A deal could be in the pipeline to turn Burton's Bargates site into offices and build an extra-care housing unit, the Mail understands.

The long-running saga over the town centre site looks set to reach its conclusion after more than 10 years as the Mail has been told by a reliable source that the land, off High Street could be sold to a developer or developers to transform the site.

East Staffordshire Borough Council , which bought the site back from supermarket giant Tesco after refusing plans for a superstore on site, is remaining tight-lipped on any developments and would not reveal if any definite plans had been made. However, it did say Bargates will be discussed at a meeting at the end of the month.

A council spokesman said: "At present, there is no further update to provide regarding Bargates. A discussion concerning Bargates will take place at council on September 26. The council maybe in a position to provide an update at the end of the month."

It is not the first time that the land has been earmarked for extra-care housing. Last year, it was revealed the authority was hoping to work in partnership with other agencies to bring sheltered housing to the site.

Contractors were spotted drilling on the Bargates site in Burton last month
Contractors were spotted drilling on the Bargates site in Burton last month

At the time, leader of the council Richard Grosvenor said it was clear there would be a shortage of extra-care housing and there were concerns. This type of housing provides supported living for people who want to retain their independence.

The original plans would have been part of a mixed-use development, which would also include other housing, shops and offices.

News of a possible deal is the latest twist in the long-running saga of Bargates which was sold to Tesco, leading to the closure of the bowling alley in 2007 and its subsequent demolition.

The supermarket chain had earmarked the site for a giant Tesco Extra store but after its planes were rejected by the council, the land was sold back to the authority at a cost of £4 million and it was turned into a village green.

Since 2013, the empty land has been up for sale with a major developer pulling out of a proposed deal earlier this year.

Residents have been asking for a bowling alley in the town since Superbowl 2000 was demolished on site.

Superbowl 2000 was a popular entertainment venue at the time
Superbowl 2000 was a popular entertainment venue at the time

Built in the 1960s as part of a plan to extend the town centre and attract more shoppers , the area formerly known as Bargates ended up becoming Burton's biggest embarrassment. Despite initially attracting new shops and even a bowling alley, its unattractive appearance away from the rest of the town centre saw it flop from the very beginning.

The area, first named the Bargates Shopping Centre and latterly the Riverside Centre as part of a doomed bid to rejuvenate the area, failed to appeal to the public.

Its fate was sealed by the building of The Octagon shopping centre and the revamping of Cooper's Square, which changed the focal point of the town centre, luring shoppers away from the northern end of High Street.

Gradually, businesses began to move out of the 10–acre site and the stores where they once stood were boarded up.

Time Line

Burton's Bargates

  1. MARCH 2004

    Council admits the Riverside Leisure Centre, known as Bargates, had become an embarrassment with just a few units open, including Superbowl 200 which still had 14 years on its lease and had 'no desire to move'.

  2. SEPTEMBER 2004

    The council reveals a cafe quarter plan for Bargates with accommodation, bars, cafe and a hotel.

  3. MAY 2005

    The Mail exclusively reveals that the council has lined up a deal with Tesco, which would see Bargates turned into a giant Tesco Extra store. The deal in principle included Tesco paying the council £8 million towards the cost of a new leisure centre to replace the Meadowside, which would have been demolished under the plans.

  4. AUGUST 2007

    One of the last remaining units on Riverside, Indian restaurant Manzil, moves to the former Ocean nightclub, off Guild Street, where it remains to this day.

  5. AUGUST 19, 2007

    Superbowl 2000 closes to make way for the Tesco development. At the time Superbowl owner Jerry Hodges said he was keen to relocate and was looking for a site in Burton.

  6. DECEMBER 2007

    The council pulls out of a deal with Tesco to demolish the neighbouring Meadownside Leisure Centre due to sky-rocketing costs. An application for the Riverside Centre is still expected to be submitted.

  7. FEBRUARY 2008

    Arsonists strike at former Superbowl 2000.

  8. NOVEMBER 2008

    A Tesco plan to build nine glass-fronted retail units on the site is unanimously rejected by council planners after the scheme is branded as "unimaginative".

  9. DECEMBER 1, 2009

    Three options are listed for Bargates' future: a residential-led redevelopment, a retail-led redevelopment or a mixture of both.

  10. MAY 30, 2010

    Tesco indicates a willingness to relinquish the site and move to the former Condor site, which never came to fruition. Proposals are put forward for a mix of retail, office and residential buildings, including a hotel overlooking the River Trent.

  11. JUNE 3, 2010

    Tesco installs large wooden boards to screen the eyesore from public view.

  12. JUNE 15, 2010

    East Staffordshire Borough Council announces its intention to appoint a developer by the end of 2010.

  13. SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

    Tesco's board of directors agrees the sale of the site to East Staffordshire Borough Council for £4 million.

  14. APRIL 12, 2011

    Meanwhile, Tesco is given permission for a superstore in Hawkins Lane. This plan never came to fruition after financial difficulties led Tesco to put the site up for sale.

  15. FEBRUARY 2, 2012

    Demolition begins at the Bargates site.

  16. MAY 28, 2012

    The council announces Bargates will be turned into a 'village green'.

  17. JULY 4 2012

    The council puts up 'The Bargates Job' on the site.

  18. FEBRUARY 21, 2013

    The council announces it has full ownership of Bargates and it is up for sale – maintaining the preferred mixed use option in a bid to attract developers.

  19. JULY 15, 2014

    Councillors reveal plans to spend part of a £1.5 million grant on making Bargates more attractive. It came after work started to improve the appearance of shops opposite, to show the authority was keen to regenerate High Street.

  20. MAY 2015

    Councillor Richard Grosvenor, leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said the authority was hoping to work in partnership with other agencies to bring sheltered housing to the site.

  21. JANUARY 2016

    A major developer is in talks to buy Bargates but discussions break down in March.

  22. AUGUST 2016

    Contractors were spotted drilling on the site to ascertain the site's development costs.

  23. SEPTEMBER 2016

    It is revealed a deal has been struck for offices and extra-care facilities on Bargates.

  24. AUGUST 2017

    Developer Jessup Build Develop reveals a planning application could be submitted in September.

  25. December 2017

    Jessup Build Develop submit planning application to East Staffordshire Borough Council

  26. January 2018

    Jessup Build Develop hold public consultation at Meadowside Leisure Centre. Burton Civic Society formally objects to the proposals

  27. February 2018

    The consultation period ends and objections submitted by Burton Parish Council and Burton Bridge Brewery are revealed.

  28. January 2019

    Amended plans to the original application are submitted, which includes increasing car parking and reducing the amount of homes and trees on site