Cat Eccles MP has visited Barnsley as part of her work with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Markets, exploring how partnership working, innovative use of spaces and investment in local assets can help revitalise town centres.

She joined other members of parliament, including APPG for Markets Chair, Julia Buckley MP, alongside representatives from the National Association of British Market Authorities, the National Market Traders Federation, Barnsley Council, and local partners to see how regeneration projects have helped transform the town centre.

A key focus of the visit was how Barnsley has brought together health, community, and retail services by making use of vacant spaces within shopping centres and the market hall. The town now hosts a Community Diagnostic Centre, Outpatients services, Day Surgery, Family Hubs and Stop Smoking services, creating a more accessible and connected offer for residents.

This approach has delivered significant benefits for the local community, with missed appointments reducing by 28% since the diagnostic centre relocated and 82% of patients going on to spend money in the town centre after attending their appointment.

Cat Eccles MP said:

“Barnsley’s approach shows what can be achieved when councils, health services, businesses, and communities work together with a shared vision for the future of their town centres.

“What stood out to me was the way empty spaces have been transformed into places that directly support local people. This is not simply about filling vacant units; it is about creating thriving, accessible town centres that meet the needs of residents.

“I will be taking these ideas back to Dudley Council, the NHS and the West Midlands Combined Authority to explore how this kind of joined-up approach could benefit Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and Netherton.

“We already know the vital importance of our local markets and High Streets. Brierley Hill Market is a fantastic community asset, and continued investment in these spaces is essential. I will continue working with partners, including the Stourbridge BID, to support the creation of a regular market for Stourbridge Town Centre and make our area an even better place to live, work and visit.”

Julia Buckley MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Markets, said:

“Markets are at the heart of our communities and have a key role to play in the future of our town centres. The visit to Barnsley demonstrated the power of partnership working and the opportunities that exist when we think creatively about how our town centres can serve local people.

“By bringing together health services, community support and retail, Barnsley has shown how regeneration can be about much more than buildings – it is about creating places where people want to spend time, access services and support local businesses.

“I was delighted to welcome Cat Eccles MP and colleagues from the APPG for Markets to see this work first-hand, and I look forward to continuing to champion the important role markets play in communities across the country.”

The visit forms part of Cat Eccles MP’s ongoing work to support regeneration, strengthen local High Streets and explore innovative approaches that could benefit communities across Stourbridge, Brierley Hill and Netherton.

Photos attached: Cat Eccles MP with Julia Buckley MP and other APPG members visiting Barnsley market and meeting key community stakeholders

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