The Barnsley Miller Partnership Ltd - Leisure Development - Barnsley, The Courthouse

Date: 16 Oct 2000

Barnsley Miller Partnership Ltd has moved a major step forward in its plans to develop the £10 million Courthouse leisure development in Barnsley town centre.

Barnsley Miller, a joint venture between the local authority and Miller Developments, has received a double boost after securing cinema operator Spean Bridge at the site as well as winning planning permission for the development from Barnsley Council.

Spean Bridge, which was formed in 1998 and has ambitious plans to build cinemas across Europe and Asia, will take a 2,787 sq m (30,000 sq ft) seven-screen multiplex cinema at the site. The other anchor tenant at the site is Cannons Health and Fitness, which came on board in May.

Spean Bridge acted quickly to secure the site after Warner Village, which had been expected to operate the scheme's cinema, pulled out for strategic reasons.

Nigel Cunis, general manager of Barnsley Miller Partnership, says: "We are delighted to have attracted Spean Bridge to Barnsley and we are very confident in their commitment to the development. Obviously we were disappointed when Warner Village decided to pull out of the scheme but their decision was forced by a change in strategic direction rather than lack of faith in our scheme.

"Spean Bridge were very eager to step into the breach left by that decision, however, and now we have received planning permission the development is another major step further forward. We are confident that once completed, the Courthouse will be one of south Yorkshire's top leisure destinations." More…

Tim Richards, Spean Bridge's chief executive, added: "The Courthouse scheme represents a part of our strong commitment to open 10 cinema sites in the UK over the next two years. Barnsley is long overdue a leisure scheme of this nature and quality and we are looking forward to a successful future in the town."

The Courthouse scheme, which will create approximately 200 full and part-time jobs in Barnsley, forms a key element of the town's ongoing regeneration. In addition to the cinema and health and fitness centre, the 4.2 ha (10.4 acre) development site has space for up to three restaurants and Barnsley Miller Partnership is currently close to agreeing terms with two major operators.

Harvey Spack Field represented Barnsley Miller, while Jones Lang LaSalle advised Spean Bridge.

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