Yorkshire Rose sculptures installed in town centre

The sculptures are part of a wider multi-million pound regeneration project in Barnsley

Work is under way to install three "Yorkshire Rose" sculptures in Barnsley's town centre.

The £2.5m project will see the sculptures constructed at the Seam Digital Campus, standing between 40ft (12m) and 50ft (15m) high with integrated lighting and audio elements.

The sculptures, designed by artist Tim Ward, are part of the first phase of a wider £12m regeneration of the Seam, with their installation expected to take about three weeks.

Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, leader of Barnsley Council, said: "I was blown away after seeing one of the sculptures. They will help to bring our vision for the site to life."

The rest of the first phase, expected to be completed next spring, is expected to include the redevelopment of the lower Seam and the creation of a new park and gardens.

Most of the funding for the phase had been sourced from the government's Future High Streets Fund, which the council said had "strict criteria as to what the money can be spent on".

It added that bids for the funding had to demonstrate a "clear vision for the future of high streets and town centres, and demonstrate an ability to attract private sector investment".

Future phases include an ambition to develop a new hotel and a multi-storey car park with capacity for 292 vehicles.

Houghton said: "We want this site, which is at the heart of the mission in our Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy, to become the UK's leading digital town.

"Achieving this will help create more and better jobs, build a lifelong digital pathway for residents to benefit from, and drive inward investment."

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