PROPOSALS for the next phase of the £130m town centre regeneration have been given the green light by councillors.
Detailed plans for The Glass Works part of the scheme - which includes the new retail and food units, cinema and multi-storey car park - were scrutinised at a planning board meeting on Tuesday.
Councillors were asked to look at each element of the proposals, including a ground floor food and drink and first floor leisure use in a separate block north of Kendray Street on the site of the former TEC building; a cinema above retail, food and drink units on land to the south of Kendray Street between the Metropolitan Centre and the railway; and a four level, 494 space multi-storey car park at the southern end of the scheme near to Lambra Road.
The £130m price tag is being paid for by Barnsley Council and construction has already started on the initial phase, which includes the new library and a refurbished Metropolitan Centre, scheduled to open in 2018.
Once the first phase is complete, the second stage of the development will begin in autumn next year. Work will include the 25 new retail units and ten family-friendly restaurants, which will frame the new public square and extend along a new shopping street.
Cineworld and Superbowl UK, who both signed 20-year leases earlier this year, will be built during this phase. Cineworld will provide a 13-screen multiplex cinema and Superbowl UK will offer ten pin bowling, laser quest and a creche.
Further announcements are expected in the coming months on some of the retailers and restaurants taking up residence in the flagship development.
The whole scheme is due to be finished by 2020.
Full story in this week’s Barnsley Chronicle
