Wednesday, October 20, 2021

News: Council applies to demolish more Rotherham town centre buildings

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More buildings are set to be demolished to make way for open space in Rotherham town centre as part of regeneration plans led by Rotherham Council.

The regeneration of Rotherham markets is identified as a key project within the Town Centre Masterplan which was adopted in 2017. Having been successful in securing £12.6m from the Government's Future High Streets Fund (FHSF), redevelopment plans are back on the table.

Black Cat Building Consultancy are progressing designs for Rotherham Markets which also includes the relocation on the central library. Works have been programmed to commence in 2022.

The proposed preferred option was to relocate the Central Library from the Council's Riverside House to the Guardian Centre, which is part of the Rotherham Markets complex facing Drummond Street. This area could also include new offices for organisations like Citizens Advice Rotherham.

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In the meantime, the council is focusing on what to do with buildings on the Eastwood Lane side of the Markets.

A planning application shows that the plan here is to demolish the former Charter Arms, the RAIN Building and the Market Arcade canopy.

The application states that the site is to be cleared in December and backfilled to create a compound that would be used for the rest of the redevelopment before ultimately becoming public realm with terrace seating and hard and soft landscaping.

Rothbiz reported last year on the authority's plans to buy the former pub from the RNN Group (Rotherham College).

The masterplan talked of creating an area of new public space called "college fields" between the market and college campus. Last year the council said that: "The location has further been identified for high-quality public realm introduced as a place for users of the redeveloped markets. This also includes RNN's students and the public to use as a social space to meet, eat and relax."



Citizens Advice, which is currently based in the RAIN Building is already telling users: "Our office is being demolished and our new office is not available until Nov 2022. Therefore our service will continue to be delivered by phone, webchat and video chat."

Public realm improvements are well underway in the town centre and further phases include creating a new Market Square, and Eastwood Gardens.

Images: Google Maps / RMBC

9 comments:

Mr me October 20, 2021 at 12:00 PM  

Council are obsessed with "public realm"that's open space ,that in all honesty town centre dosnt need,there's loads already ,and a huge park(Clifton) virtually intown centre.Message to RMBC'GET THINGS BUILT TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO TOWN,OPEN SPACES FOR WINOS AND DRUGGIES,WONT ATTRACT PEOPLE'When will they get the message,I despair at the clowns!

jamiewalton October 20, 2021 at 12:53 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Graldhunter October 20, 2021 at 2:06 PM  

Da Rovrum Laybah RMBC Reckin Ball swings into action yet again, lol. Where's T Dan Smith n John Poulson when ya need 'em πŸ˜‹πŸ˜‹πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Martin,  October 21, 2021 at 3:15 PM  

There are too many empty buildings in the town center of little architectural value, so I agree with removing these and creating more inviting public spaces. Developments in the town should be welcomed rather than met with derogatory comments about social issues.

Graldhunter October 21, 2021 at 5:39 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous,  October 21, 2021 at 7:47 PM  

Improvements to the market and relocating the library to this central location will improve footfall

Anonymous,  October 21, 2021 at 7:52 PM  

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with the comments such as "Rovrum Laybah"

Anonymous,  October 22, 2021 at 8:44 AM  

I welcome any development in the town centre, it's much needed, but the social issues are there and we shouldn't pretend they aren't. As long as those issues are there, it doesn't matter what development happens in the town centre, people won't come,

Anonymous,  November 18, 2021 at 8:00 AM  

The outside market doesn't really work as it is. The popularity of the Tuesday street market illustrates that it's sadly no longer fit for purpose. However, I think RMBC should be concentrating its efforts on genuine projects which will stimulate economic recovery, rather than pet projects because someone in the council has discovered that they have the keys to the bulldozer in their back pocket.

I'd love to see RMBC do something with the Mecca Bingo site, possibly something similar to the amazing Storyhouse project in Chester which now houses a library, as well as a performance space.

As for the market development. I think I'll reserve judgement on it and see what happens, but other regeneration pet projects which have seen genuinely interesting buildings in the town centre destined for the wrecking ball doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. It'll be interesting to see how many more ghetto like flats they'll try and squeeze onto the site!

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