What we've done so far

Creating a digital campus in Barnsley has been our ambition for several years. The DMCs bring the public and private sectors together to stimulate the growth of technology and digital businesses in Barnsley.

We've also worked with Barnsley College to bring in the education sector and help address the talent pipeline for businesses in Barnsley who are looking to employ people with digital and technical skills.

A lot of work has already been completed on the Seam, including the development of the DMC02 which opened in 2020 and is home to large office spaces, our Makerlab and co-working spaces.

A digital campus for Barnsley will be a space that allows businesses to work with the public sector and education providers to innovate. We'll provide a culture that encourages people to be trailblazing, with a cluster of skills on-site.

The first phase of the development of the Seam

The first phase of the Seam Digital Campus will include the redevelopment of lower Seam. This includes plans for a beautiful new urban park (4,700sqm), comprising of three separate high quality natural gardens: the biodiversity garden, the digital garden and the town centre link.

Plans also include improved parking facilities for the remaining spaces which will serve visitors to the town centre and the Seam Digital Campus, which is based on County Way. The car park will be improved with well-lit pedestrian walkways, additional trees, better lighting and upgraded CCTV. The car park will provide 292 car park spaces, accessible bays and 10 electric vehicle chargers, with the capacity to expand to 40 chargers over time.

With the two DMC buildings and Sci-Tech College building, the space remains a place that encourages tech, digital and creative businesses to innovate. The upgrades to the lower Seam site, which is phase one, will go a long way in upgrading the site, and still provides a physical space for businesses to prototype and test new ideas. 

We hope to see developments in Internet of Things devices, sensors and other innovations implemented into the site, as well as digital art features, creating the culture and environment you'd expect to see. 

The Yorkshire Roses

The main attraction 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.

These prominent installations in front of the DMC01 building 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.

The rose sculptures embody Barnsley's unity and strength in the Yorkshire region and take the form of an organic flower bloom canopy.

This development will attract new business and provide world-class opportunities, add to our cultural offer, help us to increase visitor footfall and support town centre businesses and the evening and night-time economy. 

The sculptures will greet visitors arriving by train or car and provide a prominent marker visible from the town centre. They reflect Barnsley’s ambition to become a destination for technological innovation and creative excellence while welcoming future investment. 

The steelwork will feature intricate patterns, symbolising the region's rich history and culture. These patterns will reflect weave threads, referencing Barnsley's textile heritage, coal mining seams, a nod to the town's industrial past, and the veins of white rose petals and stamens. These features will tie the sculptures to the iconic symbol of Yorkshire.

At night the sculptures will be illuminated in a way that highlights their intricate designs, making them a captivating visual feature. The sculptures will be programmed to incorporate lighting displays and music, creating an immersive experience for visitors during programmed town centre events, including the annual Bright Nights event. This combination of light and sound will transform the sculptures into a vibrant spectacle that enhances the town's evening atmosphere.

Why we're developing the Seam

The transformation of the lower Seam will act as a catalyst for further collaboration between artists, digital designers, tech developers, and local businesses, helping to position Barnsley as a forward-thinking hub for creative innovation. It means we can try new ideas, support positive change for Barnsley and build towards our 2030 ambitions for sustainability and growth.

Raising the profile of the campus through improving the facilities and its setting will help to attract investment for future phases of development on the upper Seam. It will also provide an opportunity for Barnsley College and local universities to get involved in the creative process. It will bring together people, learning, business and places to help grow more innovative, digital jobs and businesses, ultimately benefitting the Barnsley economy in a modern, urban setting. 

Future plans

Ambitious plans are in place for the next phase of the Seam. Subject to planning, our phase two work will look to further develop:

• the upper Seam car park
• a third digital media centre
• a high-end hotel to answer growing demand and need for hotel beds in the town centre 
• a National Centre for Digital Technologies

The planning application for the project was approved in April 2025 with work starting on site in May 2025.

We're actively seeking investment opportunities to enhance the upper Seam site as a destination for digital businesses as we see The Seam as the future of Barnsley's economy.

Timeline of events

This is our current timeline of events, but are subject to change based on various factors:

• Planning was approved in April 2025.
• Car park closures will be in place on the lower Seam from Monday 26 May 2025 until March 2026.
• Work starts on site on Tuesday 27 May 2025.
• Planned completion for phase one works is March 2026.

How the works on the Seam will affect parking in Barnsley

The lower Seam car park will be closed from Monday 26 May 2025 with an expected finish date of March 2026. There will be 287 available parking spaces when it is reopened. 
 
We've recently conducted a car parking review and adopted a car parking strategy, which has shown there are enough spaces in the town to meet demand, once this development has been factored in. We've also kept car parking charges very low for many years, including free parking for up to three hours on a weekend. 

Where you can park during the closure of the Seam car park

During the build period, car park users will be informed throughout and advised of available alternative car parks in the town centre, including The Glass Works and the Alhambra. Both have accessible parking for visitors with limited mobility. 
 
There will also be updates on parking in the form of social media posts and frequent updating of key council webpages. Please visit The Seam digital campus website or our car parks webpage for further information. 

Council staff, residents and businesses who normally park on lower Seam will be advised to park in our other town centre car parks. Parking passes will be made valid for staff and DMC tenants in the alternative car parks for this car park closure.

We've recently conducted a car parking review and adopted a car parking strategy, which has shown there are enough spaces in the town to meet demand, once this development has been factored in. We have also kept car parking charges very low for many years, including free parking for up to three hours on a weekend. 

Parking surveys were undertaken in 2023 across all town centre car parks which demonstrated that there are over 1,000 vacant spaces in council-owned car parks across the town centre during the week and 800 free spaces on a Saturday. This doesn't include private car parks or on street parking.

There are plans to install information displays at key entry routes into the town which will inform motorists of available spaces once the new scheme is open.  

Find out more about car parks and on-street parking in our borough.

You can also find out more about how to plan your journey to Barnsley.

Funding for the project

Most of the funding for this scheme has come from the government's Future High Streets Fund. It's a distinct initiative that comes with strict criteria as to what the money can be spent on. It must:

• have proposals that demonstrate a clear vision for the future of high streets and town centres
• demonstrate an ability to attract private sector investment

The funding is being used to support improvements to council services, such as the improved car park and road works. However, this must be part of a larger regeneration project like The Seam.

Safety throughout the site

The police have been involved throughout the design phase and the site will benefit from improved lighting and CCTV which will be monitored by us. The Community Safety Team will also actively monitor the site.