News

Arcade Sold To Unnamed Investor

Wednesday July 18 2012

Barnsley's arcade shopping lane, 2009.

THE Arcade has been sold for £1.5m to an unnamed investor.

The 26 shops and other businesses were bought at an auction at the Park Lane Hotel, London.

Alex Neil, of the auction's organisers, Allsop LLP, said details of the successful bidder were confidential.

Council leader Coun Steve Houghton said: "We hope the new owner will be prepared to invest in The Arcade which is unique to Barnsley.

"We would also like to work with him to bring it up to full occupancy and we hope they come and talk to us."

Reply Posted by king louis on Wednesday July 18 2012 at 09:51

Wow! that's cheap for such an amount of buildings, if the council now let the properties have change of use be converted to dwellings then I imagine the buyer is close to the council with such influence...it may be one to watch?

Reply Posted by Bec on Wednesday July 18 2012 at 10:02

I hope it is someone with a strong sense of business and a love of independant retailers. It would be lovely to see the arcade full of boutiques and a nice coffee shop and deli. If the rest of the town is going to be reveloped and provide high street labels it would be nice for the arcade to offer something a bit different and a bit more upmarket!

Reply Posted by observer on Wednesday July 18 2012 at 17:40

the arcade is a brilliant opportunity to open lots of places...al fresco style. sheltered from the elements. stand at the top and look down there and imagine it with lovely coloured hanging baskets etc...loaded with them in spring and summer. bars, coffee shops..etc. it could bring life to that area of the town. i hope that the council have insisted on a high maintenance schedule within the sold agreement, and that it is kept to a high standard

Reply Posted by Sylvia on Wednesday July 18 2012 at 20:24

It COULD be made beautiful with a little thought - wrought iron work, alfresco dining but still under cover, plants, fountains, tiles, think Victoria Arcade Leeds - fingers crossed....... but then again this IS Barnsley, will they bother or just be out for the money?

Reply Posted by Sylvia on Wednesday July 18 2012 at 20:25

... oh, and of course, lovely individual, interesting shops

Reply Posted by Vam on Thursday July 19 2012 at 02:38

If you ask me it should be the new Wellington street, how buzzing would it be to have a vibrant night life happenIng under that canopy?

Reply Posted by K on Sunday July 22 2012 at 17:12

The only way the arcade or anywhere else in Brnsley will flourish is if we as consumers STOP shopping in Asda and Tesco and actually start buying things from the independent retailers including visiting the out door and indoor markets.

We complain about how the high-street is deteriorating yet we all shop in the same leading retail stores.

On top of the lack of custom you have to factor in the cost of rates and rent on those properties. All the empty shops in Barnsley would be snapped up by budding business' if the council would cut the rates on the property's or give a grace period for new business'.

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