News: Plans approved for hotel to replace eyesore buildings
An amended scheme to redevelop the site of burnt-out buildings on Corporation Street in Rotherham town centre has been approved.
Rothbiz reported in June on plans that would enable the current buildings to be demolished and a 69 room hotel development built on the site.
The plans, from Rothgen Ltd, show the ground floor comprising of a 1,700 sq ft retail unit on the restaurant site with the hotel made up of a 1,990 sq ft restaurant / bar and a reception area plus meeting rooms and offices. Bedrooms would be on the first, second and third floors and the building is designed to step back as the levels rise.
The Council had been preparing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in order to acquire the site and planners have included a condition on approving planning permission that demolition of all existing buildings on the site shall be completed within 12 months of the date of the permission being granted.
The plans have been welcomed by Council planners who described them as "a well-considered contemporary response" to the character and appearance of the town centre conservation area and they have been amended to reduce the building height from six storeys and instead having the roof height increase in steps.
Concerns were raised by Heritage England but they did not recommend a refusal.
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The view of Rotherham Minster from the Chapel on the Bridge will be affected but the planning board heard that "there would be significant socio-economic benefits of redeveloping this long standing dilapidated site which sits in a prominent town centre location and the proposed scheme would aid in the Council's overall promotion of the town centre's regeneration.
"In light of the above it is considered that there are significant public benefits to redeveloping this site that would outweigh the less than substantial harm on the setting of the Minster and Our Lady's Chapel."
Chris Wilkins, development manager at Rotherham Council, said: "They've tried to step it up as much as they can. In the design guidelines for this development site, we've said ideally we are looking at three storeys. Now we've got four storeys but we feel that it is still acceptable in this location. The applicant says that it makes it difficult to go lower than that in terms of the viability of the scheme.
"It doesn't look out of place, I don't think, in the streetscene because of the way you go up the hill.
"It could have been a very flat, bland building but the developer has done a lot to try and make this an interesting building with different features to it."
Cllr. John Williams, member of the planning board member welcomed the condition regarding demolishing the eyesore buildings within a year. He said: "I think it's a strong condition but a wholly justifiable condition given the state of the location at the moment."
The planning board voted unanimously to approve the plans.
Images: Rothgen / Den Architecture
Rothbiz reported in June on plans that would enable the current buildings to be demolished and a 69 room hotel development built on the site.
The plans, from Rothgen Ltd, show the ground floor comprising of a 1,700 sq ft retail unit on the restaurant site with the hotel made up of a 1,990 sq ft restaurant / bar and a reception area plus meeting rooms and offices. Bedrooms would be on the first, second and third floors and the building is designed to step back as the levels rise.
The Council had been preparing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in order to acquire the site and planners have included a condition on approving planning permission that demolition of all existing buildings on the site shall be completed within 12 months of the date of the permission being granted.
The plans have been welcomed by Council planners who described them as "a well-considered contemporary response" to the character and appearance of the town centre conservation area and they have been amended to reduce the building height from six storeys and instead having the roof height increase in steps.
Concerns were raised by Heritage England but they did not recommend a refusal.
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The view of Rotherham Minster from the Chapel on the Bridge will be affected but the planning board heard that "there would be significant socio-economic benefits of redeveloping this long standing dilapidated site which sits in a prominent town centre location and the proposed scheme would aid in the Council's overall promotion of the town centre's regeneration.
"In light of the above it is considered that there are significant public benefits to redeveloping this site that would outweigh the less than substantial harm on the setting of the Minster and Our Lady's Chapel."
Chris Wilkins, development manager at Rotherham Council, said: "They've tried to step it up as much as they can. In the design guidelines for this development site, we've said ideally we are looking at three storeys. Now we've got four storeys but we feel that it is still acceptable in this location. The applicant says that it makes it difficult to go lower than that in terms of the viability of the scheme.
"It doesn't look out of place, I don't think, in the streetscene because of the way you go up the hill.
"It could have been a very flat, bland building but the developer has done a lot to try and make this an interesting building with different features to it."
Cllr. John Williams, member of the planning board member welcomed the condition regarding demolishing the eyesore buildings within a year. He said: "I think it's a strong condition but a wholly justifiable condition given the state of the location at the moment."
The planning board voted unanimously to approve the plans.
Images: Rothgen / Den Architecture
10 comments:
The usual rubbish of reducing building height because of minster, loada rubbish,go to city's all over country and views of old buildings don't get in way of development, York as many more old and indeed world famous building yet still as multi story buildings. As usual Rotherham makes the wrong desision.Build upwards for god sake!
A hotel and people visiting are here to do what shop in parkgate seriously turn them all into shops ffs
I hope this comes off, it’s better than being left any longer as it is ! Do we know which company will be running it?
Probably aimed at workers who work in town be surprised how many contractors work in area from all over country.
They might as well demolish the Rotherham Minster as well. That thing is an eyesore too.
Anyway, all these plans to redevelop Rotherham's town center are just that. Plans. When is the town going to actually see major changes? What a horrible little dead hole Rotherham is. I can't wait to pack up and move out.
How the **** is minster an eyesore!
I agree with the above comment that the Minster in Rotherham is an eyesore. At least make it more attractive to look at, like paint it white or fix the broken clocks.
How many crowds of tourists stand in front of it and admire it everyday?
A few other "religious buildings" in town are out of place eyes sores do we comment on them, cos I've a feeling these comments about minster aren't coming from any Rotherham resident I know who as ever been in minster??!! Wonder who they might be🤔🤔🇬🇧
How anyone can condemn Rotherham minster as ‘ being an eyesore’ is beyond belief!
No true Rotherham resident would say that!!!!
Maybe you should move out.
3 months have now passed and nothing knocked down. It’s just a fairy tale issued by RMBC.
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