Ground broken on The Seam Digital Campus

Today marked a significant milestone in the development of The Seam Digital Campus with a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of phase one works. 

Council representatives joined staff from contractors Willmott Dixon and Align Property Partners for the ceremony, where they were given a tour of the site and talked through the exciting plans which will be brought to life over the next nine months. 

The first phase will redevelop the lower Seam, adding a beautiful new urban park (4,700sqm), comprising three separate high-quality natural gardens: the biodiversity garden, the digital garden and the town centre link. 

We'll also be improving parking facilities, adding well-lit pedestrian walkways, additional trees, better lighting, and upgraded CCTV. The car park will provide 292 car park spaces, accessible bays and 12 electric vehicle chargers, with the capacity to expand to 40 chargers over time. 

The main attraction of phase one will be three stunning sculptures known as the Yorkshire Roses. The central sculpture will stand 15m tall, and two smaller sculptures will stand 12m tall, high above the newly regenerated area. 

Originally designed by artist Tim Ward of Circling the Square, these prominent installations in front of the DMC01 will serve as both a visual gateway and a powerful symbol of Barnsley's pride, ambition, and investment in its future. Designed to be seen from afar, the sculptures celebrate Barnsley's strong identity while reinforcing its place as a hub for innovation, digital development, opportunity, and community regeneration. 

They embody Barnsley's unity and strength in Yorkshire and take the form of an organic flower bloom canopy. They reflect our town’s ambition to become a destination for technological innovation and creative excellence while welcoming future investment. At night, they will be illuminated in a way that highlights their intricate designs, making them a captivating visual feature. 

The sculptures are expected to be installed later this year with all phase one works due to be fully completed in March 2026. 

Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: "I can't wait to see this exciting scheme come to life. The Seam Digital Campus is another bold and ambitious project that lies at the heart of the ambition in our new Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy to make Barnsley the UK's leading digital town.

"We see the site as crucial to our future economy, providing a space which can act as a catalyst for further collaboration between artists, digital designers, tech developers, and local businesses, positioning Barnsley as a forward-thinking hub for creative innovation in the tech and digital sectors. 

"Our ambition for this project extends beyond phase one. Subject to planning, phase two work will develop the upper Seam car park, add a third Digital Media Centre, include a high-end hotel and create a National Centre for Digital Technologies. 

“This will set us up to equip our children and young people with essential digital skills through a lifelong pathway including through foundational activities like the ‘Every Child a Coder’ programme, setting them up for careers in the technology and AI sectors." 

Chris Yates, Director at Willmott Dixon, added: "We’re delighted to join Barnsley Council to celebrate the start of work on this unique project. The Seam represents the first phase of an exciting regeneration project that will help to bring the brightest tech businesses into South Yorkshire.

"We share Barnsley Council’s commitment to creating skills and employment opportunities for young people in the town. While construction work on the project has only just begun, we’ve already started to engage with Barnsley Youth Hub, Barnsley College, Worsbrough Common Primary School, and Ward Green Primary School."

Most of the funding for this project comes from the government's Future High Streets Fund, a distinct initiative with strict criteria as to what the money can be spent on. 

For more information about the project, go to barnsley.gov.uk/SeamDigitalCampus.