Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has announced the appointment of local business leader Edward Naylor as chair of a new board to oversee the planning of nearly £20m in investment into Barnsley. The government’s new Long-Term Plan for Towns, unveiled in October, aims to bring together community leaders, businesspeople, and local bodies to collaborate on shaping the future of their towns. This initiative is backed by a £20m investment over ten years from the government.
The allocated funding must be utilized within the historic ‘Barnsley Town’ area, encompassing the town centre and some surrounding residential areas, with plans for its allocation to be drafted by summer 2024. Edward Naylor, Chief Executive of Naylor Industries plc, will lead the newly developed board, which will also include other local business leaders, as well as representatives from local charities and community groups.
The funding criteria target three key themes: Safety and security, High streets, heritage, and regeneration, and Transport and connectivity. These themes aim to address measures to tackle crime and antisocial behavior, promote the diversification of building use, and enhance transportation infrastructure. “We have got a tremendous opportunity to bring together local leaders, business people, and community groups and to get input from local people to create the best possible plan we can to make the most of this investment for the people of Barnsley,” said Edward.
Leader of Barnsley Council, Cllr Sir Steve Houghton CBE expressed optimism about the town’s future and emphasized the importance of ensuring the investment continues to grow opportunities for local people. The development of the board will continue in the new year, with the first board meeting set to take place in March 2024 and the final town plan due to be completed by the end of Summer 2024.