News: Housing proposed for more Rotherham farmland

Another planning application is being prepared for greenbelt land in Rotherham, this time for 175 houses at Whiston.

Rothbiz has reported on a number of proposed developments in Rotherham this year that are for sites in the local plan that were designated as "safeguarded land" rather than sites designated for housing. The 2018 plan set out that they may be needed in the future and taken out of the greenbelt after the end of the plan period in 2028.

Planning consultants are hoping to convince the local planning authority that the land should be used now to address the borough's housing needs.

Clarendon Land and Development has developed plans for a proposed housing development on 10.17 hectares of farmland south of West Bawtry Road, Whiston - another site designated as safeguarded land.

Adjoining the residential development off Guilthwaite Crescent to the east and Woodfoot road to the north, plans show that the main vehicular access would be from Long Lane into West Bawtry Road.

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The consultation website explains that a "constraints-led masterplanning exercise" has "considered how the site can deliver the upmost benefits to the surrounding and wider community of Whiston including the provision of up to 175 much needed market and affordable homes.

"The proposals present an opportunity to make the most of the natural environment to create a well-designed and attractive development. New open spaces will be provided, along with safe and convenient walking and cycling routes to improve connections through the site. The plans will also enhance local ecology and habitats, while taking care to integrate the site’s natural landscape and topography to reduce impacts on the surrounding area."

House types and sizes are not set out but the 175 dwellings would include the provision of affordable homes.

Plans also show the creation of open spaces in the form of natural and amenity green spaces including a Children’s Play Area with connections to the Public Right of Way to the south and to the north onto West Bawtry Road with improved links to Whiston Meadows and Whiston Brook.

A Sustainable Drainage System which to improve the resilience of the wider area to flooding is also proposed.

The submission of an outline planning application is expected soon.

Clarendon Land and Development website

Images: Google Maps / Clarendon / Nineteen47

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News: Work starts on Rotherham Council’s £11.5m housing development

Work is underway on a new development that is one of the largest single investments as part of the Council’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new Council homes for Rotherham.

45 homes will be built across three sites in Maltby – Larch Road, Addison Road and Elm Tree Road. Three brownfield sites previously the location of care homes and garage plots.

Scunthorpe-based GS Kelsey Construction Ltd was appointed last year using a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) so that it could engage early in the construction phase. The contract is worth up to £11.5m.

When complete, the developments will include a variety of specialist bungalows, apartments and two, three and four-bedroom homes. These will meet needs of local people that have been identified where there is currently inadequate numbers of appropriate homes.

All of the homes will be future proofed through the inclusion of air-source heat pumps for the supply of heating and hot water to help reduce energy bills for tenants, whilst contributing to the Council’s commitment to reach net-zero by 2040.

Last month, Rotherham Council's cabinet agreed to make changes to who can apply to join its Housing Register to ensure it prioritises those in genuine need and makes best use of the Council’s homes. The tough but fair changes include tougher residency or work requirements and tightened rules to ensure larger properties, such as the three and four-bedroom houses in Maltby will be prioritised for families.

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Cllr. Linda Beresford, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member of Housing, said: “The Council is committed to supporting residents with their housing needs and enabling them to live well.

“We’re on track to deliver 1,000 new Council homes by summer 2027 with the biggest new Council homes programme since the 1970s, and as part of this we are continually adapting to the boroughs housing needs by delivering a range of properties to local people including apartments, bungalows and family homes.

“I’m delighted to see work starting on this development and equally pleased to hear about the local employment opportunities and other benefits being delivered as part of this project.”

The partnership with GS Kelsey will build on the Council’s award-winning work on social value which seeks to deliver local benefits through its business contracts. Through the work the developer has pledged to deliver £1.46m of social value including employing four FTE local bricklayers and five apprentices.

Leigh Smith, Pre-Construction Manager at GS Kelsey Construction Limited said: “I'd like to express our delight at partnering with Rotherham Council for the first time to build a fantastic selection of large, modern new houses in Maltby. We have been a part of the great work put in by all members of the project team over the last 12 months, so seeing a spade in the ground here is fantastic.”

GS Kelsey is also signed up to work on the £7.9m contract for new council housing in Eastwood.

GS Kelsey website

Images: RMBC / Race Cottam

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News: Ron Hull Group planning Rotherham expansion

Leading recycling firm, Ron Hull Group, has submitted a planning application that would enable the expansion of its Rotherham site.

Back in 2011. the company bought a vacant 4-acre former warehousing site just a few hundred yards from its Mangham Road base on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate. £4m was invested at the site's main 80,000 sq ft building with the installation of new plant and machinery.

Now plans show a new 54,000 sq ft unit between Greasbrough Road and the existing operations closer to Parkgate.

Application documents explain the the group acquired the land when Rotherham Council indicated that it would likely be used as employment use as part of the wider Bassingthorpe development. A previous application, since withdrawn, was to use the site for storage.

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The latest plans explain that the aim is to move certain processes indoors and "the proposal promises better working conditions and improved control over material quality — for instance, reducing the moisture content on wood that currently devalues its quality when processed in the open.

"Full skips would be delivered into the building where their contents are emptied. The skip contents will be moved via conveyors and be subject to optical, laser and magnetic scans and selection.

"Eventually via operative checks it will be split into different material streams. Materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, wood, plastics, and hardcore are then either processed on site or bundled for recycling elsewhere on site or other appropriate facilities. The aim is to extract whatever is of value from the waste and reduce to a minimum the residual that is sent for further recovery and recovered fuel (wood chip) production."

Applicants anticipate an increased throughput of the site is some 250 tonnes and due to the increase in capacity that the development will bring, there is likely to be an increase of approximately 80 HGV two-way trips over the course of the day. The council's transport officers "do not consider this to have a severe impact on the adjacent road network."

A noise assessment has also been included with the application.

If approved, the new development would increase employment by 30 members of staff.

The plans conclude: "The unit would not only provide 30 much needed jobs but also increase the percentage of recycled material recovered. This in turn would reduce raw material requirements and help increase sustainability. In short it would help meet the companies [sic] aim of 'Nil to Landfill'."

Ron Hull Group website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Rotherham delivery firm downed by dispute

Rotherham-based logistics specialist Humber Services Ltd, went into administration following a dispute with a major client.

The firm, based at Wath, was established in 2018 and operated a "white glove" delivery service for furniture retailers.

Experts from business advisory firm Quantuma were appointed as administrators of Humber Services Ltd on August 1 2025.

Quantuma explained that the company was experiencing cashflow difficulties as a result of a client dispute and was coming under creditor pressure.

An update from the administrators said: "Although haulage and storage were the Company's primary operations, it later began supplying complete bed components on behalf of one client. Customer orders for beds were placed through the client and fulfilled by the Company.

"However, a dispute arose as a result of customer complaints, resulting in significant issues and customer dissatisfaction. Many customers refused to pay the client, and the Company decided to cease providing this service for this client. As a result, the client issued asubstantial counterclaim against the Company, estimated at c.£1m."

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In June, the company ceased to trade and the business was transferred to connected company, HS Home Deliveries Ltd. In July a creditor presented a winding up petition against the company.

Paragon Business Finance Plc was the major creditor as Humber Services' ledger was subject to an invoice factoring agreement. The value of the Company's debtor ledger was £529,338 but administrators said that the majority of the ledger is aged and/or disputed and therefore the estimated to realise value is £76,771.

Unsecured creditors are estimated to be £1.2m.

Quantuma added: "Humber Services experienced cashflow difficulties following a dispute with a major customer, which resulted in a breakdown of the relationship, non-payment for services rendered and the receipt of significant counterclaims for non-performance.

"Following creditor action, the company was at risk of liquidation and the secured creditor appointed Quantuma to gain control of the situation on a more urgent basis than liquidation would have allowed."

Quantuma managing director and Joint Administrator Andrew Watling said: “It is extremely regrettable that Humber Services was forced to cease trading, due to a series of challenging circumstances. This was a sad ending for an established Company. As Joint Administrators, our immediate priorities have been to seek to obtain maximum value for the Company’s creditors.”

Images: Humber Services / Facebook

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News: Steelwork marks progress of £40m markets and library development in Rotherham town centre

The brick and blockwork is now rising at the £40m regeneration scheme in Rotherham town centre that includes the redevelopment of the ageing markets complex and a new library.

It follows the installation of the framework which has a steel tonnage of 320 tonnes.

Lead contractors on behalf of Rotherham Council, Henry Boot Construction, began enabling works on the Drummond Street site in 2023. The redevelopment of the markets is divided into two areas, an outdoor covered market, which is being rebuilt, and an adjacent indoor market, which is being revamped.

The renovations will build upon the existing mix of shops and services with the addition of a new food hub and dining area on the first floor. The outdoor market will become a flexible space which can be used for exhibitions and events when required. The second floor will host contemporary office spaces for charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups.

The adjoining library building will occupy the corner between Henry Street and Drummond Street and include a high-quality children’s area with fun spaces for reading and storytelling, and a dedicated IT area and business development facility. The second floor will contain meeting facilities and a Maker Space for learning and exploring using the latest technology.

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Hambleton Steel led on steelwork apsects of the project.

The market building is using structural steelwork to further strengthen existing supporting columns and create an open-plan design to improve the visitor experience.

The outdoor covered market sits on a raised concrete slab which spans a ground floor service yard. The basement will be used to accommodate a car park and service both markets. Everything on top of the slab was removed to make space for the new outdoor covered market, but before the new structure could be installed, the supporting columns had to be strengthened.

For the new outdoor covered market, the Hambleton team were able to use mobile cranes, positioned alongside the structure which measures 50m x 43m and it reaches a height of 7.5m. The outdoor market’s steel frame has columns located in positions that matched the existing basement members. The steel-frame option for the outdoor market offered a lightweight solution which limited the strengthening and foundation work required in the basement.

The new outdoor market frame is a braced free-standing structure, which is independent of all existing structural elements. A movement joint separates it from the indoor market, while second expansion joint divides the outdoor market’s steelwork from the new library’s steel frame.

Once work is completed on the outdoor market and library, work will commence on the refurbishment of the indoor market. Work on the entire Rotherham Markets development is expected to complete in 2027.

Henry Boot website
Hambleton Steel website

Images: Henry Boot Construction

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