PLANS to combine seven units in the Alhambra Shopping Centre into one so the Health on the High Street scheme can progress have been submitted to the council.
Health on the High Street, which has seen services transfer from Barnsley Hospital to the Alhambra, has posted positive results.
The first services to transfer to the health and wellbeing hub, in the former Wilko store on the upper floor of the centre, were ophthalmology, optometry and retinal screening.
These were followed by rheumatology, dermatology and orthotics as part of a phased opening of the modern, innovative hub, which has been developed by a range of health and wellbeing partners and is due to be fully operational by 2028.
The development, which has been hailed as the UK’s largest relocation of hospital outpatient services outside a clinical setting, has delivered 220,000 diagnostic appointments already.
Meanwhile, medics have recorded a 22 per cent increase in attendance for mammograms, while missed appointments have fallen by 24 per cent.
The next stage of the scheme has now been submitted to the planning board, seeking to convert a total of seven units including the former Bonmarche and Closet Queen on the first floor into just one.
A report states: “The internal and exterior appearance of the centre has remained unchanged since the opening and therefore still resembles that of an early 1990s shopping centre.
“Although the building has been well maintained over the years, the appearance is now dated, which has been further magnified by the opening of the new adjacent Glassworks development in 2021.
“Barnsley Council acquired the centre in 2024 with a plan to transform the appearance and retail offer, bringing it in line with the Glassworks and wider the town centre offer.
“Following the success of the NHS CDC facility in the Glassworks, the council has been working with the NHS to create an extension to the Health on the High Street (HOTHS) concept. The existing CDC facility offers NHS outpatient scanning and x-ray services in an accessible location, which has reduced the pressure on the local hospital. The Health on the High Street project in the Alhambra will see further outpatient services moved away from Barnsley Hospital, along with other complimentary health and well-being provision including a new gym, operated by Barnsley Premier Leisure.
“The next phase of the HOTHS project involves bringing together the services of the South West Yorkshire Foundation Trust into one accessible space.
“A space has been identified on the first floor of The Alhambra Centre, alongside the already established NHS outpatient services.”
A whole host of works will take place should the plans be approved.
The report added: “The units vary in size and are situated along one side of the mall.
“The proposed development with see units 28-34 combined into to one large unit with a GIA of 12,313 sqft.
“The works will involve the removal of the dividing walls between the units as well as the back of house walls.
“The existing shopfronts will be retained as the remodelling of this element forms part of the mall upgrades, which will be covered by a separate application.
“The layout for the unit is still to be confirmed, but will be a mix of consultation rooms, reception and waiting spaces and staff areas.
“The proposed unit will also include the existing storeroom over the existing unit 30, which will be used as a new plant room.”
