Worksop’s town centre is changing in front of us. Structural demolition of the Priory Centre is now visibly underway, with the first elevations of the 1960s shopping mall being dismantled and the £20 million redevelopment moving into its most public phase yet.

At a glance

  • What: Structural demolition of part of the Priory Centre, Worksop
  • Demolition started: Internal strip-out from mid-February 2026; structural demolition began 2 March; ceremonial start 11 March
  • Demolition completion expected: May 2026
  • Replacement: A new leisure-led building including a climbing wall, indoor adventure play area, bowling alley and dining
  • Total cost: £20 million (majority Levelling Up Fund)
  • Main contractor: G F Tomlinson
  • Owner: Bassetlaw District Council (purchased site in 2023)

What is happening on site

Internal strip-out of the building began in mid-February. Structural demolition – the visible removal of parts of the building itself – got under way on 2 March, and a formal ceremony to mark the start of structural demolition was held on 11 March. The work is being carried out by main contractor G F Tomlinson, with a high-reach excavator now removing structural elements and two elevations close to the access road being taken down by hand.

The demolished section originally formed part of the Netherholme Shopping Centre, which dates back to the late 1960s. Demolition is scheduled for completion in May 2026, with construction of the new building expected to follow on directly.

What is being built in its place

Bassetlaw District Council has confirmed the new building will host a leisure and entertainment line-up including a climbing wall, an indoor adventure play area, a bowling alley, and dining options. The aim, according to the council, is to bring more visitors back into the town centre during the day and into the evening.

How it is being paid for

The redevelopment is being delivered by Bassetlaw District Council, which purchased the Priory Centre site in 2023. The majority of the £20 million budget was secured through the previous Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund. The contract was procured via the Pagabo public-sector framework.

Speaking at the structural demolition ceremony in March, council leader Cllr Julie Leigh was joined by G F Tomlinson chairman Andy Sewards and Pagabo regional director for the Midlands Adam Brumfitt.

Why it matters for Worksop

The Priory Centre has been a fixture of Worksop town centre for nearly six decades. Its redevelopment is the single most visible piece of regeneration work the town has seen in years. For local traders, it is a long-promised footfall boost; for residents, it is a real change to the skyline; and for the council, it is the headline project of its Worksop Town Deal investment programme.

For now, residents passing through the town centre will see the high-reach excavator at work and parts of the old building being lowered by hand – a slow, carefully managed dismantling rather than a single dramatic moment.

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