Meadowhall Interchange rail platforms opened on 21 March 1994. The section of line from Meadowhall to Fitzalan Square, in the city centre, was the first phase of the network to open. Meadowhall Interchange was selected as the initial site for Sheffield's High Speed 2 station, with a high-level viaduct station planned to be constructed parallel to the M1 motorway's Tinsley Viaduct adjacent to the mainline station. However, these plans were eventually dropped, with plans for High Speed 2 services to instead serve Sheffield station in the city centre. As part of the plans for High Speed 2, proposals were put forward for
Colonnades Leisure Park (Valley Park has IKEA and Purley Way Retail Park has Sainsbury's), although it centres itself as more of an entertainment complex than shopping area. The retail park is the southern most on the A23 Purley Way road and is close to Purley town centre. The site of Croydon Airport is opposite the site of the retail Park. Most of the outlets in the park are entertainment oriented, such as City Limits an indoor entertainment centre with a restaurant, sports bar, arcade and bowling facilities. Other tenants include Gipsy Moth family pub and restaurant, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Premier Inn, a Kidspace