Fashion retailer Next set to join £130m Barnsley retail and leisure scheme

Next has been named as the first retail tenant to join the £130m Barnsley town centre retail scheme, The Glass Works.

Barnsley Council and development manager Queensberry announced that the clothing, footwear and home retail giant will be located within the new glass-covered mall.

Spread over two floors, the 20,000 sq ft Next store is set to replace the town centre’s existing store in the Alhambra Shopping Centre.

The Glass Works is the 3.8-hectare, £130m development scheme funded by Barnsley Council that is set to regenerate the town centre.

Construction is already underway on the first phase of the scheme, which includes the new 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 restaurants, will begin in the autumn. This work will also see the delivery of leisure schemes, Cineworld and Superbowl UK.

The entire project, including the town’s brand-new Next store, has a completion date of 2020.

Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, 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, added: “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.”

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