A town often overlooked for its investment opportunities, Barnsley is famed for its traditional roots and coal production.
With the arrival of renewable energy and cleaner living, the town has faced tougher economic challenges than most. The drop in demand for traditional trades has meant Barnsley has had to alter its approach to keep afloat.
Enterprising Barnsley helps with the growth of businesses in the district as well as the development of new jobs. With the help of initiatives like the Northern Powerhouse, Barnsley has seen a remarkable growth for an area of its size.
Between 2015 and 2016, the town exceeded its annual economic growth by 300% with over £30m worth of private investment and the addition of over 800,000 square feet of commercial space.
This new lease of life has also been seen in the town centre, with the Barnsley Interchange undergoing a refurbishment and the addition of Barnsley People’s Museum and Archives Center bringing new revenue streams into the town. The development of a new glass and steel hybrid set to be completed in 2020 also looks to bring more people into the area.
Although returns on investments in residential properties in Barnsley won’t be breaking any records, the town is blessed with fantastically low house prices making it a good option for first time investors.
Barnsley is home to the likes of retail giant ASOS and their global distribution center, Japanese owned Koyo Bearings and the German owned automobile company KOSTAL.
With its strategic location close to the M1 and A1 and a supply of 150,000 people of working age, the old industrial heart of Yorkshire is back on the up.