Barnsley Council welcome colleagues from Salford City Council to learn more about Health on the High Street and our Communities model

We welcomed colleagues from Salford City Council, including City Mayor Paul Dennett and Interim Chief Executive Melissa Caslake, to Barnsley today (Monday 11 August) as part of a shared learning exercise between the two local authorities. 

Our visitors were given a presentation about how we’ve transformed our town centre and are making Barnsley the place of possibilities, our key priorities and programmes, including Barnsley 2030, Pathways to Work, Health on the High Street and the Great Childhoods Ambition. 

They also heard about how we’ve invested in our communities through the Love Where You Live programme as well as our Area Council and Ward Alliance model, which allows for shared decision making between Councillors and their communities. 

A tour of the town centre allowed them to see the results of our regeneration for themselves, including The Glass Works, the Tommy Taylor Memorial Bridge, Barnsley Markets and the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre. 

A sneak peek at ongoing works like the trailblazing Health on the High Street programme in the Alhambra, phase one of The Seam Digital Campus, the Northern Academy for Vocal Excellence (NAVE) and our new Youth Zone, Base71, gave our visitors a glimpse into Barnsley’s exciting and ambitious future and how we’re diversifying our town centre offer. 

The visit follows similar trips made to our town by other local authorities, including Bradford and Coventry, in recent months to see how we’re making Barnsley the place of possibilities. 

Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome colleagues from Salford City Council to Barnsley today. 

“Our town centre has been bucking national trends for several years now, so it’s no surprise that others want to come and hear how we’ve done this, and we’re always willing to share our learnings and best practice with other councils. 

“As we prepare for the next phase of our town centre regeneration with the innovative and trailblazing Health on the High Street programme, we’re showing how underutilised spaces can be brought back to life and make a real difference to the vibrancy of the high street. 

“Our Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy underpins everything we’re doing across the borough to build a local economy where opportunity is accessible to everyone. It was great to be able to show how we’re working towards its three key missions of establishing Barnsley as the UK’s leading digital town, future-proofing our logistics and manufacturing sectors, and empower all our communities to thrive.” 

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett added: “It has been great to visit Barnsley and witness first-hand the impressive work being done to transform the town centre. The regeneration efforts are a testament to what can be achieved through strong local leadership and meaningful collaboration. 

“What stood out most was the dynamic partnership between Barnsley Council and local health services - an inspiring model of joined-up thinking that is clearly driving positive change. There is much we will take back to Salford, particularly around building on our own integrated approach which we know can deliver real impact for communities. 

“I was also struck by the way Barnsley’s local communities and the council work hand-in-hand. That spirit of co-operation and shared purpose is something we deeply value and aspire to in our own work. 

“I would like to thank Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton, Leader of the Council, Sarah Norman, Chief Executive and the entire team for their warm hospitality. I look forward to the opportunity to welcome them to Salford in the near future and continue this valuable exchange of ideas.” 

Health on the High Street is just one of the high-profile projects and investments we’re delivering to continue Barnsley's growth, which are attracting national and international recognition.  

These projects all form part of our vision for Barnsley as the place of possibilities and will help us secure a bright future for our borough and for our young people especially.   

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