Hindpool Retail Parks
The Hindpool Retail Parks are a set of four conjoined retail parks in the Hindpool area of Barrow-in-Furness, England, United Kingdom (with the exception of one which straddles the border with Central Barrow). Some thirty stores and leisure facilities contain a total of over 46,000 m2 (500,000 sq ft) of retail space (around one quarter of the borough's 199,000 m2 (2,140,000 sq ft) of retail floorspace).[1] The four retail parks are Cornerhouse Retail Park, Cornmill Crossing, Hindpool Retail Park and Hollywood Park. The largest and only other retail park in Barrow is Walney Road Retail Park - Pound Stretcher, Argos Extra, Asda, Home Bargains, Matalan and Stollers.[2]
Site history
All of the retail parks were built on former industrial land that during the early to mid-20th century played a major role in not only Barrow's but the entire country's economy. Hindpool Retail Park, alongside Craven Park stadium were built upon the site of the Barrow Jute Works which operated from 1870 to 1948. Cornerhouse Park and Cornmill Crossing were built on a site originally occupied by a cornmill and large interchange of the Furness Railway, while Hollywood Park was constructed on the southern perimeter of the former iron and steelworks which was operated by the Barrow Hematite Steel Company between 1859 and 1963 and was at one point the largest steelworks on earth.
Cornerhouse Retail Park
Cornerhouse Retail Park has seen many changes throughout its history, Tesco has seen two huge expansions (including the addition of a large mezzanine floor) and has become a Tesco Extra store, Homebase has also created a mezzanine floor to keep up with the competition from the likes of B&Q, whilst Comet and Currys both had units in the park before relocating to Hollywood Park when it was completed.[3]
| Unit | Retail/ Leisure Space | Tennant |
|---|---|---|
| A | 833 m2 (8,970 sq ft) | Iceland |
| B | 570 m2 (6,100 sq ft) | Maplin Electronics |
| C | 651 m2 (7,010 sq ft) | Pets at Home |
| D | 1,396 m2 (15,030 sq ft) | Halfords |
| E | 3,367 m2 (36,240 sq ft) | Homebase1,3 |
| N/A | 7,300 m2 (79,000 sq ft) | Tesco Extra1 |
Cornmill Crossing
Cornmill Crossing is the newest addition to the Hindpool Retail Parks complex. Despite it only being home to two units, both are amongst the larger stores in the area. Planning permission for the retail park was sought in January 2007 for the 10,186 m2 (109,640 sq ft) site which was formerly occupied by United Utilities water works,[4] the plans were quickly approved to following month.[5] The complex was designed by Craig and Green Architects and built in under a year. B&Q were the first top open their doors in July 2008,[6] the new 'Mini Warehouse' was built to replace a rundown superstore on nearby Duke Street, the B&Q contains roughly 6,800 m2 (73,000 sq ft) of retail space - including a 1,400 m2 (15,000 sq ft) garden centre and 740 m2 (8,000 sq ft) builders' yard.[7] The other unit in Cornmill Park - a JJB Sports2 Superstore, Fitness Club and Gym opened in September 2008. The two story building has a total floor area of 3,914 m2 (42,130 sq ft) and includes a 20 m (66 ft) long swimming pool.[8] The store and fitness club now goes by the name DW Sports Fitness after it was acquired by Dave Whelan in March 2009.[9] Also worth of note is the supermarket Morrisons which is located more or less next to Cornmill Crossing, only separated by Michaelson Road Bridge.
Hindpool Retail Park
| Unit | Retail/ Leisure Space | Tennant |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 697 m2 (7,500 sq ft) | Bensons for Beds |
| 2 | 937 m2 (10,090 sq ft) | Carpetright |
| 3 | 763 m2 (8,210 sq ft) | Harveys |
| 4 | 1,180 m2 (12,700 sq ft) | Aldi |
| 5 | 372 m2 (4,000 sq ft) | Frankie & Benny's |
| 6 | 619 m2 (6,660 sq ft) | Brantano5 |
| 7 | 946 m2 (10,180 sq ft) | Next5 |
| N/A | 2,930 m2 (31,500 sq ft) | The Range Home and Leisure |
Hollywood Park
Hollywood Park is the most diverse of the four retail parks, as well as the second largest. Designed by Craig and Green Architects, plans were first submitted for a new leisure and retail complex in Barrow in October 1997, the local council approved these plans in April 1998.[10] Throughout the rest of 1998 and 1999, a number of tenants lined up to move into Hollywood Park - with most of these being swiftly approved.[10] Construction of the complex was completed just after the turn of the millennium. Electrical stores Comet and Currys both moved into Hollywood Park from smaller premises in Cornerhouse Retail Park.[10] Hollywood Park is home to three food outlets, the largest cinema in Cumbria as well as a number of retail outlets with mezzanine floors.[11] JJB Sports moved to a larger premises in Cornmill Crossing in 2008, whilst the likes of Barrow Superbowl and Klaussner furniture fell victims to bankruptcy.[11] In total there are some 650 parking spaces within Hollywood Park, a detailed list of its current tenants are compiled below.[11] Although not within Hollywood Park, PC World, Travis Perkins, the Wacky Warehouse and the Owl and the Pussycat Restaurant are located immediately north-west of the complex.
| Unit | Retail/ Leisure Space | Tennant |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1,395 m2 (15,020 sq ft) | Apollo Bingo |
| B | 3,658 m2 (39,370 sq ft) | Dunelm Mill1,4 |
| C | 1,134 m2 (12,210 sq ft) | Nuffield Health Club2 |
| D | 1,484 m2 (15,970 sq ft) | Vue Cinemas |
| E/H | 1,679 m2 (18,070 sq ft) | Currys |
| F | 932 m2 (10,030 sq ft) | B & M |
| G | 932 m2 (10,030 sq ft) | Vacant |
| J | 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft) | Vacant1 |
| K | 238 m2 (2,560 sq ft) | KFC |
| L | 292 m2 (3,140 sq ft) | Pizza Hut |
| M | 289 m2 (3,110 sq ft) | McDonalds |
Notes
- ^1 Unit contains a mezzanine floor
- ^2 Unit contains two storeys
- ^3 The floor area for Homebase excludes the garden centre and mezzanine floor
- ^4 Dunelm Mill was formerly Barrow Superbowl, Cumbria's only such indoor venue for bowling
- ^5 Unit was built on the site of the former John Whinnerah Institute
See also
- Retail park
- Portland Walk Shopping Centre
References
- ↑ "Commercial and Industrial Floorspace and Rateable Value Statistics". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ↑ "Walney Road Retail Park". Completely Retail. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ↑ Scheme information on www.completelyretail.co.uk
- ↑ "Application for Cornmill Crossing". Barrow Borough Council. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "Approval for Cornmill Crossing". Barrow Borough Council. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "New DIY superstore opens its doors". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "B&Q set to open expanded store by summer of 2008". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "JJB store fitness centre opens gym and pool with a party". North West Evening Mail. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ Hunter, Andy (25 March 2009). "Whelan launches scathing attack on Newcastle owner Ashley". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Local Planning Portal Search". Barrow borough Council. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Hollywood Retail and Leisure Park". Edgerley Simpson Howe. Retrieved 22 June 2010.