Barnsley Markets project gets green light
14 Nov 2012
Planning permission has been granted for the £70 million retail-led regeneration of Barnsley town centre.
The 52,000m2 development will replace the existing Metropolitan shopping centre and aims to revitalise the town centre including May Day Green and Barnsley’s Transport Interchange, while strengthening its links to the wider town.
Architects CZWG and Holder Mathias have designed an atmospheric indoor market, a major shopping centre, six-screen cinema, series of cafés and restaurants and parking for more than 800 cars.
The indoor covered market will have the atmospheric qualities of an “oriental Kasbah”, with escalators rising through an exciting timber surrounded atrium in the middle of the three-storey market, leading to the top floor with its famous restaurants arranged in a crescent to overlook the busy outdoor markets.
The shops have been designed to be both attractive and colourful double height buildings, with grand frontages to attract high quality retailers and bring a sense of vivacity to the shopping experience.
The project, due for completion in 2015, will be developed by Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd and Ashcroft Estates Ltd, who have come together to form the 1249 Regeneration Partnership.
Peter Mathias, chairman of Holder Mathias, says: “We listened carefully to the feedback from local people when producing our designs, and we’re thrilled that the project has now been given the go ahead.
“This will revitalise the town centre and provide a fillip for the local economy by attracting visitors into Barnsley. It also gives the local community an exciting new market town that they can be proud of.”
CZWG Partner, Piers Gough, says: “Whilst being deliberately exciting in form and colour, the scheme is completely open, welcoming and easy to navigate by all, seamlessly joining up with the centre of the town. The famous indoor markets will only have to move once into their brand-new, purpose-designed building on Kendray Street which is to be constructed first.”
Tony Baker, director of Ashcroft, says: “The regeneration of Barnsley has been a long time coming and it remains the largest town in the UK without a department store. We are excited about the approval of the plans and the opportunity to build out this important new development at the heart of the town centre.”