MAJOR plans to bring a ‘high quality’ hotel to the town centre will take a step forward in the new year when councillors meet to discuss the proposals.
The council had axed its long-held plans for The Seam, on County Way, which had promised a 386-space multi-storey car park and an energy-efficient housing estate.
But earlier this year they unveiled plans - which include a 4,700 square metre urban park, comprising three separate natural gardens, while improved parking facilities for the remaining spaces that will serve visitors to the town centre and The Seam’s Digital Campus.
Work is already well underway, with the main attraction of three ‘Yorkshire Rose’ statues towering over the former car park.
The central sculpture stands at 15 metres tall with two smaller 12-metre sculptures also standing high above the regenerated area.
It is phase one of the project, but phase two looks to further develop the Upper Seam car park which includes a third Digital Media Centre, a high-end hotel and a ‘National Centre for Digital Technologies’.
Cabinet members are due to meet on January 7 to discuss proposals for a new hotel at The Seam.
It has been labelled as a ‘key’ decision and councillors have been recommended to approve the plans.
Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, told the Chronicle that the hotel development is an ‘exciting’ opportunity for the town.
He added: ““Based on the growing demand and need for hotel beds in the town centre, there is a significant opportunity to deliver a high-quality hotel on The Seam Digital Campus in the heart of Barnsley to support the increasing accommodation demands we’re seeing thanks to our growing economy, fantastic town centre events programmes and our amazing cultural assets.
“We’re exploring our options for this exciting opportunity.
“Any plans would be subject to planning approval and cabinet approval.”
It’s hoped that the new hotel will improve Barnsley’s already impressive visitor economy and footfall.
Footfall in 2024/25 showed a continued, year-on-year hike, with its 9.18 million visits surpassing the 2023/24 figure by more than 2.5 million.
According to the council, the catalyst for the rocketing numbers has been the Glass Works - the £220m regeneration scheme which transformed the town centre and brought in big-name businesses such as The Botanist, Cineworld, Nando’s and TK Maxx among others.
However, town hall bosses also say Barnsley’s famous market has attracted out-of-town visits, with coach trips to the town up 90 per cent in 2024/25.
Forthcoming schemes such as the Alhambra’s Health on the High Street project, Barnsley Youth Choir’s NAVE venue, the ‘Base 71’ youth zone, the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT) and work on The Seam, on County Way - which includes the 140-room hotel - will also go towards helping to entice more visitors.
