News: How Rotherham Council wants to spend £2.95m on local growth, backing business support, High Streets and more events

The cabinet at Rotherham Council is set to approve the use of £2.95m of local growth funding, continuing to fund business and employment support services, high profile events and dedicated financial support for High Street units and market traders.

The allocation for 2026/27 is from the Local Growth Fund (LGF), the government funding pot designed to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF - itself a successor to the European Structural Funds) and equip mayors in the North and Midlands to boost regional productivity.

Rotherham's allocation represents a reduction of around 10% compared to the previous year so the focus is on the priorities of supporting local business, people and skills, and communities and place. Funding is set to maintain delivery of priority projects, matching council priorities.

Most of the projects are continuations from the current programme.

For example, a further £666,655 is for the Shop Unit Business Grant Project that has been oversubscribed. It means that more businesses could recieve a 100% grant of up to £10,000. The allocation has been increased to reflect the high demand in 2025/26, with the target areas also expanded.

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£60,000 has been allocated for Rotherham Town Centre Markets, which is currently undergoing a revamp as part of a £40m regeneration scheme. The funding is to "support market traders, raise awareness of the markets and increase footfall, particularly during the construction of the new markets and central library. Specific initiatives are being developed, but could include micro grants for traders (new and existing) and themed events."

Funding is also earmarked for sub-regional projects such as Launchpad business support (£263,257) and business grants related to productivity (£483,588) and low carbon (£200,000).

People and skills projects that support young people who are not in employment, education or training; provide community-based core skills (maths, English and digital) courses and: support working people who want to reach their career potential, are set to share a further £450,000.

Building on the success of the Children’s Capital of Culture traineeships and skills programme, a £300,781 project extension will offer alumni roles in local organisations for previous trainees.

Addressing communities and place, £424,219 is being allocated for a further programme of events delivered throughout the year.

The report adds: "As well as established events such as the Rotherham Show, UPLIFT and Christmas lights switch on, the programme will include school holiday events across the borough, new activities piloted in the town centre, and a St George’s Day event in April."

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News: More consultation on Rotherham £24m active travel schemes

More public consultation is required as Rotherham Council is set to spend a further £24m on active travel schemes where new cycle lanes are set to be a key component.

Rothbiz has previously reported on a £16.3m scheme that includes bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre. A similar £8m cycle lane and roundabout scheme is proposed for Stag Roundabout and Wickersley / Broom Road.

The schemes follow on from the the £6.4m Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor schemes and the £3.6m Broom Road Cycleways scheme.

The majority of funding for the latest schemes is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a government funding stream.

Earlier consultation backed the authority's idea for St Anns roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming. Consultation results also showed a clear preference for keeping all arms of the roundabout open, discounting an idea to close St Ann's Road to motor traffic and install bus gates.

At Stag Roundabout, segregated cycle routes and controlled crossing facilities would be introduced on each arm of the roundabout.

Funding has also been set aside for neighbourhood improvements.

Recent decisions by Rotherham Council have been made to undertake further stakeholder engagement on both schemes.

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A council report states: "Approval is granted for RMBC to engage with stakeholders, including residents, business owners and Ward Members on the updated designs for the active travel corridor, as well as allocated neighbourhood streets investment," with the report adding that the consultation is to "comply with required engagement process involving stakeholders as per funding requirements."

The report adds: "No significant consultation and engagement has taken place with the public since the end of July 2025. In addition, although previous consultation and engagement included reference to the Eastwood & Herringthorpe Active Travel Neighbourhood element, no designs of actual interventions have previously been shared with the public.

"In developing the scheme designs, consideration has been given to aligning with the Council’s objectives to listen, inform and work in partnership with its residents. With this in mind, further public engagement and consultation will now be undertaken."

Rothbiz reported last year that the Council had confirmed that if it wants to use government money to make multimillion pound investments in strategic transport routes in the borough, they will need to include cycle lanes.

For Fitzwilliam Road between St Ann’s Roundabout and Mushroom Roundabout the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

On the other scheme, bilateral unidirectional cycleways and bus priority measures are expected from the new Broom Road layout to Brecks Roundabout, as well as associated improvements to crossings and junctions.

Rotherham Council website

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News: Funding approved for Rotherham business growth projects

20 new jobs are set to be created as Rotherham firms continue to benefit from funding via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the South Yorkshire Investment Zone.

In 2023, the region was confirmed as the UK's first investment zone, using 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 University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Rothbiz highlighted the Rotherham sites that have been given IZ status where funding can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions. £160m over ten years for the region has been confirmed.

SYMCA's board recently heard about a £2m growth proposal for Preformed Windings Ltd.

The company has over 50 years of experience manufacturing high-voltage bars and coils that are essential for stabilising and enhancing the performance of heavy machinery across multiple sectors, including hydropower, nuclear and power generation. These specialised components extend asset life, improve efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements for equipment that typically operates under extreme electrical stress.

Expanding into further premises at Waleswood in Rotherham in 2024, taking on a further unit at Vector 31 represented a 60% increase in manufacturing capacity. Last year Preformed Windings secured a £1.5m trade loan facility from HSBC UK, backed by a guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency.

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SYMCA papers explain: "This project supports the delivery of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) Plan for Good Growth by creating new jobs, boost local businesses, and strengthen South Yorkshire’s role in the UK’s clean‑energy sector.

"The project will deliver more than 20 new well‑paid, permanent jobs in its first phase, with further roles planned as the company expands. Preformed Windings manufactures components used in renewable and low‑carbon power generation, and the investment includes creating the UK’s first high‑voltage testing facility of its kind. This new centre will mean manufacturers no longer need to send equipment overseas for testing, cutting carbon emissions and keeping specialist work within the UK.

"The company will bring its two existing sites together into a single modern, energy‑efficient facility in South Yorkshire, improving productivity and supporting long‑term regional growth. Preformed Windings already works with more than 90 local suppliers and will continue to invest in apprenticeships, training, and partnerships with Sheffield’s universities to develop skills for the future."

A £2m grant/loan has been awarded.

Papers also show that Rotherham-based S3ID has secured £105,000 to support an autonomous, battery-powered industrial tracking device and cloud platform. Templeborough's S3ID is an international company providing complete location awareness solutions.

Another approval has been made for Conflux Technology at £310,000. With an Australian HQ, Conflux is world-leading heat exchange technology company, pioneering thermal applications with additive manufacturing. Conflux UK moved into the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre in Rotherham last year.

Preformed Windings website
S3ID website
Conflux UK website

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News: Rotherham firms receive royal visits

Two Rotherham-based companies had the honour of a royal visit recently when Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was in the region.

Last month, Princess Anne visited MTL Advanced in Brinsworth, and was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary Chapman.

The firm, which operates a 387,000 sq ft facility, has over 440 employees and annual sales expected to exceed £64m for 2025. MTL Advanced is recognised globally as a market leader in the processing of armoured steels and complex fabrications. The business has invested more than £15m in additional factory space and state-of-the-art equipment over the past two years.

In addition, over 100 apprentices have now come through the doors of MTL's in-house Academy since it opened its doors in 2015 and the company’s home-grown talent has played a critical role in the company’s recent growth and success.

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After a visit to a nursery and the Baby Basics UK charity in Sheffield, Her Royal Highness then visited Yorkshire Crisps in Rotherham.

The luxury hand cooked crisps and popcorn maker is based at Waleswood where its award-winning produce is made by a small, dedicated team using the finest local ingredients for a local, national and international market.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Crisps said: "It was a truly memorable day for our whole team. Her Royal Highness was a wonderful guest, generously taking the time to speak with colleagues across the site and showing genuine interest in the people and processes behind our crisps. Her warmth and engagement made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

"We are also proud to recognise the outstanding work The Princess Royal continues to do in supporting local industry and championing charities across the UK. Her Royal Highness’s dedication to strengthening communities and celebrating British enterprise is both inspiring and greatly appreciated."

MTL Advanced website
Yorkshire Crisps wesbite

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News: Plans back in for historic Rotherham building

A new lease of life could be on the cards for a historic building in Rotherham that has been empty for over a decade and wrapped up in a legal battle that resulted in six directors being banned for a total of 54 years.

In 2018, Rothbiz reported that quick progress on converting the historic Howard Building in Rotherham town centre was unlikely after a court injunction was granted that prevents its sale. Liquidators were trying to prove that sham charges related to a number of properties were being used to wrongfully divert funds away from investors. Claims from creditors were in excess of £68m.

A year later, the Insolvency Service concluded an investigation into Absolute Living Developments Limited which sold apartments in England off-plan to investors who were largely based in Asia.

In Rotherham, with little evidence of the conversion of the former college building into twelve, one bed apartments and 60 studio apartments at "Howard Residencies", applicants, AVRO Developments headed into insolvency and the property passed to another connected company.

That company, 2380 REVERSIONS LTD, has now been renamed as Waverley Residencies Limited with the charges satisfied and the directors replaced.

Now early stage plans have been submitted by Manchester-based SH Capital for the Howard Building.

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Through its SH Care brand, the company works in the vulnerable accommodation sector in the UK and works with leading care home providers. A key completed project for the firm was for Rotherham-based Exemplar Health Care and its 40-bed care home, Leger Grove in Doncaster.

In Rotherham town centre, where work related to the previous applications was never carried out, planning permission has lapsed. The plans concentrate on a change of use for part of the lower ground floor and full second floor of the existing building from office use to residential use under permitted development rights.

The plans, drawn up by Robert Potter & Partners, names the development as Waverley Residencies and shows the creation of 23 self-contained apartments on the two floors including: four 1-bed studios, eight 1-bed units, sic 2-bed units, and five 2-bed units.

A small number of disabled parking spaces would be created at the rear and the attached noise report concludes that upgraded glazing is required to windows facing Howard Street.

The noise assessment states that: "the client intends to convert the existing buildings for residential usage with traditional apartments" with the transport assessment adding that a total of 69 apartments could be created in the building.

The Howard Building operated as part of Rotherham College and also housed the council's environmental health teams. It was deemed surplus to requirements and vacated in September 2012 before eventually selling in 2014. The building has an internal area of 42,000 sq ft and included classrooms, offices, common room, library and meeting rooms. Part of the basement floor was used as a nursery.

Although not listed, the prominent art-deco building is well-known to many. It features on South Yorkshire's Local List which states that it opened in 1931 and adds that: "although built primarily of red brick it incorporates probably the most extensive use of Portland Stone of any building in the Town Centre."

SH Care website

Images: Tom Austen

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