A GROUND-BREAKING ceremony was held last Friday celebrating the next phases of Harworth Group’s Gateway 36 development – which could deliver a further 2,500 jobs to the borough on the 1.1m sq ft site.

The scheme’s first phase was deemed a success by Barnsley Council after it delivered more than 250 jobs to the borough, leading them to grant Harworth Group consent for the 1.1m sq ft site for its next two stages – with hopes of creating more and better jobs for residents and to attract more business to the borough.

The site was formerly home to the Rockingham Colliery, with the 127-acre site sitting adjacent to the Dearne Valley Parkway – providing an excellent route to the nearby M1.

Consent for a new link road from the existing Shortwood roundabout, running south to serve phase two, alongside a new roundabout on the Dearne Valley Parkway has also been granted.

The scheme, Gateway 36, has been unlocked as part of a £17.1m funding package from the Sheffield City Region Fund (SCRIF).

Coun Tim Cheetham, cabinet spokesperson for place, said: “We are looking forward to the development of the next phases of this site.

“Phase one has attracted some major businesses to the area, and these additional units are sure to be in high demand.

“This is a challenging time, and the creation of more job opportunities, now and the future, is vital.

“Working with our partners, Gateway 36 has been a big success.

“We are committed to providing additional high-quality commercial units on this site and welcoming more businesses to the borough.”

Chris Davidson, associate director, added: “Breaking ground is a statement of our intent to deliver new development quickly in an economy where good quality industrial space is at a premium.

“We want to deliver the high-value employment that the council’s faith and the Sheffield City Region’s investment merits and I look forward to us building the scheme out over the next five years.”