Barnsley’s bid for more than £26m ‘levelling up’ cash to improve areas of the town centre could be decided on by the government next month.

According to a report the government will mull over schemes titled ‘Barnsley Futures’ and ‘Elsecar Forging Ahead’ in the autumn.

A new 3,140 square metre waterfront suite of buildings was mooted for a brownfield site next to the canal at Elsecar, with 40 workshops and a new cafe, as well event spaces for the town centre.

Barnsley lost out in the first funding round last October – and was the only place in South Yorkshire not to be awarded any cash – but bids totalling £26.2m were submitted for consideration in the second round.