Retail giant first to sign up to £130m development scheme

Next has been confirmed as the first retail tenant to sign up to The Glass Works, the £130m retail and leisure development in Barnsley town centre.

Barnsley Council and development manager Queensberry said the retailer will take up the chief pitch within the new glass-covered mall.

The 20,000 sq ft Next store will be spread over two floors and once open, the new, bigger store will replace the town centre’s existing site in the Alhambra Shopping Centre.

The Glass Works development scheme is being funded by Barnsley Council and construction is well underway on the first phase of the scheme, which includes the new state-of-the-art library and a contemporary renovation of the Metropolitan Centre and the town’s markets.

The second stage of the development, which will include 26 new retail units and seven 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, including the town’s brand-new Next store, is on track for a completion date in 2020.

Cllr Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, said: “Next is without doubt one of the UK’s keynote fashion retailers and one that is proven to help attract other retailers to a location. The upgrade to a bigger store will greatly improve the town centre’s shopping offer, thus making us more attractive for inward investment.”

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. Today, we are delighted to announce Next as the first retail occupier.

“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.”