Next announced as first retailer in Barnsley scheme
Barnsley Council and development manager Queensberry have signed Next as the first retail tenant at the Glass Works retail and leisure development in Barnsley town centre. Next will anchor the new glass-covered mall with a 20,000-sq ft two-level that will replace its existing store in the Alhambra shopping centre.
The 3.8-ha, £130m Glass Works scheme has been funded by Barnsley Council to regenerate the heart of the town centre. Construction is well underway on the first phase, which includes the new state-of-the-art library and a contemporary renovation of the Metropolitan Centre and the town’s famous markets.
The second stage of the development, which will include 26 new retail units and seven family-friendly restaurants, will begin in the autumn. This work will also see the delivery of the scheme’s two key leisure anchors, Cineworld and Superbowl UK. The entire scheme is on track for a completion date in 2020.
Stuart Harris, commercial director and co-founder of Queensberry, said: “We have received lots of interest in the Glass Works, with many national retailers keen to be part of the development. Securing a reputable and highly-successful retailer like Next, alongside leisure tenants like Cineworld and Superbowl UK, really signals the strength and attractiveness of this scheme to major organisations.”
