hub for cyclists and walkers, a multi-storey car park with 40 electric vehicle charging points, new green public spaces and low-carbon housing development.
The Seam will embrace pioneering digital and eco-friendly tech solutions like smart outdoor lighting and seek to engage with entrepreneurs based therein.
This first phase of development at The Seam digital business campus is part-funded by Future High Streets Fund which aims to renew and reshape town centres in a way that drives growth, improves experience and ensures future sustainability. It follows the successful completion of the Glassworks retail and leisure development earlier this year.
Sir Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, said: “It’s exciting to reach the planning permission stage of The Seam, Barnsley’s ambitious digital campus. Future High Street funding is helping us transform this site to bring forward the next phase of town centre development which will bring together people, learning, business and places to help grow more innovative, digital jobs and businesses.
“The current DMC hub for the digital industries has seen great success providing a home for businesses and entrepreneurs since its development nearly 15 years ago. DMC 02, which opened in the middle of the pandemic, has quickly grown and is now full and the new MakerLab is busy with people and businesses developing new digital products. Barnsley College’s SciTech Hub opened last year and is helping hundreds of students to develop the skills for digital jobs.”
Further development of facilities for businesses, residents and visitors will be brought forward on a phased basis at The Seam as funding becomes available in future years. Development of The Seam ties into a wider town centre regeneration strategy and is designed to build a better Barnsley experience for all, encourage economic growth, attract inward investment and reduce carbon emissions.
