Praxis bags another council-owned shopping centre mandate

Praxis has secured a contract to asset manage the Alhambra shopping centre in Barnsley, Green Street News can reveal. Praxis has been appointed by Barnsley Council, the centre’s owner, for full asset management, development management and property management support for the centre, which the council acquired out of receivership in 2023.

The Alhambra includes more than 156,000 sq ft of retail space and has tenants including Primark, Iceland and The Entertainer. Praxis will also work alongside the council to bring forward a fresh vision for the centre following the delivery of the Glass Works, a new-build retail and leisure complex in the town centre completed by the council last year. Part of this will include repurposing the upper floors of the Alhambra to provide space for Barnsley Hospital services.

The deal means Praxis now has 11 council-owned shopping centres under management, having also previously advised Barnsley Council on its acquisition of the Alhambra. In total, the firm manages 21 shopping centres across the UK.

Mark Smith, head of regeneration at Praxis, said:

“We are thrilled to be appointed as partner to Barnsley council on the next phase of growth for the town, and deliver on this trailblazing project, repurposing the first floor of a failing shopping centre with a new health hub, and reinvigorating the town’s retail and leisure offer.

“The council have an experienced team and real enthusiasm to be at the forefront of regeneration, and we are committed to ensuring they achieve best value.”

Other local authorities the group is working with include Leicester City Council, where it is advising on the local authority’s plans to regenerate the town centre, as well as North Devon Council, where Praxis advises on the council-owned Green Lanes shopping centre in Barnstaple town centre. Other local authority real estate mandates won by Praxis include Surrey Heath Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council.

Published by Green Street News.