Conservation area redevelopment approved
The offices have been vacant since Barnsley Council staff moved out and the building was declared unsuitable for conversion some years ago.
That resulted in proposals to retain an Edwardian building on the site, which will be redeveloped to provide some apartments for the over 55s at Berneslai Close, on the edge of the town centre, while others will be constructed on the site of the offices to be demolished.
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Hide AdDevelopers will also pay around £41,000 to the council towards improving green spaces in the area, but the profit margin on the project is accepted as being low, which has been used to argue against making other financial contributions which the local authority would have expected in normal circumstances.
Councillors who approved the scheme were told the site was difficult to develop and that the homes would be a needed addition to the town's range of accommodation.