Second attempt to revitalise redundant Hoyland town hall with apartments

Any other business? Hoyland's old town hall could become flats

Hoyland Town Hall in Barnsley started life as the area’s administrative hub before the 1974 local government reorganisation and has been used for various office functions since then.

But now the objective is to covert the building into apartments, as part of a wider regeneration project which has already seen the market moved, new car park created and additional shops opening in purpose built accommodation.

However, earlier plans which would have seen 27 apartments created in the upper floors of the building were rejected by Barnsley Council on the grounds they were unsuitable for the site and although that decision was taken to appeal, a planning inspector ruled the council’s decision was correct, citing flaws which would have left some of the new homes with unacceptable compromises over room sizes and light.

The current application has reduced the number of apartments to 21, made up of four two bedroomed flats, 11 with one bedroom and six studios.

Planning application documents state there have been “productive” discussions with Barnsley Council over the current application, which have answered all the problems raised with the initial scheme.

Developments of that size would normally have to give over some homes for ‘affordable housing’, but because they will be in a vacant, existing, building planning rules mean that stipulation does not apply.

A decision on the scheme will be made later.