The
Unofficial Website
Parkgate Shopping
previously Parkgate Retail World
Retail World at Parkgate was developed about thirty years ago on reclaimed land near the
River Don that had once been part of the Parkgate Iron and Steel Company. The buildings consisted of big hangar-style units which were let to DIY shops and suchlike. Many of the units
have been subdivided into smaller shops and the site has been extended once or twice since it opened. In 2007 it has been rebranded as 'Parkgate Shopping'.
There is a regular bus service from Rotherham Bus Station every ten minutes or so. However Retail World is situated just off the very busy route from Rotherham to Parkgate, Rawmarsh and points north. Consequently the traffic is frequently snarled up around here and at busy times such as Christmas and the sales it is utterly horrendous and jams up the roads for miles around. The system of traffic flow inside the retail park has been altered once or twice but does nothing to help the situation. Nor do the drivers who consider that the rules of the road do not apply to them once they get into the car parks – ignoring no entry signs, driving the wrong way down a one–way section on so on. Parking is free. A recent improvement is a pedestrian crossing so the foot–soldiers can get to the bus stop without taking their life in their hands. About time too. The public loos there are also a fairly recent development.
Parkgate Retail World is now in effect the 'High Street' of Rotherham. Here you can find Marks & Spencer, British Home Stores, Currys, PC World, Matalan, Comet, Morrisons, Superdrug, Boots, Next, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, TMaxx, Homebase, Argos, HMV shop. I know I've forgotten quite a few but next time I go I'll take my note book and remedy the omissions. As you can see these are 'BIG' names in the shopping world. What you won't find are any small shops that sell thing different and unusual, nor will you find a post office though you could do with one.
A fortnight after the Big Flood some of the shops are still closed whilst they await cleaning up, refitting and restocking. Some of them must be losing a fortune. In January 2008 I think all the stores but the pet shop are now open. The Pet World Store has moved next to Comet and reopens in the third week in February 2008.
At one time it was planned to extend the shopping area further back than it is now onto land adjoining Aldwarke Lane. To go with this there was mooted a new railway station and a new gyratory road system. I believe that planning permission for the new build was refused because Rotherham Council has already given permission for new building on Rawmarsh Road opposite Retail World. If you look behind Focus DIY on the retail park space has been left to develop a road system to cross the railway and join in with the Retail World road system. It doesn't look like this will happen any time soon either due to the costs involved in building a road bridge and the fact that the landowner is rumoured to want an arm and a leg to allow access. The development of a community sports stadium and leisure facilities on this is site is being discussed in February 2008.
Visit the Parkgate Retail World website at http://www.parkgateshopping.co.uk.