Ambitious plans for 'gargantuan' site on former colliery could see 2,500 jobs created in South Yorkshire

The ‘gargantuan’ 1.1 million square foot site is set on two parcels of land land between Rockingham Roundabout and Shortwood Roundabout on the Dearne Valley Parkway, the site of a former colliery.

The application has been submitted by the Harworth Group, who are also behind the Hoyland North Masterplan.

Joanne Neville, planning manager for Yorkshire and Central at Harworth Group plc told the meeting that the development will be a “huge success” for Barnsley, and a report to the council forecasts that the development will create up to 2,500 jobs.

Planning officer Andrew Burton told a virtual meeting of Barnsley Council’s planning regulatory board that the “gargantuan” site will be “highly prominent”, and could act as a gateway to the borough due to its close proximity to J36 of the M1.

As part of the application, a new link road is proposed accessed from the existing Shortwood Roundabout, running south to serve the employment units.

A new roundabout is also proposed on the Dearne Valley Parkway with an arm to the north to serve the site.

A report to the council states that the original application was for 11 units, but was scaled back following concerns about the impacts on adjacent allocated housing sites.

All units would be available for use as light and general industrial, and storage and distribution.

Eight objections have been received to the planning application, citing potential noise, air, light and water pollution, the impact of extra traffic on existing roads, the impact on schools and GP surgeries, and the loss of green belt land.

However, the report states that the whole application site is designated for employment in the adopted local plan.