Planning consent granted for scheme that could create 2,500 jobs

A Rotherham land and property regenerator has announced that it has received a resolution to grant planning consent that could create 2,500 jobs.

Harworth Group, which specialises in regenerating land and property for development and investment, has received a resolution to grant planning consent for Phases 2 and 3 of its Gateway 36 employment development, located close to Junction 36 of the M1 in Barnsley.

Barnsley Council has granted consent for up to 1.1m sq. ft of new employment space across 95 acres of land, to be brought forward in two phases.

Adjacent to the Dearne Valley Parkway, the proposed units in both phases will be suitable for light and general industrial use as well as storage and distribution.

Consent was also granted for a new link road from the existing Shortwood Roundabout, running south to serve Phase 2, alongside a new roundabout on the Dearne Valley Parkway with an arm to the north to serve Phase 3.

All three phases of Gateway 36 have been unlocked as part of a £17.1m funding package from the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund (SCRIF).

Peter Henry, regional director for Yorkshire and Central at Harworth Group, commented: “Receiving this consent following months of detailed work between Barnsley Council and ourselves is a major milestone.

“The region’s lack of well-connected employment space close to the motorway network is well documented and we hope to bring both phases forward as quickly as possible to bring new investment and jobs to Barnsley as we did with Phase 1.”

Joanne Neville, planning manager at Harworth Group, commented: “As for our other major schemes across the North of England, the ongoing development of Gateway 36 is strongly supported by a robust public-private partnership, in this case both Barnsley Council’s desire to bring further high value employment to the Borough and Sheffield City Region’s long-term funding commitment to unlock land to support this aim.

“Phase 2 and 3 of Gateway 36 could deliver up to 2,500 new jobs and I look forward to the team making this happen.”