* Artist's impression of the new Barnsley* First it was a halo over the town hall...and then good ole Wil came up with the idea of making Barnsley a Tuscan hill town...nobody can accuse Barnsley of being unimagainative when it comes up with a redesign. But Barnsley Council has now settled on a way forward and agreed a revised development - and, if needed, councillors have agreed to move forward with compulsary purchase powers on land it may need for the development. The plan to revamp Barnsley first hit the headlines in March 2006, when Barnsley Council, Yorkshire Forward and the 1249 Regeneration Partnership LLP entered into a development agreement to deliver the Barnsley Markets Project. But in 2008, when the recession started to bite, it was temporarily halted. The new designed doesn't incorporate housing anymore - buy key points like: 80,000 sq ft market hall An outdoor market 285,000 sq ft of retail space Four family restaurants set within a market square 75,000 sq ft department store Six-screen cinema with 1,2500 seats 15,300 sq metres of public realm 800 car parking spaces still exist. It is expected that work will start on the scheme next year, with a finish date of Autumn 2015. For the council this means acquiring all third party land/rights, and the current Yorkshire Forward interest. With regards to 1249 it means raising the necessary finance from the funding market. A council report said: "The Barnsley Markets Project proposal forms part of a 30 year masterplan for Barnsley, running until 2033. It is seen as the key driver for the economic sustainability for the borough and in particular the town centre. The scheme will reduce the need for Barnsley residents to travel for their shopping and the development will well located in relation to public transport, with the Interchange nearby." THE JOURNEY TO DATE: COMPLICATED LAND ISSUES In October 2002, Yorkshire Forward acquired, with the support of Barnsley Council, acquired the CEAG site and the Carpet World site to the rear of the Met Centre. These were, with the agreement of the Council, also included in the site for redevelopment, some eleven acres at the heart of the Town. During 2003, the Council and Yorkshire Forward worked together on proposals to market the site to potential development partners. In late 2003, the opportunity was marketed nationally and internationally. Interest in the opportunity was shown by developers and 12 expressions of interest were received. 1249 Regeneration Partnership was eventually selected. In 2008, 1249 were ready in terms of scheme design, planning permission, and went ahead with a market launch with the aim of securing a forward funding agreement / sale. Unfortunately, the timing of this launch was poor given the increasing impact of the credit crunch, and as a consequence, although there was initial interest expressed from a number of institutional funds, this interest gradually fell away due to the global financial crises. The revised scheme will unlock £105m direct private sector investment, deliver over 1,300 net retail jobs, create 41,500 sq m of mixed use development including: a new indoor and outdoor market, modern retail space incorporating a major department store, six screen cinema, improved public realm and 800 car parking spaces. A video on what the new town centre may look like can be found here