An abandoned, part-built block of flats which dominates the edge of the town centre and was dubbed 'a tragedy waiting to happen' is up for auction - with a guide price of just £375,000.
The 'City Reach' apartments, at the junction of John Street and Burleigh Street, was conceived as a striking new addition to the Barnsley skyline when it was given planning permission six years ago, and was once valued at about £11 million.
It is now being offered for auction in Leeds on October 24 by Eddisons on the instruction of the Joint LPA Receivers - for less than four per cent of its original value.
The superstructure of the development has been completed and the scheme is for 66, one bedroom flats, and 20, two bedroom flats. At ground floor level 10,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space is planned.
Tony Webber of Eddisons said: "The scheme is available for completion as planned, or could be suitable for alternative schemes such as a hotel, offices or social housing, subject to planning."
Consent for the mixed use development of apartments and commercial space was granted in June 2007.
When work began in October that year, the stair core and lift shaft were constructed to a height of 135 feet and then reinforced concrete floors were built around the core.
It is thought about £5m was invested into the scheme up to that point but since work stopped more than four years ago, there has been no further movement.
A further £4m is thought to be needed to finish the intended development.
In August the Chronicle reported how engineer and amateur photographer Asa Foster, 28, raised the alarm of the 'death trap' concrete skeleton after scaling the unfinished building to take a photograph of the town centre from high up.
Asa was shocked at what he found inside, with needles strewn about and the building being used by people taking drugs and drinking.
He said it was only a matter time until someone was seriously injured or killed as the building has no security, external walls, barriers, lighting, and there are holes in some of the floors.
