A MAJOR milestone in a multi-million pound scheme to transform a part of the town centre was marked this week when three giant sculptures arrived to become the striking centrepiece of the project.
Known as the ‘Yorkshire Roses’, the central sculpture stands at 15 metres tall while two smaller 12-metre sculptures neighbour it at the development on County Way, which is known as The Seam.
Work, undertaken by contractor Willmott Dixon, has stepped up over the summer which has seen a large chunk of the site’s car parking temporarily reduced in order to accommodate the first phase of the scheme.
The three sculptures arrived on Wednesday and were given their unveil, with further plans set to add an urban park and a ‘high-end’ hotel in the coming years.
Originally designed by artist Tim Ward, the prominent installations will serve as both a visual gateway and a powerful symbol of Barnsley’s pride, ambition and investment in its future, council bosses told the Chronicle.
The sculptures will be programmed to incorporate lighting displays and music, creating an immersive experience for visitors during programmed town centre events, including the annual Bright Nights event.
Parking facilities will also be improved with the addition of well-lit pedestrian walkways, more trees, better lighting, electric vehicle chargers and upgraded CCTV.
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “The arrival of the Yorkshire Rose sculptures is a key milestone in the redevelopment of The Seam, our digital campus.
“I was blown away after seeing one of the sculptures in person at the test build visit to fabricators, Stage One, during the summer.
“Having them all in position will help to bring our vision for the site to life and build anticipation within our communities for this exciting project.
“They will complement the high-quality public realm, create a public space where people want to spend time and be a real asset to our town.
“The light and sound capabilities will add another dimension and make them an experience for all visitors to enjoy, particularly during our events programme - it’s going to be amazing.
“We can’t wait to see phase one complete next spring but that won’t be the end of our ambition for the campus.
“Subject to planning, phase two work will develop the upper Seam car park, add a third Digital Media Centre, include a high-end hotel and create a ‘National Centre for Digital Technologies’.
“We want this site to become the UK’s leading digital town, to be a catalyst for further growth and innovation in our local and regional economy by becoming a hub for tech and digital businesses.
“Achieving this will help create more and better jobs, build a life-long digital pathway for residents to benefit from and drive inward investment.”
Most of the funding for phase one of The Seam has come from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, an initiative with strict criteria as to what the money can be spent on.
The funding is being used to support improvements to council services - such as the improved car park and road works - however, this must be part of a larger regeneration project like The Seam.
Chris Yates, regional director at Willmott Dixon, added: “We’re excited to reach this significant milestone at The Seam.
“Alongside our valued supply chain partners, our team have made great progress so far and we’re looking forward to continuing to support Barnsley Council in showcasing the town’s ambitious plans and identity.”
