Planning permission granted for £70m Barnsley redevelopment

Planning permission has been granted for the £70m retail-led regeneration of Barnsley town centre.

The project will be developed by Wilson Bowden Developments and Ashcroft Estates, who have come together to form the 1249 Regeneration Partnership.

Designed by architects CZWG and Holder Mathias, the 52,000m² scheme 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.

It will feature an indoor market, shopping centre, six-screen cinema, a series of cafés and restaurants,and parking for more than 800 cars.

The three-storey indoor market is intended to resemble an “oriental Kasbah”, with escalators rising through a timber-surrounded atrium. On the top floor, restaurants arranged in a crescent will overlook the outdoor markets. 

The development’s shops have been designed to be colourful double height buildings, with “grand frontages”.

Peter Mathias, chairman of Holder Mathias, said: “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.”