Central ward covers the area around Barnsley town centre. The ward has a high proportion of young adults but relatively few children or pensioners. Many of the residents both young and old live alone.

There are an extensive number of terraced properties within the ward in the areas of Oakwell, Doncaster Road, Cemetery Road and Eldon Street. Most of this is owner occupied but there is also a high proportion of privately rented accommodation. Due to the density of properties in these areas there is little open space for play areas or community recreation. Any available land is often snapped up by developers to build even more dwellings which, though new and modern, often have an element of privately rented accommodation.

South of the town centre is a small area of council built housing this includes three tower blocks and a number of maisonettes. Many of the residents in these properties have exercised their ‘right to buy’ leaving very little council accommodation in the ward. The area is quite green and is home to a number of elderly residents.

The area around Victoria Road, Longman Road and part of Huddersfield Road lies to the north of the town centre. It is registered as the ‘Conservation’ area because of the many Victorian mansions and terraces which were built in the area. Some of these properties have been converted to flats, bedsits and offices but there are those which are still single family accommodation. Again there is a lack of public space in the area.

The western side of Monk Bretton which lies to the east of the river Dearne makes up about a quarter of the Central ward population and in contrast to other parts of the ward is predominantly modern private suburban housing. The area is adjacent to the Dearne Valley Park which is also a feature of the small hamlet of Hoyle Mill. Comprising approximately ninety terraced houses and one or two new build detached properties the area has a number of business outlets and office type buildings astride a busy main road.