I heard it was going to be bought for £1 by some billionaires. Some guys called Paul Lee and Chien Conway. Never heard of em.
Most shopping centres are owned by investment firms that are investing on behalf of pension funds. When I last checked the Alhambra was owned by F&C Reit, they purchased it from The Mall Fund in 2011. I don’t believe Meadowhall was ever planned for Barnsley. I did once hear that Paul Sykes threatened to move the development outside of Sheffield City Council boundaries due to issues with planning, but it wasn’t Dodworth. There were supposedly plans for a retail park up where Capitol Park is now, had that happened, Barnsley Town Centre would be just like Rotherham is now so it’s probably a good job it didn’t. I’d assume Paul Sykes ‘hated the council’ cos he’s a massive Tory.
The detailed plans were horrific, and then the only operator they could get to run it dropped out when the council signed Cineworld for the Glassworks. It was never going to be one or the other.
Freddiel without falling out and been picky Capitol Park is at Dodworth its built on the old Dodworth pit site ....the land that the Alhambra sits on is owned by the coop....the glass works is built on Norwich Union land....if you go up up shambles Street the gym and most of the land going over to peel Street is / was owned by Oakwell construction Ltd which was owned by Paul Madley ( not the Leeds footballer) the reason I know the info I've posted is down to research I carried out in the late 90s whilst seeking to buy premises for a group/ company I was heavily involved in at the time The research that I undertook included numerous lunches with Paul Madleys personal secretary whilst working in close capacity with the bsly mbc planning department and council leaders....and yes the meadowhall project was first offered to bsly Mbc once turned down the attention was directed to where it sits now....hope this clears it up ... At the time the planning department were trying unsuccessfully to compulsory purchase the shambles Street site....
Sounds very much like what happened in Wakefield when they opened trinity walk , everyone left ridings to go which then left ridings empty ,
Your historical knowledge is evidently far superior to mine, and It’s difficult to fall out with someone you don’t know. To clarify, I know where Dodworth is! I was making a point about a proposed out of town shopping site that was once mooted for that location, as I had (wrongly) assumed you may have confused that development with the initial proposal for Meadowhall. Once again, I bow to your superior knowledge. As far as I’m aware, the council purchased The Metropolitan Centre from Aviva (formerly Norwich Union) in order to construct The Glassworks.
Last thing I want is to argue with anybody sorry if my reply came across like that.... You may well be right about the glass works I was basing all my knowledge on what I found out in the late 90s whilst seeking premises in the town centre ...what many believe that the council own and once did is far from the truth of the matter....like I said previously..Donny gate is but a speck of dust against what took place in bsly when the town was sold from under the noses of the people of the Borough
Well exactly. 2 of the 3 stores I've mentioned aren't even in the Alhambra anymore, rendering it a bit pointless.
Wilkinson's Poundstretcher Iceland Savers The Entertainer The works Three Massarellas Primark. (Looking into adding the old TK Maxx) Several other outlets. I reckon when the Glassworks increases its footfall and the new businesses move in. The Alhambra will get a boost with it being adjacent.
I was in it yesterday & it was busy , I went into three shops & got what I wanted , I like it, I find the shops offer variety , it is warm for visitors & they have public toilets etc which in this day & age is rare & I certainly do not want to see it levelled but then again I am a champion of the West stand
No arguement with the facilities, my arguement is that it looks like it was designed and built by an 8 year old
To be honest I've always liked the Alhambra It's always clean and tidy and before the glass works etc went up was the jewel in the crown ...made the rest of town look shabby in my opinion ....
Was the Yorkshire Bank section near the entrance built around when the Alhambra was built? Walked past this morning and struck me how hideous that building is.