News: Keepmoat submits plans for Rotherham housing development

A planning application has been submitted to build houses on another green field site in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported last year that Keepmoat Homes was targeting a site known as Aston Common that was allocated for residential use in the council's local plan, adopted in 2018 and taking it out of the green belt.

The Mansfield Road site is located within Swallownest which is designated as a Principal Settlement in the Rotherham Settlement Hierarchy contained within the local plan, which indicated that the 6.5 hectare site could be used for 175 houses.

The full application is for the erection of 189 dwellings, public open space, sustainable drainage solutions, pumping station and associated infrastructure.

Due to the sloping topography of the site, the design proposals have therefore been completed alongside specialist engineers to ensure that the development can be achieved successfully using a series of retaining walls.

Advertisement
A variety of property types are established within the scheme in terms of form and size with a mix of 1 (10), 2 (65), 3 (69) and 4 (45) bedroom properties. Detached, semi detached and terraced forms are proposed as well as quarter houses.

Rotherham Council's policy for schemes of this size id for 25% of the houses to be classed as affordable. Keepmoat has raised concerns over viability and has not included an Affordable Housing Statement with the application.

All vehicle access will be taken from Mansfield Road.

Consultants for Keepmoat, JRP, state in the application: "This statement has identified a range of important benefits associated with the proposals. Chief among these, is the delivery of new homes. Very significant weight should be afforded to the delivery of new market and affordable housing.

"The proposed development brings significant social, economic and environmental benefits and very much falls within the definition of sustainable development, on which the NPPF [national planning policies] encourages planning authorities to take a positive approach. It has been demonstrated that the scheme will not result in any significant adverse impacts and there are no policies within the NPPF which indicates that the development should be restricted."

Earlier this year the planning board at Rotherham Council voted to approve plans for an application for over 100 houses also on Mansfield Road from developer, Gleeson.

Keepmoat website

Images: Keepmoat / JRP

Read more...

News: Pokémon-themed business trading up into long-vacant Rotherham unit

Plans have been approved that will enable the expansion of a Pokémon-themed shop and café in Rotherham town centre, reports Visit Rotherham.

Moving across town from the Imperial Buildings and transforming a vacant unit in The Old Town Hall in 2023, enterprising Lee Kucia has created a haven for Pokémon fans, offering cards, booster boxes, toys and graded cards. The theme continues into a Coffee House serving barista coffee, hot drinks, cake and sandwiches that also offers space for trading and playing.

Under the name, PokiLee, Lee has amassed over 11,000 subscribers on YouTube who catch him opening packs, interacting with customers and various other live streams.

Having also added a family-friendly arcade and renamed as PokiLee's CardCade, a new set of plans were submitted for a change of use at another retail unit in Rotherham town centre - a bigger building which will allow both businesses to operate cohesively from one location.

Advertisement
Rothbiz reported in January on plans for 14 Howard Street, a former Argos store. The change of use application has now been approved.

Planners at Rotherham Council said: "Although the scheme introduces elements that move slightly away from traditional retail, such as café and gaming arcade, it is unlikely to result in any harmful impact on the Primary Shopping Frontage", it would "not detract from the existing appearance or character of the frontage and would instead make a positive contribution to Howard Street by reinstating an active and engaging street presence."

A post on social media from Pokilee's Cardcade said that: "Everything you love is coming together under one roof. Bigger and Better! We can’t wait for you to see it!"

The update added that the last day in the current Old Town Hall shop would be Saturday May 2 with a closure planned for around two weeks to get everything ready for the new space.

Pokilee's CardCade website

Images: Rees Denton / Pokilee's CardCade / Facebook

Read more...

News: New developers take on large Rotherham housing scheme

A controversial 450 house development in Rotherham could be moving ahead again, nearly two years after previous developers walked away.

Rothbiz reported in 2024 on a detailed planning application submitted by Avant and the landowner for arable fields that sit between existing housing and Sitwell golf course near to Whiston.

Landowners had worked together to submit an application having previously secured a residential allocation for the nearly 50 acre greenbelt site off Lathe Road / Worry Goose Lane through the development of the borough's Local Plan.

Applicants, AE Waddington, R Parkes & V Foers, worked with JVH Town Planning and agents, WYG, to secure outline planning approval despite over 300 letters of representation being received when it went before the planning board at Rotherham Council.

The 2023 reserved matters planning application from Avant Homes Central for the site remains undetermined but Whiston Residents Action Group (WRAG) and the local MP, Jake Richards found out in 2024 that Avant Homes no longer held an interest in the land.

Now Miller Homes Ltd has engaged with the local planning authority regarding the phasing of the development and the Section 106 legal agreement. Further planning updates are expected to reflect the incoming housebuilders’ product ranges.

Contact has been made with local councilllors and the MP about the updated scheme.

Advertisement
An update states that since the reserved matters application was submitted "two well-established and highly regarded regional housebuilders have come together to collaboratively deliver the development. This partnership will support the efficient delivery of much-needed, high-quality new homes across a range of house types, alongside a shared commitment to creating a sustainable and well-designed new community."

WRAG states that the housebuilders involved are Miller Homes and St. Modwen Homes.

Miller Homes reported record results for the year ending December 2025, with a 34% increase in turnover to £1.4 billion, driven by the acquisition of St Modwen Homes. The acquisition was part of Miller Homes’ growth strategy, helping it meet its medium-term ambition of reaching 6,000 homes a year. It continues to operate the business under the St. Modwen Homes brand. Miller currently has a strong land pipeline with 91 sites and 16,329 plots in its consented landbank.

The reserved matters application detailed where the houses would go, the types of houses, and the location of things like attenuation basins and play areas.

With outline approval, the scheme comes with a number of conditions, such as contributing to £225,000 for transport improvements plus a financial contribution to the proposed works at Worrygoose roundabout, £100k per annum for a period of three years for bus services, and 25% on site affordable housing provision.

Miller Homes website
St. Modwen Homes website

Images: Miller Homes / Google Maps

Read more...

News: Rotherham office building turned down for church use goes up for auction

An office building in Rotherham where plans to convert it into a place of worship were refused by the local council, is set to be sold at an upcoming auction.

Reresby House, a 24,000 sq ft two-storey office building in Templeborough has been given a £595,000 guide price by BTG Eddisons Property Auction.

Rothbiz reported in January that Rotherham Council ruled that plans from Hope Church were "incompatible" with surrounding industrial uses.

Home to tenants including safety equipment supplier S3 ID, approximately half of Reresby House is currently let, generating a rental income of £60,000 per year.

The property, which also has a 70-space car park, will feature in the upcoming multi-lot timed auction, with bidding opening on April 28 and closing the following day.

Advertisement
James Vandenbrook, associate director at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, said: “Reresby House is a great investment opportunity in one of Rotherham’s most up and coming commercial areas.

“Just this month the £10m nearby Magna tram-train station has opened, improving transportation in this busy employment area, with the proposed Gateway station due to be developed in the next few years too. That will connect Templeborough to the mainline rail services, proving a major boost to the Don Valley corridor between Rotherham and Sheffield.

“Meanwhile, you also have the Templeborough Business Zone in the pipeline, which will bring over £8m of new investment to the area in the form of workspace units for small businesses. This is certainly a great time to acquire business space in Templeborough and, not surprisingly, we are seeing good levels of interest in this property.”

Hope Church had planned to buy the building, if it could secure planning permission.

The church's plans showed how Reresby House, previously home to business support agencies including RiDO and Business Link, could accommodate a main audatorium and workshop space on the ground floor with further workshop and office space on the first floor to support the church's religious and community services.

Refusing the change of use, planning officers at Rotherham Council said they had "substantial concerns that the proposed use would see the loss of a commercial unit on a strategically placed industrial estate, of which part of the building is still occupied.

"Any alternative use would result in the loss of an important asset within a well-established and sought after employment estate."

Also heading to the same auction is a vacant unit on the historic High Street in Rotherham town centre. 23 High Street is a three storey building of 3,032 sq ft latterly used as a restaurant. Giving it a guide price of £105,000+, auctioneers say that the upper floors provide "excellant opportunity for conversion / development potential."

1a Wellgate, another empty town centre property, is also set to go under the hammer. With 1,200 sq ft over ground and first floor, the lot has a guide price of £87,000+.

BTG Eddisons Property Auctions website

Images: BTG Eddisons Property Auctions / Google Maps

Read more...

News: Firm applies for environmental permit at Rotherham site following complaints

The Environment Agency is due to decide whether to grant a permit regarding glass recycling at a site in Rotherham.

The process takes place after operators where served with a statutory abatement order following complaints from nearby residents.

Universal Glass Ltd operates from Rotherham Road in Dinnington. The permit application for non-hazardous waste recycling states that the site includes nine buildings, only two of which would be used for the storage and processing of waste. The others are used as an office, site maintenance and weighbridge etc.

Aplicants say that the throughput of the site is proposed to be less than 75,000 tonnes a year, targeting "wastes consisting predominantly of glass, with smaller fractions of packaging materials."

Advertisement
Delivered by HGVs, waste would be crushed and screened outside with a second screening inside. Once treated, the materials will be considered a specified, saleable product, and would no longer constitute a waste. Different products would be separately stockpiled and bagged before being loaded to HGVs for onward delivery.

Permitted work would be carried out 8:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday and 8:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays.

Consultants for Universal Glass, MPG say that: "All activities will be conducted in accordance with Environment Agency Guidance.

"There are no emissions arising from the proposed activities. However, the storage, handling and treatment of waste hasthe potential to generate dust and noise emissions" adding that with high concrete block walls, no adverse impact is predicted. Installing hoods on feed hoppers, misting systems or water sprays could also minimise dust.

Responding to the consultation for the permit, Jake Richards, MP for the area, is raising the concerns of constituents. The Rother Valley MP said: "Over the past 14 months, residents living near the site have repeatedly contacted me as their local Member of Parliament to raise concerns about a persistent and often very strong odour affecting the surrounding area.

"It has also been reported to me that Environmental Health officers have attended the area and have experienced the odour themselves. In addition, residents have submitted more than 100 impact statements describing the severity of the issue and the effect it has had on their daily lives. The volume of reports clearly demonstrates the level of concern within the community.

"There remains a lack of confidence locally that the issues will be adequately addressed without further scrutiny."

Respondents also raise issues regarding dust and glass particles from the operations, with some reporting breathing difficulties.

Rotherham councillors have previously discussed motions of no confidence in the Environment Agency on issues such as flooding in Catcliffe and Treeton and Droppingwell Tip in Kimberworth.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...