News: New eateries planned in Rotherham town centre

New food outlets in Rotherham town centre could be created if new applications are approved.

At the bottom of Doncaster Gate and Wellgate, a prominent unit looks set for another chapter in its life following the expansion of Grimm & Co, the children's literacy charity.

Back in 2016, Grimm & Co launched an Apothecary to the Magical, selling wild schemes, evil plots, charms, curses and kitchenware, transforming a vacant pub in the town centre.

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Converting the former Town Gate pub at the foot of the High Street, the literacy centre above the shop attracted thousands of school children. The charity has moved out, taking on more space in a former church across town.

Now an application has been submiited to use 2/2a Doncaster Gate for the provision of late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol. The applicant is the Towngate Group Limited, and the premises has been given the name "La Orza."

Across the town centre, a historic building that was previously used by an insurance company, could be converted into a cafe.

49 Moorgate Street was previoulsy Swinton Insurance but the building went up for sale at a reduced price last year. Agents, Sanderson Wetherall had the freehold of the 1,400 sq ft property up for sale with offers in excess of £105,000 invited.

The application from Mohammed Yousaf is for the change of use of the ground floor from Office to Cafe and plans show room for a 12 seat eatery.

Images: Google Maps / SW

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News: Furniture firm acquisition set to help Harvest

Prism Medical Healthcare has acquired a leading furniture firm which will become a sister company to Rotherham-based Harvest Healthcare Ltd.

Prism Medical Healthcare, backed by London-based private equity investors Limerston Capital, completed the acquisition of Harvest Healthcare Ltd for an undisclosed sum at the start of 2020.

Based at Templeborough, Harvest Healthcare manufacture and distribute quality healthcare equipment to the NHS, care home and community markets, throughout the UK and internationally. The company manufactures, supplies and services active and static mattresses and cushions, profiling beds, and moving and handling equipment.

The latest deal is for Repose Furniture, one of the market leaders in specialist seating solutions, designing and manufacturing a full range of specialist chairs ranging from entry-level riser-recliners to advanced bespoke healthcare chairs.

This acquisition will allow Harvest to add the supply and service of specialist seating alongside its current range of beds, pressure care and moving & handling equipment.

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Repose Furniture owner and Managing Director Lisa Wardley will continue to lead Repose long-term, reporting to Neil Davis, Managing Director Harvest Healthcare.

Neil said: "I am delighted to inform you about this exciting development for Harvest under Prism Group ownership, which will accelerate both the positive development of our company and more importantly our ability to serve our customers.

"Lisa and her team share the Harvest ethos of working in long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers, to support the delivery of exceptional resident and patient care, at an affordable price, and to try to make everyone’s lives a little easier.

"The Repose range of specialist seating solutions are suited perfectly to our core markets of care homes and local authority community equipment loan stores, and when coupled with Harvest’s nationwide assessment, installation, repair and maintenance services, means we can now offer market-leading service in specialist seating.”

Lisa added: “Collaborating with our new colleagues at Harvest will enable us to build many new customer relationships whilst continuing to successfully serve our existing customer base. Exciting times!”

Harvest Healthcare website

Images: Repose

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News: Tanyard takeaway turned down

Plans for a new takeaway business to launch its first branch in Rotherham have been turned down having fallen foul of a council planning policy based around healthy eating.

Newcomers, Urban Bites, applied to convert a vacant shop on the Tanyard at Wickersley and wanted to operate its delivery service between the hours of 12pm and 11pm on Mondays to Sundays. It would differ significantly from a traditional hot food takeaway, as the vast majority of food would be ordered and delivered without customers entering the premises at any point.

The application site comprises a former Banardo's charity shop unit, which has been vacant since March 2020.

In the application, consultants, Walshingham Planning, stated that: "The majority of the unit will comprise a commercial kitchen and it is envisaged that 70% of food sold will be delivered to customers following online or telephone ordering. The remaining 30% of food will be sold over the counter, with the option for customers to consume their food within a small dining area at the front of the unit."

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An objection was recieved from Wickersley Parish Counil and, in refusing the application, Rotherham Council pointed to policies.

Even though planning use classes have been updated by the Government, Rotherham Council said that the proposal for a hot food takeaway is contrary to a poilicy designed to protect "Primary Shopping Frontages."

The Council added that: "The site is within 800m of two local Primary Schools and Wickersley School & Sports College, which is contrary the Council’s adopted SPD [Supplementary Planning Documen] – Healthy and Equal Communities. The proximity to the schools may encourage unhealthy meal choices after school, with an entrance to St Albans Primary School being only 50m from the new hot food takeaway. Therefore, the hot food takeaway is in direct conflict with adopted Local Plan Policies."

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News: Cinema operator signs up for Rotherham's Forge Island scheme

The Arc Cinema has signed a long-term lease with national urban regenerator, Muse Developments, to become the leisure anchor at Rotherham’s Forge Island, which will see a key area in the heart of the town centre repurposed into a vibrant mixed-use destination.

The boutique cinema operator currently has six sites across the UK and Ireland, with a further two UK sites under construction and due to open in mid-2021. It specialises in providing a VIP cinema experience for the price of a standard ticket.

Plans were approved in 2020 for the Forge Island scheme which will also and include a new hotel, food and drink outlets and a car park. The new leisure facilities will be set within an attractive public square with a new pedestrian bridge connecting the scheme to the wider town centre, to create a real sense of place.

Brian Gilligan, director at Irish firm, Melcorpo, which runs The Arc Cinema, said: “We were delighted to be selected by Rotherham Council and Muse to bring one of our state-of-the-art cinemas to the Forge Island site. We would like to express our grateful thanks to them for their support in helping make this possible.

“The large high-specification eight-screen cinema has been specially designed to ensure we become a leisure hub, enabling us to provide a focal point for the people of Rotherham. Our customers love the fact that we offer a luxurious VIP experience, but we only charge standard cinema prices, and we think that unique combination is perfectly suited to Rotherham.

“Everyone is really looking forward to treats like cinema and restaurant trips again so we’re particularly excited to have the opportunity to be part of this good news story for the Rotherham community at this time.”

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Dan Needham, development director at Muse Developments, said: “Agreeing a deal with such a respected operator as The Arc Cinema is a ringing endorsement of the innovative plans we’re looking to deliver at Forge Island.

“Working collaboratively with the council and partners, we’re working hard to develop a game-changing scheme that will bring a real vibrancy not seen before, that will drive inward investment and growth to the local economy, while providing opportunities and prosperity at a time that it’s needed most. Forge Island represents what can be achieved when the best of the public and private sector come together with the same vision, drive and goal in mind.”

Plans showed that the cinema would be larger than previously anticipated. Described as "a keystone to the masterplan" the cinema is the largest building in the approved scheme at 25,000 sq ft and is positioned at the south of Forge Island.

Either side of the cinema's foyer are two restaurant units (2,500 sq and 3,000 sq ft), which have the potential for mezzanine levels. Plans show five screens with between 125 and 143 seats and three smaller screens of between 50 and 83 seats.

Last year, Council bosses said that the scheme's 350 space public car park, run by the Council, would include an arrangement with a cinema operator that enables the visitors to the cinema to park for free using a refund system.

Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: “This is a significant milestone in Rotherham’s development which we are excited to announce. We can’t wait to see a brand new, state of the art, eight-screen cinema on Forge Island - bringing blockbuster movies back to the town centre for the first time in over 30 years.

“We are delighted to have secured Arc Cinema because of its approach to delivering high- quality screenings tailored to local communities. The Arc Cinema will be an asset to Rotherham and I’m really pleased the operator has selected the town as one if its locations to continue its rollout of cinemas across the UK and Yorkshire.

“Our development also presents an exciting opportunity for restaurants, bars and cafes looking to be part of what will be one of the most attractive town centre leisure destinations in the region.”

Following the deal with The Arc Cinema, and discussions advancing with a major hotel operator, it is anticipated that construction will begin in autumn 2021.

Forge Island website

Images: Arc / Muse

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News: £80m for flood defences with Rotherham to benefit

A number of Rotherham schemes are expected to benefit from an £80m Government investment in South Yorkshire flood defences, following sustained pressure and cooperation with local leaders and the Environment Agency in response to the November 2019 floods in the region.

Combined with other public and private funding, this means that almost £93m has been secured for flood risk investment over the next six-year period.

The funding was confirmed at the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee meeting in January, who considered the new Medium-Term Plan.

It marks a three-fold increase in the scale of investment to South Yorkshire and comes after the Mayor, local authority leaders and the Environment Agency worked together on plans to respond to the November 2019 floods.

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The funding marks a significant step towards the delivery of 27 priority projects identified by the Mayor and local leaders to protect more homes and businesses.

Rotherham schemes in the initial 27 projects set out in 2020 include the Council led schemes:

- Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Parkgate Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Catcliffe Pumping Station
- Eel Mires Dike Flood Alleviation Scheme Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Rotherham Culvert Renewal Programme

And Environment Agency led schemes:
- Don Catchment Regulators
- Nature Based Solutions Programme in Mid Don

The schemes will protect 860 homes across South Yorkshire, as well as ensuring that infrastructure, including Rotherham railway station which was closed again due to flooding recently, is resilient to flooding in the future.

The Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme requires some £24m and includes downstream phases from Forge Island to Parkgate, and Kilnhurst.

Rothbiz reported last year that £51m was needed to implement all of its flood-related schemes and, despite the confirmed Government funding, there is still a £125m gap in the South Yorkshire Flooding Priority Programme.

Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, said: "Just this week Storm Christoph has shown how a lack of action has left our region exposed.

“It’s therefore incredibly welcome that the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has approved substantial new investment for South Yorkshire, following extensive work by local leaders to develop a plan which will help protect our region from harm in future.

“Local leaders and I have put forward almost £6m of our own funding to kick start the works and alongside this funding boost, we can go a long way to delivering our plan, which will help keep our communities and businesses safe.

“I’m determined we see the South Yorkshire catchment plan delivered in full, and that’s why the onus is now on Ministers to step up and fill the remaining £125m gap in the South Yorkshire’s Flooding Priority Programme. People in South Yorkshire cannot afford any more sleepless nights. Local leaders have acted decisively, now Ministers must do the same.”

Images: Northern Rail / Twitter

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News: Virgin Money makeover for Rotherham bank

Virgin Money is continuing its store rebrand programme with the prominent Yorkshire Bank branch in Rotherham town centre.

The multi-million pound rebranding of its national network of Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and Virgin Money sites to the new Virgin Money branding will be completed by spring 2021, bringing all stores under a single brand.

Each rebranded store will offer full banking services to all 6.6 million customers in the Virgin Money Group, vastly increasing the network of available stores to existing Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Virgin Money customers. Over the coming months customers will also begin to see debit and credit cards, banking apps and account statements change to Virgin Money as part of its wider rebrand activity.

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The Frederick Street / Bridgegate branch is one of 67 Yorkshire Bank branches being turned into revamped and rebranded Virgin Money stores that will offer services beyond the traditional bank branch of the past, including free Wi-Fi and use of in-store iPads.

Virgin Money teamed up the banks back in October 2018. In a bid to challenge its competitors, CYBG, which owns Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and digital brand B, went on to complete a deal to buy Virgin Money for £1.7bn.

Paul Titterton, Head of Personal Distribution at Virgin Money said: “These are exciting times for Virgin Money and our customers as we invest in our network of stores to move to a single brand across UK high streets. While it marks the end of an era for the historic Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank brands, we are committed to continuing to offer the same dedicated and knowledgeable support for those customers, and we’re delighted to come together under the Virgin brand, which is synonymous with great customer service and a fresh approach.”

Virgin Money will write to customers in advance of their own branch being rebranded to let them know about when they can expect the changes to be made.

Virgin Money website

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News: Further large Rotherham housing developments planned

Further planning applications have been submitted for hundreds of new houses across Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported last month that plans had been submitted by Barratt Homes in Dinnington, Bellway Homes in Swallownest and Avant Homes at Waverley.

Now a number of seperate planning applications have been submitted to Rotherham Council for sites across the borough.

At Kiveton Park, Strata Homes, is hoping to secure planning permission for close to 200 new homes on land at Chapel Way / Stockwell Avenue.

The application site comprises approximately 10.16 hectares of land between Kiveton Community Woodland and the existing housing estate. Currently comprising of arable land with a dense landscaped edge to the south, the site was put forward as residential use in the approved Local Development Plan.

The local plan had the site capable of some 268 homes but the Strata application is for 196 - a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced units. It includes provision for affordable units, totalling 49 units and 147 open market units.

Pegasus, consultants for the housebuilder, state in the plans: "The scheme seeks to bring forward a viable scheme on a longstanding residential allocation. It is considered that the scheme will achieve the viable implementation of housing in Kiveton and will be a positive contribution to the Council’s housing delivery targets."

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Strata is also involved with progressing plans for new houses at Blue Man's Way in Catcliffe. In partnership with Strata, Great Places Housing is intending to access grant funding from Homes England to enable the 100% provision of affordable housing on the site.

Close to the Parkway and Morrison's, using the area for housing is contentious and a 2016 application for 64 houses was refused but later approved at appeal in February 2017. Nearby land to the south of the Site, adjacent to Morrison’s, has planning permission for 85 dwellings which is being delivered by Barratts as The Glassworks development.

The latest plans are for 76 dwellings, for shared ownership and rent, and will comprise a range of 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom units.

Residents of Blue Man's Way continue to register opposition to the plans to use the road as the main access to the new site.

At Dinnington, an outline application has been submitted for 46 houses on land to the rear 166 Swinston Hill Road. The site is near to where Taylor Wimpey secured planning permission for 157 houses last year.

The latest plans, from London-based T&J Wilkinson, are a revision of earlier plans for up to 35 houses.

In the North of the borough, Rothbiz understands that a national housebuilder has begun developing plans for a large number of houses at Pontefract Road / Barnsley Road.

Images: Google Maps

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News: AESSEAL plc donates £400,000 to Laptops for Kids campaign

AESSEAL plc has donated £400,000 to Laptops for Kids - enough funding to supply connectivity to every disadvantaged child in South Yorkshire and kickstart the campaign in its home town of Rotherham.

The charitable organisation will use £300,000 to supply refurbished laptops to 1,500 households across the metropolitan borough, meeting around half of the estimated need in Rotherham.

The remaining £100,000 will be used to buy dongles for connecting 10,000 households to the internet, meeting the estimated total need across South Yorkshire.

AESSEAL is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems. The company operates from 230 locations across the world and is headquartered at Templeborough.

Chris Rea, managing director, said: “At AESSEAL, we believe in being a good neighbour, partner and useful member of the communities in which we live and work.

“Our donation is an investment in young people across Rotherham and South Yorkshire - we will need their ideas and energy to tackle the global challenges facing our planet.”

Mr Rea added that 3i Group, a leading institutional investor with a significant minority shareholding in AESSEAL, has enthusiastically supported the decision.

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Technology entrepreneur David Richards, co-founder of the Laptops for Kids campaign, said: “Huge thanks to AESSEAL for this powerful expression of support, which will help thousands of children to access remote learning during the pandemic.

“This should be a clarion call to businesses everywhere to support our campaign and make sure every child has safe access to the internet so they can fulfil their potential.”

Cllr Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, added: “This is a tremendous gesture from AESSEAL which befits their commitment to our local community, and expanding opportunities for local people. I want to offer my personal thanks to Chris and his team.

“I’m really pleased that the council is able to work alongside them and our schools to ensure that more IT equipment will get to the children who will most benefit from it.

“In what has been the most awful year, this is another example of how our community comes together to look after each other and overcome the challenges that we face.”

The estimated need for laptops and dongles is based on detailed survey data supplied by Sheffield schools and extrapolated across Rotherham and South Yorkshire.

Laptops for Kids launched in Sheffield in September and has proved its model of sourcing donations, securely erasing devices and distributing them according to need.

The campaign is scaling up across the North of England and has launched in Newcastle and Doncaster with more locations to follow.

Partners include Blancco plc, the global leader in certified data erasure, Twinkl, the online educational publisher, and WANdisco plc, the data software company jointly headquartered in Sheffield and Silicon Valley.

AESSEAL website
Laptops for Kids website

Images: AESSEAL

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News: Sheffield City Region wins FDI Strategy Award for advanced manufacturing

The Sheffield City Region (SCR) has won the FDI Strategy Award in the Advanced Manufacturing category run by industry magazine fDi Intelligence.

The FDi Strategy Awards recognise Strategic Excellence in cities and regions across the globe.

The judges applauded the Sheffield City Region as a leader in advanced manufacturing and materials, benefiting from world-renowned research with the University of Sheffield, the Royce Institute for Research and Innovation of Advanced Materials and the McLaren Composites Technology Centre.

Judges were impressed with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID), which is the UK’s largest research-led advanced manufacturing cluster and includes the key asset of the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) which is in Rotherham. AMID is home to the University of Sheffield’s world-leading Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), its sister centre, the Nuclear AMRC and its award-winning Apprentice Training Centre. Built around world-leading university and business collaborations, AMID has attracted investment from companies including McLaren, Boeing, Nikken, Metalysis, PES Performance, MetLase, Iceotope, Rolls-Royce, Dormer, Sandvik, Atkins Global, ITM Power and PCM.

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The awards also recognised the major advanced manufacturing technologies being developed here, including actuation systems for Boeing’s Next-Generation aircraft and the development of turbine blades for jet engines at Sheffield’s Rolls-Royce Advanced Blade Casting Facility.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “We are delighted that the Sheffield City Region has won the FDi Strategy Award for ‘Advanced Manufacturing’. Our industrial heritage, plus the skills and expertise we have in this area, means we are at the forefront of the development of technology that is enabling the digitisation of advanced manufacturing on a global scale.

"We are very proud of our advanced manufacturing sector which includes many large organisations, such as Boeing and McLaren, plus an array of SME businesses collaborating to deliver pioneering solutions to global issues. It is little wonder that so many international advanced manufacturing businesses choose to invest and locate here.”

SCR website

Images: McLaren

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News: Rotherham Council preparing objection to latest Meadowhall plans

Rotherham Council is unhappy with plans for a revised scheme at nearby Meadowhall in Sheffield.

The authority's planners are concerned over the negative impact of the proposals on a "fragile" Rotherham town centre and the proposed leisure-led regeneration scheme at Forge Island.

Rothbiz reported last year that stalled plans for a new £300m, 330,000 sq ft Leisure Hall development at Meadowhall had been scaled back.

A phased approach was instead outlined with a number of elements including a £150m leisure hall development on the existing car park to include quality leisure space and a new aspirational food and drink offer. "Big Box" retail is outlined for land near to the Next Home store, and plans are for the warehouses and land between Meadowhall and Vulcan Road to be converted to create temporary indoor and outdoor leisure space.

The initial plans for a larger multi-level extension housed under a glazed roof on land currently used for car parking were approved in 2018 despite an objection from Rotherham Council, that stated that it would have a "significant adverse impact upon the vitality and viability of Rotherham town centre."

In responding to the latest plans, Rotherham Council said: "The impact test has significantly downplayed the level of public sector investment in the Rotherham town centre and the Forge Island Scheme, together with the continued fragility of town centre, particularly in light of the Covid pandemic.

"Rotherham MBC consider that further assessment should be carried out as part of the Impact Tests to assess the impact of the development upon the vitality and viability of Rotherham Town Centre, the planned investment in the Forge Island site and existing investment across the remainder of the town centre in terms of the proposed retail and leisure uses.

"If this assessment is not carried out RMBC wish to formally object on the grounds that insufficient information exists to fully assess the impact of development on Rotherham town centre and Forge Island site."

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Consultants on the Meadowhall plans, Quod, stated: "In the case of Rotherham, a proposal to deliver a new cinema, hotel and F&B [food & beverage] units at the Forge Island have progressed through a planning application (granted in June 2020) which has come forward in the full knowledge of TLH [The £300m Leisure Hall]. There is no suggestion that the revised proposals at Meadowhall would undermine the delivery of Forge Island, given that the proposals are similar (and no more) than that previously promoted in TLH.

"A cinema operator has been secured and the F&B market interest in the scheme is determined by the other uses, i.e., a cinema and a hotel. Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest that the scheme will undermine investor confidence in Forge Island – as has previously been accepted by SCC [Sheffield Council]."

The plans add that "the impact on wider leisure uses within Rotherham town centre will be limited. The town centre currently has no cinema or other family leisure uses. Such provision is located out-of-centre which are afforded no planning policy protection. The evening economy of the town centre is focused on pubs and clubs, which fundamentally differs to that being proposed at [Meadowhall]."

Plans argue that the new Meadowhall proposal is designed to be "more aspirational in order to set it apart" and could result in "national brands that are keen to get market share but are not always seen to have a place in the more aspirational tenant line-ups" looking elsewhere in the region. "Examples of such operators include Nandos, Pizza Express, Café Rouge and TGI Fridays."

Consultants add: "The existing limited F&B offer in Rotherham town centre (particularly in relation to family-themed restaurants) provides further comfort that there will be demand for such uses as part of the scheme coming forward at Forge Island" and conclude that "there is nothing to demonstrate that the revised proposals at TMM [The Meadowhall Masterplan] is unlikely to undermine planned investment in Rotherham town centre."

Regarding impact, Quod say that the "impact on Rotherham is limited, reflecting the limited overlap between Meadowhall and Rotherham, as has previously been acknowledged and recognised when SCC permitted the extant TLH scheme." When approving the £300m proposals in 2017, planners at Sheffield Council agreed that it will "undoubtedly have a negative impact on Rotherham's town centre which is already in a fragile state."

The latest estimates are that the new scheme will negatively impact Rotherham town centre but to a lesser extant than the initial proposals. The impact of the proposals on the turnover of Rotherham town centre is calculated at -0.8% in 2025.

The applicants conclude: "The low levels of impact identified under all scenarios will not undermine the long-term vitality and viability of Rotherham town centre, which will continue to provide an important role in meeting some of the needs of the local catchment population, including a convenience retail sector."

Images: British Land / Google Maps

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News: £2m injection for cast metals experts following MBO

A Rotherham company which is a world leader in its field is poised for significant growth following a management buyout (MBO) from the University of Sheffield, which has concluded alongside fundraising to take the company to its next phase of growth.

Castings Technology International Ltd (CTI) is a world-leading provider of manufacturing, technology, expertise and services to the cast metals sector and global supply chain.

The company, which is based on the Advanced Manufacturing park (AMP), has completed a £2m fundraising, backed by Mercia Asset Management, via the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and Nucleus Commercial Finance, and at the same time has been "spun off" into the ownership of the management team.

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: "We would like to thank the employees and team at CTI for their dedication and support for the business over a number of years, as well as CTI’s customers and partners.

"We are delighted that this transaction will see the continuation of CTI's operations under new ownership, securing the ongoing employment of 60 people locally in highly skilled jobs within the Sheffield City Region.

"Progressing to private ownership is a natural and welcome evolution, and the University has worked with the CTI management team to ensure as smooth a transition as possible."

CTI has been perfecting its technology over many years, working hand in hand with multinational blue-chip companies through both research and development and long-term supply agreements. CTI now forms a critical player in a supply chain servicing multi-billion-pound contracts.

The company has casting capabilities in almost any type of metal alloy and has a 1,200kg titanium vacuum melting capability, which ranks it as one of the largest in the world. In conjunction with customers' design teams, CTI is casting complex components supplied into the aerospace, defence, chemical nuclear and marine markets.

The funding raised will allow the company to expand more rapidly by investment into further product development, alongside sales and marketing infrastructure and resource, to expand throughout its world-class manufacturing facility, which is based at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

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In 2014, The University of Sheffield acquired the buildings and assets of Cti and Titanium Castings UK Ltd (TCUK) including the ongoing research work, commercial contracts and consultancy. It was split into two organisations; AMRC Castings, which focused on research and development, and Cti Ltd, which carried out commercial work.

Richard Cook, Managing Director, a highly experienced engineer, and local entrepreneur Kevin Parkin, Chairman, lead the management team in the latest buy out.

Kevin Parkin said: "This is a unique opportunity to develop and grow this highly efficient manufacturing capability now that the equipment, processes and quality systems have been fully developed and accredited. Working alongside our AMRC neighbours, together with the superb research and development initiatives provided by the University, will give CTI an enviable position in the global supply chain. The facility will also allow the City Region to attract and retain highly skilled metallurgically based talent."

Richard Cook added: "The operational management team of CTI intrinsically understand this business and are dedicated to continuing to serve our customers and to working with our fantastic team of experienced engineers. We are delighted to have the opportunity to take forward our plans for the company under our new ownership. The management team would like to place on record its sincere thanks to the University of Sheffield for its support and assistance during the transferral of the ownership of the company and its support for CTI over a number of years."

Award-winning and Yorkshire-based deal making firm, Castle Square Corporate Finance, led by Managing Director Kevan Shaw and Director Steve Bell, provided advice on the transaction and ran a fundraising process which successfully delivered the £2m funding needed to support the growth plan.

Kevan Shaw, said: “It was exciting to be involved in a transaction and fundraising that will see CTI embark on rapid growth, exploiting its market leading technology and world-class production facilities whilst creating highly skilled jobs, for the benefit of the Sheffield City region.”

Legal advice was provided to the management team by Sheffield lawyers, Wake Smith, led by John Baddeley, with Mark Cooper of accountancy firm BHP providing tax advice.

Wake Smith Chairman John Baddeley, who led the Wake Smith team which included commercial property Director Paul Gibbon, said: "We are delighted to have helped the MBO team which is providing expertise and products to a global supply chain and flying the flag for the region’s advanced manufacturing expertise. I am sure that they will build the business and expand their reach over the next few years."

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund has provided a significant loan to CTI to support the growth business plan, with Andy Tyas and Pete Sorsby from the team at Mercia Asset Management leading on the transaction on behalf of the fund, with working capital facilities provided by Financial Institution, Nucleus Commercial Finance, led by Director Riana Azam.

Andy Tyas said: "CTI is a great example of the quality of the SME cohort situated in the Advanced Manufacturing Park and wider Sheffield City Region community. We are delighted to work with the company’s management team and its advisors in using Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to support the business in its next phase of development, following the success of its University of Sheffield partnership that has brought it to this point. The expansion of its capability across a wide and high-quality customer base is an exciting prospect we look forward to supporting in the years to come."

Dan Renton and his Corporate Finance team at Deloitte provided corporate finance advice to the University of Sheffield, and Roger Gough of DLA led the legal team acting on the University’s behalf.

Nucleus Commercial Finance were advised by lawyers at Gateley.

BHP will become the Company’s new auditor.

CTI website

Images:

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News: £11m for Rotherham town centre cycle schemes

Key routes across Rotherham town centre could be transformed from "no cycling" to "go cycling" thanks to regeneration funding.

£11m is set to be spent on infrastructure to accommodate cyclists in pedestrianised areas, on a new bridge as part of the Forge Island scheme, and on creating walking and cycling routes between Rotherham and Sheffield.

Rothbiz reported last year that a Rotherham Town Centre Active Travel programme was one of a number of local schemes in line for funding via the Sheffield City Region's (SCR's) successful bid to the Government's Transforming Cities Fund.

Now further details have been revealed in SCR board papers for a package of measures to facilitate walking and cycling to, from and within Rotherham town centre. The three schemes drawn up by Rotherham Council are:

Contribution to Frederick Street walking and cycling route
Public realm improvements on Frederick Street incorporating cycling infrastructure in the core town centre with amendments to the traffic regulation order to allow cycling (currently prohibited) along this street. Currently the layout of the street and public realm is unattractive and would not adequately accommodate cyclists. The improvements will in particular improve the environment for pedestrians accessing Rotherham Bus Interchange.

Contribution to Forge Island Footbridge
Replacing the existing footbridge across the River Don between the core town centre and Forge Island with a high-quality pedestrian bridge. This is part of the works to regenerate Forge Island and will provide an improved environment for pedestrian movements between the town centre, Forge Island and Rotherham Central Station. Should the private sector funds not come forward within the TCF programme delivery dates, there will be an additional £290k ask from the TCF programme. Either way, the intention is to deliver the bridge by March 2023.

Sheffield Road Walking and Cycling improvements
Comprising walking and cycling routes, supporting housing delivery in the Westgate Riverside area. Pedestrian improvements are to be focused on enabling journeys to the town centre and onward via public transport and making this more attractive so as to support both housing delivery and the vitality of the town centre. This links to plans for a cycle scheme and improvements at Templeborough all the way to Sheffield.

The £10.9m programme, with £9.3m coming via the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority, involves 2.9km of route for non-motorised users. Meeting papers explain that it is "a high quality scheme that will improve local permeability, with subsequent impacts on generating new pedestrian and cycle trips with wider positive traffic, environment and economic outcomes."

A full business case for the project is now likely to be taken to the full Mayoral Combined Authority board for approval.

The funding follows on from a secured slice of the £5.46m announced at the end of 2020 that is set to be used for another Rotherham town centre route - Wellgate.

Active Travel Funding has been secured for part of a Council scheme for measures between the town centre and Whiston and Wickersley. The idea of creating a "Low Traffic Neighbourhood" in Broom is also being developed. The authority bid for £1.5m but have received less. Work is set to initially focus on the roundabout at Broom Road, Clifton Lane, Badsley Moor Lane and Wellgate, with more cycle measures on Wellgate into the town centre.

Cllr. Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: "The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way the people in Rotherham travel. Many residents have taken to new walking and cycling routines they established during lockdown and so this funding is very much welcomed.

"Active travel is so important for people’s health and wellbeing and this funding will encourage even more people to benefit from an active lifestyle. The schemes due to be implemented will also help us work towards our ongoing goal of reducing air pollution in the borough."

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News: Re-Start to Growth reminder

Businesses in Rotherham are being reminded that help and guidance is available through the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Growth Hub to meet the challenges brought about by this latest Coronavirus lockdown.

The Re-Start to Growth initiative was introduced to help businesses affected by the Coronavirus lockdown, by giving them access to experienced and skilled advisors to help assess, plan and restart through an agreed programme of intensive support.

James Muir, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, explains: ”The latest lockdown is another major blow to businesses that have been struggling through local and national restrictions for months. The Growth Hub is here to provide essential advice to these businesses, helping them navigate the support available and find solutions to the key challenges they are facing.”

The Mayoral Combined Authority, Mayor Dan Jarvis and the Local Enterprise Partnership recently launched its ambitious £1.7bn Renewal Action Plan (RAP) clearly demonstrating how the Sheffield City Region is investing in and supporting the local economy. The Renewal Action Plan is designed to support businesses to adapt, survive and thrive in the new environment and to create a more productive and innovative economy.

At the moment, the Growth Hub is supporting and guiding hospitality, leisure and non-essential retail businesses that are affected by the national lockdown. These businesses, including travel agents, caterers to events or celebrations, or companies supplying equipment or services to gym and leisure centres, are eligible to receive a one-off payment grant, based on their rateable or rental values, to help them whilst restrictions are in place.

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Many businesses are also taking advantage of Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s Re-Start to Growth initiative, which gives businesses access to experienced and skilled experts to help assess, plan and restart their business through an agreed programme of intensive support.

This free initiative comprises two full days with an experienced growth specialist, who can offer business leaders help and guidance in the following areas:

- Strategic planning & Leadership support
- Sales and Marketing
- Operations
- Financial advice
- Skills, including Digital and IT

In addition to Re-Start to Growth, Peer Networks are being introduced in South Yorkshire with SME business leaders invited to work with others to address challenges and grow their businesses.

The programme, which is being delivered by the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub, will enable business leaders to build trusted connections to support them now and in the future, with a view to improving their long term personal and business performance. Many businesses impacted by the coronavirus lockdown are looking to use this time to network with other like-minded businesses, gain an important external perspective on their business challenges, as well as gaining knowledge of digital technology to help achieve growth in the future.

James Muir adds: “Peer Networks are a great way for local SME business leaders to work collaboratively with others to find solutions to common business problems in a non-competitive environment. In these unprecedented times, we believe this will enhance and strengthen the local business community so we can build back better for a stronger post-COVID recovery.”

To further enhance the support available to businesses, Sheffield City Region has recently expanded its team of expert advisers by appointing seven new Business Growth Specialists. Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s advisors all have many years of industry experience; from manufacturing and service sector through to finance and international operations, and offer an independent, impartial perspective, which can make all the difference.

James Muir explains: “It is a critical time for many businesses in our region. What they are experiencing is totally unprecedented, which means it is important that we have a strong team of advisers in place to be able to guide South Yorkshire companies through the local and national growth schemes that are available to them.

“We are planning to recruit even more specialists and advisors in the coming months, in line with the Renewal Action Plan as it will help this region’s businesses to return to growth and prosperity – making our economy and society stronger, greener and fairer.”

Sheffield City Region Growth Hub website

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News: Network Rail and partners launch Tram Train Pilot Learning Hub

It was once branded an example of "how not to run a rail project" and now others can learn from the experience of designing, constructing and operating Britain's first Tram Train system.

Starting services in 2018, passengers in South Yorkshire were the first in the country to benefit from the innovative pilot project where special vehicles use pioneering technology to run on both Sheffield's tramlines and the rail network in Rotherham. Funded by the Government, the trial aims to show how similar services can be introduced across the country.

In 2017 the Public Accounts Committee looked at the issues of cost increases and delays, the under-estimation of the scale and complexity of the works, and the risks involved in delivering new technology. It said that it had all the makings of a "how not to" seminar for future projects.

Generally, Tram Trains can provide new journeys and connections with much less infrastructure than totally new tram or rail routes. Passengers can make a single, seamless journey between light rail tram stops and conventional heavy rail stations. And with many being electric or battery-powered they are better for the environment.

The launch of the hub is a key part of the scheme which runs between Sheffield Cathedral and Rotherham Parkgate via Rotherham Central station, linking previously unconnected areas.

The pilot, funded by the DfT, has been running for two years to test customer satisfaction, passenger numbers, reliability and costs. The scheme has proven popular and scored 96% for user satisfaction on the latest independent survey by Transport Focus.

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The hub is a comprehensive body of learning available free of charge that will benefit and boost future light and heavy rail hybrid schemes like Tram Train. It is hosted by the web-based SharpCloud system and is further enhanced by easy navigation, a high-quality graphic interface and updates through to mid-2021.

Simon Coulthard, Network Rail’s Head of Light Rail Knowledge & Development, said: “The launch of the learning hub marks another major milestone in the delivery of the Tram Train Pilot. I thank my colleagues in SYPTE, Supertram and Network Rail for helping to compile the information and data that makes this a very comprehensive learning resource. I hope colleagues in the industry will find the hub valuable as they assess the potential for Tram Train elsewhere.”

The launch of the hub marks the first major deliverable for Network Rail’s new Light Rail Knowledge team which is part of the Network Services directorate. The team, led by Simon, has been created to provide a centre of excellence in Network Rail for light rail matters. Simon, and Light Rail Knowledge Manager Alex Dodds, work closely with colleagues and stakeholders to share learning from the Tram Train Pilot and help assess the next generation of light rail schemes that could benefit passengers and communities.

Alex, who maintains the hub, said: “It’s taken a huge effort by all the partners to bring our collective learning into one accessible forum. I’m really excited to be sharing our knowledge and helping the development of future light rail schemes.”

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News: Rotherham label company tagged for future growth

Hine Labels, based in Rotherham, has bounced back stronger from the impact of Covid-19 lockdown, after it took the opportunity to refocus and develop its people through training part funded by Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s Skills Bank.

Hine, known as the Label Experts, saw business reduce significantly back in March, but they managed to stay open as much of their work was in the food industry, although a number of employees had to be temporarily furloughed.

The company, based in the Greasbrough Road area, had secured a productivity grant of £100k in 2019 to extend its workspace by double the size as it had outgrown its premises and capacity issues were preventing further business expansion. Hine Labels also invested in Lean Training to help the company to increase productivity.

Anita Hine, managing director of Hine Labels, said: "Work dropped off drastically in March but the furlough scheme proved to be a lifeline for our employees – many of whom have been with us for several years. We kept a core team working and focused on meeting customer needs and maintaining our high standards of service and delivery. We received large orders for hand sanitising labels, which essentially kept our cashflow going at this difficult time.

"We had just appointed a Marketing Manager, Caroline Haywood of Purple Genie too and she embarked on a digital marketing campaign aimed at generating more orders from existing customers. As the business was quieter, we decided to take advantage of this and focus on setting our company up for growth."

Hine Labels appointed Genius Division in Barnsley to build a new website and a modern brand identity. The company also set out to differentiate its traditional trade work from its online offering – Houp.com, which is a new e-commerce site developed for customers who wanted small orders of pouches and labels.

Hine Labels has also created several new roles in recent months, including Digital Finishing and Despatch Supervisors, a Quality Manager and a Health & Safety Manager. Another major impact of the training is that Hine Labels has been able to reduce waste, which should also have a beneficial impact on its bottom line.

Anita added: "I'm delighted to report that we have come out of the pandemic as a much stronger business. We have been able to bring our employees back from furlough and have moved into the new extension. Our workflow is now organised in a more efficient way and the new extension means we can become a BRC High Hygiene factory, so could produce our new flexible packaging range."

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Over the last few months, Hine Labels has embarked on Lean Training with Lee Marlow of Astrum Business Transformation Ltd, which was fully funded through Skills Bank.

The Lean Training has led to a fundamental shift in the way Hine Labels ran the business. The company now has two separate workflows: one for traditional flexo printing and the other for digital printing. This means that the digital workflow can be much more automated, allowing for greater throughput.

Anita added: "Lean Training has helped us to identify the blockages in our production process. As a result, we have, for the first time, introduced shifts to improve efficiency. Staff have responded well to this as they were part of the process and recognised the need to change.

"Astrum worked with staff at all levels of the company and this has helped to bring about cultural change. As a result, we were able to move from a mindset of ‘we’ve always done it like this’ to embrace new ways of thinking, harnessing peoples’ skills to really benefit the company and change thinking across the entire business. Staff are now encouraged to put ideas forward and where these are adopted, we make sure the change is implemented effectively and safely channelled through the quality system. It really has transformed us from a small family firm to be ready to meet the challenges of a larger, more productive enterprise."

Rachel Fletcher, Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Business Advisor, said: "Hine Labels is a very forward-thinking business that recognised the need for change and has embraced this fully. The company is reaping the benefits of its larger facility and the Skills Bank training has meant a whole shift in culture and focus which will set them up for more growth. We are very excited to see what the future holds for Hine Labels."

Anita concludes: "We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from the Growth Hub Business Advisors and the Skills Advisors, in particular Rachel Fletcher and Julie Mather. We expect to see significant growth in the next 12 months and hopefully this will mean we can create more employment opportunities.

"We are projecting a significant increase in turnover for the coming year and feel sufficiently confident to invest a further half a million pounds in new equipment due to arrive early in the New Year."

Skills Bank is a programme developed by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership which matches private sector investment in skills training with public funding to help businesses invest in their workforce and improve their productivity. Funding is available to businesses that make a strong case for how the investment will deliver growth.

Hine Labels website
SCR Skills Bank website

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News: Why new green spaces are planned for Rotherham town centre

A number of regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre include demolishing buildings and creating green space on the cleared site. Now Rotherham Council has explained why.

A shrinking retail core is the key reason - with Rotherham town centre judged to have too much retail space.

The potential for building on the cleared land in the future was also cited.

At Forge Island, where a multimillion pound leisure development is going ahead with a new cinema, hotel and food & drink outlets, Council owned buildings on Corporation Street are being demolished to open up the site to the rest of the town centre. The site being cleared is expected to feature a 1,500 sq ft café in an open area called "Millgate Place."

Also nearby, the Council's Riverside car park is set to become "a playful green space connecting Forge Island with the heart of the town providing recreational space for residents and visitors," if funding can be found.

The masterplan also includes ideas for open space around the markets and college campus, close to the award-winning Clifton Park.

On the High Street, proposals have been submitted by the authority that cover the demolition of the vacant Primark buildings and the creation of a park.

The Council purchased the site using funding from the Towns Fund Accelerator programme. The Government awarded a £1m grant to kick start regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre and a bid for more funding, possibly £25m, is being submitted this month.

When asked about the Primark proposals at a recent Council meeting, Paul Woodcock, strategic director, Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "Part of the Town Centre Masterplan and the approach is to shrink the amount of retail footprint.

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"Most town centres are seeing that, now with more online, COVID has accelerated that and Rotherham having lots of empty voids, it is felt that we need a smaller footprint for retail in the main, repurposing other buildings for other uses such as residential, leisure uses such as Forge Island, and so forth, and therefore Primark forms part of that in terms of shrinking the retail and improving that area, smartening it up and having some nice open space that could be permanent, or could be temporary, because you could put something on in future years should there be a desire and need to do so."

The masterplan made it clear that retail is not the answer as the focus shifts to other town centre uses such as leisure and housing.

The long term ambition for the Primark site is as residential use but the recent application enables a park to be in place for five years, allowing for housing plans to be drawn up and for funding to be found.

Town centre trader, Rob Felstead, called on the council to repurpose the vacant building to generate footfall - possibly as a new home for the central library.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "The Primark building was chosen by the Town Centre Fund Board, which is made up of businesses, to be put forward, not just as a small project. With not much wasteland at the back it will open up that area and actually, the George Wright building will actually be seen by people and more easy access which I think will be a good thing.

"We are shrinking retail because all over the country town centres are facing problems as people shop online ... we are ahead of the curve with our independents and putting housing back in the town centre to repopulate it. Again this can only be a good thing."

Mr Felstead also reitereated concerns over problems of crime and antisocial behaivour in town.



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News: PCMS joins British Engineering Services Group

Rotherham-based PCMS Engineering has been acquired by the private equity-backed British Engineering Services Group.

Practice Care Maintenance Services Ltd (PCMS Engineering) was established in 2003 and moved to Manvers in 2013. It is a successful condition-based monitoring company that assess machinery and equipment, helping keep businesses operational.

British Engineering Services, which since its carve-out as a engineering inspection and Consultancy division of RSA Plc in 2015, has been backed by Inflexion Private Equity Partners, is a market-leading testing, inspection and certification group. With a team of around 650 people, the safety focused company has enjoyed year on year growth.

Having made a number of acquisitions itself over recent years, PCMS joins the group to help them expand their product set in an area that they haven't previously offered, for which many of their customers are already showing a keen appetite.

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PCMS has four unique brands that it operates, Practice Care Maintenance Services, Vibration Control Ltd, VCI Consultancy Ltd and Vibrotech Reliability Ltd. Andy Chater, the managing director, will continue to lead the business and its team of more than 40 people.

Andy Chater, managing director of PCMS, said: "Joining such a well-established and successful business is a great opportunity for us. We're excited to be a part of something so special and look forward to growing and developing together over the coming years."

Dave Vaughan, managing director of Testing and Consultancy at British Engineering Services Group, added: "We're absolutely delighted to have the PCMS team join the British Engineering Services Group family. We were excited by this company as soon as we were introduced to them. Their people are the very best in their industry and their innovative and focused approach is impressive.

"We're confident that adding PCMS to the Group will have a positive impact on our wider business and we're committed to building a great future for both companies. We're looking forward to getting to know both the team and their customers over the coming weeks."

PCMS Engineering website

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News: Fast recovery predicted for Rotherham economy

Rotherham's £4 billion a year economy is set to bounce back with a higher than average GVA growth, according to an economic report.

The UK Powerhouse study is produced by Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and provides an estimate of GVA growth and job creation within 46 of the UK's largest cities at least 12 months ahead of the Government's official figures. It uses a range of more timely indicators to create a "nowcast" of GVA and employment for a range of key cities across the UK.

GVA, or Growth Value Added, is the increase in the value of the economy due to the production of goods and services. It is widely recognised by Government and policy makers as a measure of local economies.

In the latest quarter of data, Q3 2020, all areas saw an annual contraction in economic growth, with a simple average of -9%.

Rotherham's economy was charted at contracting by 10.5% in its year on year growth rate for Q3 of 2020.

However, the borough is predicted to bounce back with the study showing a GVA growth rate of 26.9% for the year ending Q2 2021.

Rotherham is ranked fourth in the UK in the study amongst other Yorkshire locations leading the way - Docaster is first with a rate of 29.6%, Wakefield is third (26.9%).

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Rotherham's figure is ahead of the average annual GVA growth across the UK Powerhouse cities which is expected to be 23% for the period.

The study also looks at jobs in Q3 2020 and ranks Rotherham at 17th with an employment level of 96,200, a decrease of 3.6% on the previous year. Looking ahead to Q2 of 2021, Rotherham is ranked 20th with an employment level of 98,200, -0.1% on the previous year

Looking further ahead, the study plots figures for Q4 2021 where Rotherham's economy is predicted to continue to grow by 8.1% to £4.4 billion a year. Employment is predicted to grow by 6.2% (the fastest growth in the region) to 99,600.

Before the COVID outbreak, the study had Rotherham's economy up at £4.7 billion a year and employment rates over 100,000.

It should be said that the latest study looks at the economy beyond coronavirus but was published before the new national lockdown was announced by the Government.

Dorrien Peters, partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "The SCR [Sheffield City Region] has done a lot of work to prepare the ground for economic revival and we hope to see the chancellor back his words with action in offering practical support to northern cities and towns hardest hit by the perfect storm of pandemic induced economic damage, lockdown and Brexit."

Irwin Mitchell website
CEBR website

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News: AESSEAL announces shift to electric vehicle fleet

AESSEAL is to invest £250,000 to introduce electric vehicles at its Rotherham headquarters.

The Templeborough-based company designs and manufactures mechanical seals and support systems.

In the first stage of its campaign to adopt a greener transport infrastructure, in support of the Government’s drive towards abolishing the sale of fossil fuel vehicles by 2030, it will purchase a company van and two pool cars this year. Charging points will also be installed at its Rotherham and Bradford sites for employees and visitors who have electric vehicles.

Rothbiz reported last year that AESSEAL had achieved net zero carbon emissions across its UK operations and is on track to achieve global net zero by 2029 and launched a global campaign - Betterworld – to drive collective action to mitigate climate change across all industries.

Managing Director Chris Rea stressed that there will be no financial return on investment for the electric vehicles and infrastructure, and that the move was based purely on AESSEAL's commitment to the environment.

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He said: "The only reason to do this is non-financial. We feel strongly that somebody has to lead the way in being an early adopter of electric vehicles, despite the lack of financial incentive to do so.

"For AESSEAL, electrification of our UK vehicle fleet is an act of faith. We see it as a laboratory for the future, which will enable industry leaders to evaluate what makes sense for both businesses and the environment."

Mr Rea added: "At a time when private businesses are already facing significant financial challenges, there is little incentive to make this kind of ethos-led decision and, if the UK Government is serious about creating a more environmentally sustainable future, it is imperative that the gap between investment and return is narrowed."

AESSEAL intends to make itself a live ‘test case’ and a detailed study of the pros and cons of green fleet vehicle investment will be posted on the Betterworld website, alongside proven and costed studies of all other investments that are helping the planet.

AESSEAL website

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News: Swinton regeneration moves ahead with land swap

Rotherham Council has approved a land deal with housebuilders to enable a wider regeneration to take place in a Rotherham town.

The regeneration of Swinton town centre has been under consideration for some time and last year the authority appointed a consortium of private sector companies to lead on the £8m project.

A consortium made up of the Sheffield-based development and asset management company, Vesta Group, with Barnsley-based developer, Quest Property, and Holmfirth housebuilder, Conroy Brook, were judged by the Council to have best met the development brief which set out regeneration of the town based on new homes and revamped commercial areas plus community facilities.

A planning application is due to be submitted shortly which is set to include a refurbished Civic Hall and café plus the library relocating to the refurbished former customer service centre. Public realm and accessibility is set to be improved through a significant landscaping scheme which opens up the site, improving visibility of the shops and community facilities, safety and accessibility.

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Ben Bailey Homes has also entered the project and is proposing 49 family homes on the cleared, disused council offices site at Queen Street that suffered a fire back in 2015, and the former Swimming Pool and Squash Court in Charnwood Street that were demolished in 2016 having suffered an arson attack. The site of the former Charnwood House care home is also due to be redeveloped.

At the end of 2020, Rotherham Council agreed to hand over its land for free.

A Council report said: "A development appraisal was submitted with the tender which demonstrates that the land value achieved through the sale of houses on the rear of the site facilitates the creation of the community facilities and public realm improvements at the front of the site.

"Financial Services have confirmed that there is no requirement for a formal valuation to be undertaken, as following an evaluation of the submitted development appraisal, it is considered that the value associated with the land transferred equates to the level of the proposed capital investment in the community facilities and public realm works, The value of the works totals £640,000."

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News: Flats plan for former Rotherham school

A former boys' school in Rotherham that dates back to the 1800s could be converted into flats, if new plans are approved.

Rotherham Council sold off the St. Ann's building in 2019 and now a planning application has been submitted from a local developer, Zayan Developments Limited.

At the corner of St Ann's Road and St Leonard's Road, the historic property would be converted into 16 apartments within its shell. Plans state that no extensions are proposed and only very minor external alterations are required.

The site is allocated as community use but was not actively used as part of the adjacent Unity Centre. It is understood that the site has been vacant for about 15 years.

Although the building is not listed, it is a good example of a late-Victorian civic building and is within the Eastwood Conservation Area.

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The plans, drawn up by JR Planning Consultants, said: "This scheme would be highly beneficial for the Eastwood area as it would return vacant building to beneficial use and it would also provide much-needed new housing. The proposed residential use would also help to support other community facilities and businesses in the locality.

"Because the development would preserve the historic appearance of the building and would deliver enhancement through bringing it back into use, the proposal would have a positive impact on the character of the Eastwood Conservation Area."

The applicant had previously discussed a different scheme that involved the demolition of the building and the construction of five new homes but the Council response was that this was unlikely to be acceptable as it is a historic building within a Conservation Area.

St Ann's Road Board School opened a new boy's department in 1893. Providing accommodation for 244 children, the stone building includes a 45 ft bell tower above the main entrance.

The original boys department became the St Leonard's annexe of the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology in late 1979. The former girls department and infants department building was converted into the Unity Centre, a multi-purpose community resource, in early 2000.

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News: New Rotherham Aldi at Swallownest has an opening date

Aldi, Britain's fastest growing grocer, has finally announced an opening date for its new Rotherham store, more than seven years after plans were originally submitted.

Rothbiz reported in 2013 that the German firm proposed a 11,000 sq ft store on land at Sheffield Road between Swallownest and Fence, a Council-owned development plot as part of the wider Aston Manor estate which was developed for residential purposes in the late 1990s.

In that time, Aldi stores has opened at Parkgate, Bramley and Maltby.

Now the chain has revealed that the new Swallownest store will open at 8am on January 14.

Planning permission was secured in 2014 for the store which is creating up to 35 full and part time jobs.

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The supermarket, which currently has over 900 stores, plans to open on average a new store every week over the coming years as it targets 1,200 stores by 2025.

Publishing its property requirements, the only nearby location left is Mexborough.

The company is investing £500m in new and upgraded stores, distribution centres and its supply chain in 2021. Aldi recently announced it would spend an additional £3.5bn a year with British suppliers by 2025 as part of its expansion plans.

In the four weeks to December 24th, sales rose by 10.6% compared with the same trading period a year ago.

Aldi website

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News: Deadline nears for supply chain funding

Rotherham businesses now have until January 7 to apply to a £6m fund to support South Yorkshire businesses supplying sectors affected by Tier 2 and 3 restrictions or the national lockdown.

Previous funding schemes have focused on businesses directly impacted by the restrictions. This round of grant support is targeted towards businesses that rely largely on the hospitality, accommodation, leisure and entertainment sectors for business-to-business trade – and which have therefore suffered a significant loss income due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Payments under the Supply Chain Support Scheme will be based on the rateable value of the business, or rental value for those businesses not registered for business rates. The funding available for these one-off grants is strictly limited, and businesses must submit their application – via their local authority – by 7 January 2021.

To be eligible to apply via Rotherham Council, businesses must provide evidence that they:

- are located in Rotherham and part of the South Yorkshire region’s supply chain
- have fixed property costs (rateable or rental value)
- were open and trading on 13 October 2020
- have experienced significant loss of trade due to Covid-19 restrictions, with a significant level of their trade normally being with the hospitality, accommodation, leisure and entertainment sectors
- have not benefitted from other local or national support grants
- are not a national company.

Businesses will need to supply detailed information and evidence to show how they have been affected.

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Councillor Saghir Alam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Finance at Rotherham Council, said: “We want Rotherham businesses to get the maximum benefit from the funding that has come down from central government to our region. However, the funds and time available for these discretionary grants applications are strictly limited.

“It’s vital that businesses submit their applications urgently – and with as much detail and evidence as possible – so that the Council can get as much money as possible to these Rotherham businesses who so urgently need this help.”

Councillor Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, added: “Our hearts go out to the businesses and employees who have been left in such uncertainty by the on-going restrictions, which have had such a massive impact on their livelihoods. Although the financial support is not as significant as we’d hoped, it could be the difference between survival and closure for some businesses.

“I would urge them to check their eligibility and apply as soon as possible. Let’s keep this money in Rotherham, supporting Rotherham companies and Rotherham jobs.”

The Supply Chain Support Scheme follows on from schemes for businesses in Rotherham that were directly affected by the national lockdown and Tier 2 and 3 restrictions, which have been rolled out in previous weeks.

These local grants have been made available thanks to a £30m fund secured by Sheffield City Region, following an agreement made with the Government when the region entered the very high (Tier 3) local alert level in October. The £30m fund has been divided between the region’s local authorities to support a number of schemes to help businesses that were not eligible for national schemes.

Following the recent announcement of a new national lockdown, Rotherham Council said that it is awaiting government guidance regarding eligibility criteria and the support that will be given to businesses over the coming weeks.

Rotherham businesses can apply to the Supply Chain Support Scheme, and other business grants being administered via Rotherham Council at www.rotherham.gov.uk/covid-business-grants

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