News: Chancellor visits South Yorkshire Investment Zone

Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, has visited ground-breaking facilities at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

The Chancellor visited the Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) facility built on the site of the former Sheffield airport, one of the North of England’s largest ever research and innovation projects that was announced as part of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

Confirmed as the first Investment Zone in the UK in 2023, it is using the region’s success in advanced manufacturing to help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

Primarily focused on connecting Sheffield to Rotherham (where the research assets such as The AMRC are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Having launched on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham in 2003, The AMRC outgrew the site of the former Orgreave coking works and expanded over the Parkway and into Sheffield, developing its own "Innovation District" with buildings such as Factory 2050, which opened in 2015.

Joined by South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield Professor Koen Lamberts and AMRC interim chief executive officer Ben Morgan, the Chancellor toured the state-of-the-art facility designed to revolutionise aerospace manufacturing.

During the visit, the Chancellor praised the University of Sheffield and AMRC’s commitment to working in lockstep with industry to advance the UK’s position as a clean energy superpower, while creating highly skilled jobs and boosting economic growth both regionally and nationally.

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Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “It was fantastic to visit the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and see first-hand how South Yorkshire is leading the way in cutting-edge innovation.

"The partnerships here between world-class researchers and global companies like Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren show exactly why we're backing advanced manufacturing through our modern Industrial Strategy.

"This region has unique strengths that we're determined to build on. That's why we're working with local leaders and businesses to ensure the benefits of growth are felt right across the North, raising living standards and creating opportunities for working people."

Ben Morgan, interim Chief Executive Officer of the AMRC, added: “The work we are doing at the AMRC, as a proud member of the HVM Catapult, is a blueprint for the future of UK manufacturing. From light weighting aerostructures at our new COMPASS facility to developing modular manufacturing processes with Rolls-Royce SMR, we are bridging the gap between world-class research and industrial reality.

“With a 25-year track record of proven success, it was a privilege to show the Chancellor how our advanced manufacturing expertise is underpinning the UK’s transition to net-zero while powering economic growth, both regionally and nationally.

“Guided by the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re committed to working alongside our colleagues in the University and HVM Catapult to ensure the UK remains a global leader in sustainable innovation.”

Cllr. Chris Read, the leader of Rotherham Council attended the event and said it was a pleasure to talk to the chancellor about the AMP, Northern Powerhouse Rail and plans for the Don Valley Corridor.

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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News: Council sets aside £700k to support businesses on Rotherham's high streets

High street businesses across Rotherham are in line for much-needed support with local and regional business support agencies setting aside resources to target "High Street Heroes."

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has recently launched High Street Heroes, a fully funded programme designed especially for South Yorkshire's independent retailers and high street businesses.

Delivered by Novus Marketing Solutions, the programme is designed to help real businesses build confidence, attract customers, and feel more in control of their online presence. Supporting shop owners, market traders, cafés, restaurants, hospitality venues, and service providers that have a physical presence, it includes practical workshops, 1-to-1 consultations, events and resources.

A spokesperson for the scheme said: "Running a high street business today comes with constant pressure. From managing stock and serving customers to dealing with rising costs and trying to keep up online, it can often feel like there is never enough time to step back and focus on growth.

"High Street Heroes has been created to give independent high street businesses access to support that is clear, friendly, and designed to fit around real working days. Everything is explained in plain English, with a focus on ideas that can be used straight away rather than theory or jargon.

"High streets are at the heart of local communities. When independent businesses feel supported and confident, it benefits not just the shops themselves but the towns and people around them.

"High Street Heroes is about backing those businesses with the right kind of support at the right time, helping South Yorkshire’s high streets move forward together."

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Rotherham Council is looking to further support high streets in the town centre, Swinton, Wath, Maltby and Dinnington.

Rothbiz reported last year that the authority's Shop Unit Business Grant Project was oversubscribed but it looks like further funding has been found.

With an initial £270,000 from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a decision was made in December 2025 to allocate a further £117,643 to the project from the same pot to meet demand.

And following the capital investment, a £304,000 figure is included in the council's budget for 2025/26 to introduce three new Business Support Officers to engage with businesses in the town centre areas, helping them to flourish.

A council report states: "The purpose of the proposed £304,000 investment is to introduce 3 new Business Support Officers to engage with businesses in these areas to ensure that resources are focused on tackling the issues that matter most and so that successes can be effectively communicated.

"As well as providing a visible presence, and becoming known, in the various locations they will provide initial business advice, help to co-ordinate local promotions, signpost to other services (e.g. grant opportunities) and co-ordinate with other Council departments. They will also have access to a small budget in each of the five locations to support local activities e.g. promotional campaigns or local events."

The aim is to allow for greater engagement with ward members, businesses and residents with the officers working across the five main town centre locations, but also be available to provide support to business in other high street locations across the borough.

Further investment for certain high streets is also on its way through the Pride in Place long term funding allocated by the government - £20m over the next ten years for building Pride in Place in the Rotherham Central area and £20m over the next ten years for building Pride in Place in Maltby East.

High Street Heroes website
On the High Streets website
RiDO website

Images: RMBC / Pugh Auctions

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News: Rotherham mainline timeline

Rotherham Council has accepted over £11m to develop a Full Business Case for the Rotherham Gateway Station regeneration scheme, but what will that involve, and what is included the first phase of the masterplan?

Allthough the funding is coming from regional funding pots such as the City and Regions Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), the project is still a retained scheme within central government and required ministerial and treasury approval which came last month with the annoucement on Northern Powerhouse Rail.

With funding already secured for acquiring land, a masterplan was completed that set out a phased 20 year vision for a £300m regeneration scheme.

Rotherham Council is already working on a Strategic Programme Business Case which outlines the vision, providing estimated costs for each phase and the related outputs and outcomes. It also details land acquisition requirements, and the priority projects needed to progress the first phase. It will align with the development of the Station Full Business Case for approval by SYMCA and the Department for Transport.

The first phase includes the main line station, tram-train stop and the floormat between them, including station building and a potential RiDO business centre plus provision for a user-friendly multi-modal transport interchange.

Over the next year, designs will be drafted for the first phase with contractors appointed and a delivery programme agreed. At the same time, train operators will be secured with commitments to stop at the new gateway station.

Other aspects of the full business case relate to developing a wider transport strategy, securing funding for the scheme and completing the land acquisitions.

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A council paper confirms that one of the three required interests has already been acquired, and negotiations are progressing well with landowners of the two remaining sites. The council is considering using compulsory purchase powers if required.

Detailed designs and updated costs are set to be completed by March 2027 with the full business case ready to be submitted in December 2027.

The masterplan shows four phases: year 0 - 5; year 5 - 15; year 15 - 20; and year 20 and beyond.

At the heart of phase 1 is the station quarter and the station building. Rotherham Gateway is expected to be a Category C/D station - and important feeder / medium staffed station with consultants estimating annual footfall to be 0.609 million (access) and 0.584 million (egress). By comparison, Sheffield Station is a Category A station, and Rotherham Central and Swinton are in catergory E.

The Station Quarter, the minimum requirement for station operation, is set for land which is currently Northfields Business Park, which features a stop on the main line and on the line that carries the tram-train. It will also include a station building, a 150 space car park, space for buses and taxis and bridges over the two lines.

The masterplan states: "Approaching from Forge Way, visitors and passengers will be greeted by the station building on the ground floor next to an open green plaza. Visitors will also have a clear and direct pedestrian and cycle link that leads them from the mainline station to the tram-train stop, and further along the canal and into the town centre."

Work continues on a potential business centre within the station building providing "a unique opportunity to become incubator spaces, which will help to catalyse the development of the Innovation Campus" in future phases. There would also be the opportunity for F&B (food and beverage) or retail on the ground level as well as commercial use on upper levels of the station building.

Complimentary development work is also set to be carried out on public realm in the station quarter and a Strategic Outline Business Case has been prepared for a comprehensive scheme that improves access from the Station to the town centre - an active travel route along Effingham Street with enhanced crossings at Centenary Way.

Other early work includes connections to Mangham Way and potential improvements to an underpass to the North East of the site that is currently susceptible to flooding.

Rotherham Council hopes to open the new station by late 2030, and believes it will bring 1,000 highly-skilled jobs and more than £1bn of private investment in the future phases which include proposals for an innovation campus with 180,000 sq ft of commercial space, a multi-storey car park and a living quarter with 205 flats and 37 houses.

Council papers explain: "The Gateway scheme is crucial to the Don Valley Growth Corridor – a key aspiration and priority for SYMCA, highlighted in their recent Plan for Good Growth. The Rotherham Gateway area alongside Bassingthorpe Farm and Templeborough will contribute to the wider economic corridor, with Gateway being a catalyst to "kickstart" development and investment in the wider region."

Rotherham Gateway website

Images: RMBC

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News: Health Hub work to get underway in Rotherham town centre

The first phase of a new Health Hub in Rotherham town centre can get underway after contractors were appointed by the council, but costs have risen.

Rothbiz reported last year on the authority's plans to introduce "Health on the High Street" in a bid to improve access to health services and increase footfall.

The idea would also provide a long term use for a large retail unit that has been empty since 2022.

Creating a community hub for health provision as a way to reinvigorate town centres has been tried and tested across the country in areas such as Barnsley and Oldham.

In Rotherham, the council acquired the former Boots building in 2023 after the retailer closed as part of a 2020 acceleration of its Transformation Plan.

Close to the markets redevelopment, the proposal involves Abbey Pharmacy relocating from its current position in the first phase with the exploration of the development of a new health facility within the remainder of the building part of a second phase.

For phase 1, Morris and Spottiswood Ltd, which is registered in Glasgow but has an office in Leeds, has been appointed on a direct award by the council on a contract worth £843,580 to carry out ground floor internal modifications and a potential fit-out to accommodate the relocation of Abbey Pharmacy.

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With the £40m revamp of the markets well underway, and as part of the lease, Rotherham Council would need to pay to relocate Abbey Pharmacy from Howard Street now, and potentially a second time, or work around them. Both of these options have been discounted due to the costs involved.

£1.7m has been secured from the Pathfinder funds (now Local Regeneration Fund). Government pathfinder funding was moved away from the live music venue project to the health hub project. Phase 2 funds are to investigate using the remainder of the building for GPs, Health or Wellbeing operators.

The total funding required for phase 1 has increased from £1.3m to £1.47m which leaves less for feasibility studies for phase 2.

A council report explains: "At the start of this project, a direct award procurement route was recommended on the basis of accelerating the procurement process and appointing a contractor as quickly as possible given the multi-million pound Market Redevelopment scheme is dependent on ensuring timely vacant possession of the Indoor Covered Market.

"Following receipt of tender prices and a full independent review of the project and its costs, the cost for Phase 1 will now be higher than the allocated budget. It is proposed that the increased costs for Phase 1 are funded by reducing the budget allocated for undertaking Phase 2 feasibility works, whilst still working within the same budget envelope for the overall scheme. This will mean the scope of works for Phase 2 will have to be reduced or further funding identified at a later stage for completion of Phase 2.

"To maintain alignment with the wider town centre programme and avoid delays to the Markets project, it is recommended that Phase 1 proceeds on the basis of the tendered figure. Sufficient flexibility exists within the overall £1.7m Health Hub allocation to accommodate the Phase 1 variance while still enabling Phase 2 feasibility work. Approval is therefore sought to utilise part of the Phase 2 envelope to meet the Phase 1 cost pressure."

Images: RMBC

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News: Cricket club on the front foot with padel court plans

It could be a whole new ball game at a Rotherham cricket club, if plans are approved for new padel courts.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025.

With plans progressing for new padel facilities in Hellaby and Kimberworth, Upper Haugh Cricket Club is looking to get into the game with plans for four new courts at its site off Wentworth Road, near Rawmarsh.

As well as fielding men's, women's and junior teams, the community club, which dates back to 1855, hosts cricket programmes and summer camps, other sports sessions and community / charity events and celebrations.

The plans show how four new padel courts and a new two lane fully enclosed cricket net facility would replace the existing cricket nets which are over 20 years old and considered to be no longer fit for purpose.

The proposals also include assessments covering issues such as noise, lighting, biodiversity and traffic.

The hours of operation are expected to be between 8am and 9pm and the noise impact assessment recommends the installation of an acoustic barrier.

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The plans state: "The club has been able to draw in private investment to develop the padel courts and nets - with additional grant support (for the nets only) being progressed with Yorkshire Cricket Board. In addition to providing funding the individual investors also bring experience of developing padel courts in partnership with cricket clubs – being closely associated with the consortium which has developed the padel courts at Shaw Lane (Barnsley Cricket Club).

"This development could represent a huge step forward for the club. There are seen to be some real synergies between the sports of padel and cricket and also between the proposed development and the long-term development of the club.

"With cricket being a summer-only game club revenue is currently season dependent. Padel will provide a new footfall for the club and open-up an all year round source of income. It is also anticipated that by introducing padel players to the club this might also improve engagement numbers in cricket (and vice versa) and create a new, larger and more diverse club membership. This is crucial to the ongoing viability of the club."

Support has already been received from the LTA who said that: "The proposed new Padel courts at Upper Haugh CC will, alongside the cricket and social facilities create a sporting hub for local people, and this will provide a facility where the local community can come together socially and keep physically active."

A drop in session on the plans is being held at the club on Thursday January 29.

Upper Haugh Cricket Club website

Images: LTA / Upper Haugh Cricket Club

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