3. Barnsley Markets Project

The Barnsley Markets Project will see the redevelopment of the Market and Metropolitan Centre. The multi-million pound scheme will redefine the retail and entertainment experience in the town and will build on Barnsley’s heritage as a centre of trade.

The Barnsley Markets Project will redevelop more than 390,000 sq. ft. of prime town centre land. It will provide a world-class shopping, leisure and residential development. The main feature of the outdoor market area will be a dramatic curving glazed roof high above the development. High quality retail will be housed on a number of levels together with a multi-screen cinema and a bowling centre. Over 100 one and two bedroom apartments will offer town centre living and 1,200 parking spaces will be provided. The amphitheatre will offer a large public space for performances and events and other areas will be landscaped to the highest quality, providing world class public realm and promoting connectivity with other areas of the town.

In December 2004, the 1249 Regeneration Partnership were announced as the chosen developer for this project, the largest single regeneration project ever undertaken in the Borough.

Wilson Bowden have been appointed as funders for the scheme. Architects are progressing with the detailed design, moving towards the submission of a planning application in Summer 2006.

Left to right: Tony Baker (1249 Partnership), Nick Richardson (Wilson Bowden Developments), Jan Anderson (Yorkshire Forward), David Wilson (Wilson Bowden Plc) and Steve Houghton (Leader of BMBC)

THE development agreement for the project was officially signed at a Ceremony on Wednesday 7th June. Partners Barnsley MBC, Yorkshire Forward and the 1249 Regeneration Partnership put their signatures to the Agreement in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall.

Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, owns a large part of the 10 acre site and has combined its assets with those of Barnsley Council to deliver the largest single project ever to be implemented in the town. Jan Anderson, Yorkshire Forward’s Executive Director, Environment commented: “Barnsley was one of the first Renaissance Towns in the region. The Markets development in the heart of the town brings reality to the Rethinking and Remaking Barnsley processes that we, the council and the community have worked on in partnership. Barnsley is now truly setting the pace and the quality standard for urban renaissance across the region”.

The 1249 Partnership spokesman Tony Baker said: "This ceremony marks an important stage in the project. It brings to a conclusion the financial and legal negotiations, much of which inevitably occurs out of sight from the people of Barnsley, to the delivery stage when we prepare for physical construction. A precursor to this and a further sign of progress will be the submission of our planning application which will occur later this month."

Barnsley Council Leader Cllr Steve Houghton said the innovative market project heralded the town's renaissance as a great place to live and work.

He said: "The development will provide fantastic facilities for Barnsley and matches very well the aspirations expressed in the original planning weekend workshops in 2002. The iconic design of this development will make the town a unique and exciting place to visit, and be like no other town centre shopping experience."

Construction is set to begin in early 2008. A fully operational indoor market will be maintained throughout the construction period, within a single location. Approximately 18 months into the building schedule the indoor market will be moved into its new location. Outdoor market units will be located on Cheapside during the development period.