Green light for Hermes "colossus" hub to be built in South Yorkshire

The the 363,000sq ft facility, named colossus, is proposed for land off Sheffield Road in Hoyland, and could handle up to 1.3 million parcels a day.

The application incorporates 298,700sqft of warehousing, a three storey office block, parking spaces for 650 cars, 595 HGVs, 150 tractors and 60 cycle storage spaces.

Due for completion in 2022, the £60 million development will be the largest of its kind in Europe and will create around 1,300 new jobs in the area.

On behalf of the applicants Cushman and Wakefield, Katrina Hulse said that the development would generate "much needed jobs" for local people, and "improve the lives of Barnsley residents".

She added: "The proposed development will provide a number of positive benefits both in the construction and operational phases, and over its lifetime for Barnsley and the wider area, including the creation of 1300 new jobs within the Hermes facility, including a range of roles and a number of management positions.

Ms Hulse added that Hermes has committed to a 20-year lease, which she added was "significant" following the economic downturn during the covid-19 pandemic.

The plan was approved by councillors on the grounds that the developers pay £850,000 to provide a replacement sports facility at land south of Parkside Road, and achieve a net 10 percent biodiversity gain.

However, the council has received a number of objections, including a petition which has gathered more than 1,700 signatures.

Petition organiser Mark Goodison said: "I think the council is making it categorically clear that the petition is not going to move them, even though it should do. They're not abiding by it."

He added that many residents are elderly, and do not have access to the internet, where the public consultation was held online.

At a meeting on October 20, resident Neil Thompson objected to the plans, and accused the council of acting in a "manipulative" way.

Mr Thompson said: "The council has acted, in my opinion, in a manipulative way to avoid rejection and interaction with local and surrounding residents affected by this development.

"The consultation was designed to specifically manipulate residents into providing suitable options, rather than opposition to the plans and overall scheme.

"This development will have a significant impact on the quality of life of Hoyland, Birdwell, Pilley and Tankersley, the residents [are] already suffering from increased traffic issues from over development, industrial, commercial zones in and around the surrounding region.

"Many residents remain unaware of the masterplan, this impacts on their communities.

"What the council has done is wrong, underhand and unashamedly, in my opinion, manipulative.

"In the event of a traffic incident due to the council's behaviour or the developers, I and others I'm sure will make no hesitation in naming and shaming everybody responsible today.

"If this is approved, in my opinion you fail the residents in the area."

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