A third supermarket development proposal on the edge of the town centre will be unveiled today as firms including Tesco and Sainsbury’s confirm their interest in moving into town.
The latest plan is for a superstore just yards from Morrisons. The 100,000-sq ft site includes the former Gala Bingo hall on New Street and the former hat company on the corner of New Street and Wood Street.
That is less than a mile away from other proposed sites, near the transport interchange and at the bottom of Harborough Hill Road.
The New Street site will include a petrol forecourt and create 450 jobs, according to developer Spectrum Investment Management, whose tenants include Tesco.
A Tesco spokesman told the Chronicle yesterday: “We would like a new store in Barnsley and we are looking for opportunities. We will keep our eyes on it.”
Sainsbury’s confirmed two weeks ago it was looking to open a store in Barnsley. Peter Macfarlane, from Spectrum, said talks would be held with different chains.
Last year development firm Peel Group announced its plans for a store opposite Asda, a planning application is expected soon.
And the Chronicle understands planners are in talks with developers over the land next to the interchange, which includes the old Yorkshire Electricity site and is the council’s preferred option.
Spectrum is holding a public exhibition of its plans today at The Core on County Way from 10am until 4pm. The firm said it hopes to gain planning permission this year and start construction in 2013.
Full story in today's town edition.
