The ambition of creating a new and exciting leisure and entertainment venue in the heart of Worksop Town Centre is becoming a reality as construction has begun at the Priory.
The occasion was marked by local leaders and key stakeholders in the project earlier this month as they gathered to launch the next phase of the development.
Visitors to the town centre will be able to see regular progress on site over the coming months as a new building is constructed that will host impressive facilities, including a climbing wall, indoor adventure play area, and a bowling alley.
Internal areas of the building will also form part of the development with existing public areas of the Priory Centre also set to be refreshed, in addition to a new pedestrian bridge that spans the Chesterfield Canal.
The redevelopment of the Priory Centre has received £17.9 million of UK Government funding, in addition to £2 million from Bassetlaw District Council to enhance the town centre and attract visitors from across the district.
Cllr Julie Leigh, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: “We have reached a major milestone in this transformational development that will bring modern leisure and entertainment facilities to our town centre.
“The change is already remarkable, and the true scale of the project is becoming clear. It is exciting to see the foundations being laid for a new destination that will help to revitalise the high street and compliment the impact we are already making by attracting new businesses and supporting existing retailers.”
These new facilities will be provided and managed by Bassetlaw District Council’s partner BPL, who have a stellar track record of delivering leisure and fitness facilities in Worksop, Retford and Harworth and Bircotes.
Michael Hirst, Chief Executive of BPL said: "It’s fantastic to see spades in the ground on this landmark project for Worksop. This is a development of real scale and ambition that will transform the town, and BPL have exciting plans to help bring it to life in 2027."
The groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the start of the next phase of redevelopment, which is being delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the Council.
Andy Sewards, Chairman of G F Tomlinson, said: “The ground-breaking ceremony represents a proud moment for everyone involved in this transformational project and demonstrates the collaborative working approach that has brought us to this stage. Following the successful completion of the demolition works, it is exciting to see construction now progressing on site and the vision for the future of The Priory Centre beginning to take shape.”
Enabling works began on site in February 2026, followed by the careful demolition of sections of the existing Priory Centre building, with G F Tomlinson working hard to keep any impact on Priory Centre tenants and the public to a minimum.
Stores that are currently part of the Priory Centre are open as normal and pedestrians can walk through the shopping centre, connecting the car park with Bridge Place and Ryton Street.
Vehicle access is available from Bridge Place. However, the site compounds now occupy much of the parking area to accommodate the works and on-site storage.
Cashless pay and display machines are now in operation, along with new signage to inform visitors of the new car parking charges and conditions, which have been brought in line with all other Council operated car parks.
Around 100 spaces are still available in the two-story car park, which includes four disabled spaces, in addition to five disabled spaces in front of Costa.
Regular updates on the progress of the redevelopment will be available by visiting: www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/priorycentre
Last Updated on Thursday, June 25, 2026