Report - City Reach, Barnsley, August 2014.

The 14 storey glass-clad structure would provide a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments overlooking the town centre. The ground level would offer retail opportunities as well as a basement with parking spaces for 27 cars.

Construction of the building was contracted to Northfield Construction. The stair core and lift shaft were constructed by UK Slipform to a height of 45m, with the reinforced concrete floors constructed behind it at a pace of 1 floor every 2 weeks.

Work stopped in late 2009 when the recession kicked in and a lack of funding means it hasn't started again since.

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THE part-built City Reach apartment block on the outskirts of Barnsley town centre is set to get higher, according to amended plans.

Superior Living Limited, based in Liverpool, took ownership of the derelict eyesore after buying it for £375,000 at auction last October, just four per cent of its original estimated value.

Agent Paul Jackson has submitted amended plans for the concrete skeleton, which borders John Street, Heelis Street and Burleigh Street.

Proposals show there will be one two-storey apartment will be built on top of the existing top floor; the internal layout will be rearranged to provide 24 additional apartments; there will no longer be any retail units on the lower floors and a gym will be built for residents.

Mr Jackson was keen to stress just one apartment will increase in height and not the whole of the building.

He said: "The reason for this is to make it look more slender and elegant and that's what our proposals do.

"We think the additional units instead of the commercial aspect gives a 'live' ground floor rather than boarded up shops and increases safety of the site.

"Also we think it is an unsuitable area for retail as it is a stone's throw away from the town centre."

The original approval for the site was during the previous boom years and City Reach has laid dormant for a number of years since falling victim to the recession.

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