House builders are showing signs of confidence by building new homes across Barnsley, suggesting the market may be recovering.
New estates underway at the moment include the former Polar site on Dodworth Road, the former Yorkshire Traction depot on Sheffield Road, the old Longcar school site, a large site at Manvers on the Dearne Valley Parkway, the West Green development near Cudworth, and two on Wombwell Park Street.
Many appeared to have stalled due to the economic downturn but all are now in full swing, and there are plans to build 92 homes on the former Perfecta bedding site, at Wombwell, a scheme which had been stagnant for several years.
Grant Sorby, of Sorbys, said builders were no longer 'afraid of building'. Richard Crossfield, of Lancasters, said: "Things have definitely picked up. We are quite optimistic at the moment. Don't get me wrong, people still have to be careful. Selling houses isn't easy.
"But if a property is marketed properly, and priced sensibly, there is a good chance of selling it at the moment, and there are people wanting to move."
More on this story in today's Chronicle.
