News: Demolition plans for Rotherham retail parade

The wrecking ball appears to be imminent for a parade of council-owned shops on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported in May that the derelict properties that make up 86 - 102 Wellgate were set to be sold off by the council and scheduled to go under the hammer with Pugh's online property auction.

The lot was withdrawn before the auction took place.

Now Rotherham Council has secured planning permission regarding the method of demolition for the vacant parade of shops.

Planning documents state: "The application proposes the full demolition of the terraced properties including foundations and bases, leaving the site area evenly graded, backfilling voids with clean fill material to remove all trip hazards.

"The demolition works will take approximately 10 weeks to complete with the materials being removed from site for recycling where possible by a licensed facility.

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"Following completion of the works, the boundary to Wellgate will be secured by 2.5m high solid hoarding security panels until future development of the site is undertaken.

"The buildings are no longer fit for purpose and deteriorating in condition. The buildings are proposed to be demolished, and future development of the site will then be considered."

When up for auction the lot was given the guide price of £25,000 and advertised as a redevelopment opportunity comprising a site extending to approximately 0.19 acres. A legal clause stated that the site will be required to be redeveloped for residential purposes only.

Rothbiz reported back in 2021 that the authority had set aside £200,000 from its budget for a programme to demolish the underutilised parade.

When housing developments were being built on the Henley's Garage site nearby - two apartment blocks containing 34 homes and 20 two and three-storey terraced houses - Rotherham Council said that the Wellgate parade of units was "considered a blight on the improving area."

Images: Google Maps

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News: New demand responsive transport services to be piloted in Rotherham

Connectivity across Rotherham could be improved by innovative new demand responsive public transport services.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard confirmed recently that the region’s first publicly controlled buses will begin operating in Doncaster and most of Sheffield from September 2027. The rollout will continue in Barnsley and Rotherham by the end of 2028, with the rest of Sheffield following in 2029.

Since the Mayor’s decision to take control of the buses in March 2025, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been working at pace to reverse nearly 40 years of deregulation and put the public back at the heart of public transport. That means SYMCA will control the bus routes, timetables, fares, ticket options and quality standards and will be able to reinvest profits back into improving services.

As part of its work to address connectivity issues across the region, SYMCA is looking to launch a pilot project next year around demand responsive transport.

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Demand responsive transport is a flexible service that provides shared transport to users who specify their desired location and time of pick-up and drop-off. It can complement fixed route public transport services and improve mobility in low-density areas and at low-demand times of day.

Services run without a set timetable and typically use smaller vehicles than fixed route bus services. Dial-a-ride minibus services scheduled through advance bookings are a traditional example. Dynamic schemes enable routes to be adjusted in real time to accommodate new pick-up requests, often made minutes in advance.

SYMCA has begun tapping up the private sector for a provider to supply and operate the software for, and run pilot services, in two separate zones - one in Doncaster and one in Rotherham.

Tender documents explain that the £1.7m pilot scheme would run from April 2026 to March 2027 and involve a minimum of two wheelchair accessible vehicles per zone, running 12 hours a day (6:00-18:00), Monday to Saturday (excluding most Bank Holidays).

The booking system would involve app and phone booking, in real-time and in advance, plus route optimisation.

Rotherham Community Transport has charity status and a fleet of over 30 vehicles and is already offering a number of Door 2 Door services such as its Dial-A-Ride and Shopper Bus.

Images: Rotherham Community Transport

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News: Building work starts for newest resident at the AMP in Rotherham

Building work has begun on a new research and development centre for a world-leading engineering firm at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Last year Rothbiz reported on planning approval for a purpose built unit between Brunel Way and the Parkway for Vulcan Engineering Ltd.

Currently based in Sheffield, Vulcan Engineering Limited specialises in the production of mechanical seals and encapsulated ‘o’-rings. The company has a global presence and is an established world leader in the development and manufacture of high purity, composite encapsulated seals that fulfil a demand in the market where an engineering polymer is either not available or is extremely cost prohibitive.

Caddick Construction has commenced work to build ‘Project Vulcan Seals’ - a £9.4m contract to create a new 52,000 sq ft testing, manufacturing and distribution development, facilitating the relocation.

Representing Vulcan Seals’ investment to create jobs and drive innovation, Project Vulcan Seals will expand the firm’s development and manufacturing of high purity, composite encapsulated seals to serve global demand.

The new development will have a focus on inspiring the next generation of engineers and the promotion of green technology, and is set to become a centre for high quality research at Harworth’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.

The park is currently home to approximately 100 companies, including Rolls Royce, Boeing and McLaren Automotive alongside the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

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The new contract builds on Caddick’s portfolio of high profile advanced manufacturing developments. This also includes Schneider Electric’s £42m Net Zero facility in Scarborough, which was delivered in partnership with sister company, Caddick Developments.

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction Yorkshire & North East, said: “Project Vulcan Seals represents a significant milestone for Rotherham and the wider Yorkshire region as it grows in prominence as the home of advancing innovation and technical excellence. We are very excited to be working on behalf of Vulcan Seals to ensure their relocation and expansion plans deliver a state-of-the-art facility that enables world leading engineering.”

Gerard Quinn, Vulcan Seals Founder and Chairman of the Board, added: “Vulcan Seals were founded in Sheffield nearly 40 years ago and have evolved into a global manufacturer and supplier of Mechanical Seals and Encapsulated O-rings, with distributors in over 100 countries. Our new global headquarters and manufacturing facilities represent the next phase of that journey, with the aim of strengthening our capabilities, expanding our capacity and reinforcing the quality, consistency and responsiveness our customers rely on worldwide.

“Constructed to adhere to the exacting benchmark of the BREEAM Excellent Standard, with the support of our investors, this strategic investment will fuel sustained growth, generate additional local employment opportunities, and deliver long-term benefits to the region.”

Vulcan Seals
Caddick Construction website

Images: Caddick / Jefferson Shead Architects

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News: Street Safe team aims to make Rotherham feel safe and welcoming

A dedicated team designed to make Rotherham’s high streets safer and more welcoming have hit the ground in the town centre, with the first new recruits now in post.

Rothbiz reported in January on key investment in the budget for 2025/26 - £570,000 to launch a new "Street Safe Team" focused on increasing safety in town and village centres.

The new team will provide extra eyes and ears on the ground, tackling anti-social behaviour and supporting residents, businesses and visitors.

Their role includes engaging with the public, reporting issues quickly and working closely with South Yorkshire Police and other partners to keep Rotherham safe.

The uniformed team, which will be made up of a full complement of 10 staff in the new year, will focus on hotspot areas in the town centre before being rolled out in Dinnington, Wath, Maltby and Swinton in the next few weeks. They’ll have powers to enforce Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to tackle anti-social issues such as street drinking and substance misuse, as well as nuisance parking.

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Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “We’re acting on what our communities have told us - that feeling safe and visible support matters - as part of the changes we’re making to support our local high streets.

“We want Rotherham to feel safe and welcoming for everyone. Our new team are there to lend a hand, point people in the right direction and to take action against the minority who can put other people off. They’ve already supported the police with an arrest in the town centre, and they’re providing valuable evidence and feedback.

“But this initiative isn’t just about enforcement. It’s about restoring pride and trust in our public spaces - giving residents and visitors a familiar presence that’s welcoming, approachable and ready to help. So when you see them, do say hello!”

Paul Murphy, Community Protection Manager and lead of the new team, said: “We’re pleased that we're on the ground and already making a difference. The Street Safe team is all about giving people confidence that our high streets are safe, welcoming places to visit and enjoy. The team is approachable, proactive and ready to tackle issues head-on, while working closely with partners to keep things moving in the right direction.

"Having the team in place is a big step forward for Rotherham, and we’re excited about the positive impact the team will have for residents, businesses and visitors. We're looking forward to meeting everyone over the coming weeks."

Rotherham Council is currently running a consultation on local safety matters in Rotherham town centre.

Earlier consultations had respondents ranking feeling safe low for the town centre with the report adding: "Safety is one of the biggest concerns. Crime, antisocial behaviour, and intimidation make people feel unsafe, especially at night. CCTV and lighting are valued but seen as not enough."

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham Council to invest £1.5m in building Pride in Place

Rotherham has been awarded £1.5m by the government to be spent on regeneration projects quickly, helping to rebuild community pride in the local area.

Building on the £20m Pride in Place long term funding, Rothbiz reported in September that the borough will receive £1.5m from the Pride in Place Impact Fund to support community cohesion, and stimulate local economic activity through visible, short-term, community-led improvements.

Both central Rotherham and Maltby East will will receive £2m every year for a decade as part of the Pride in Place funding but in addition, Rotherham was one of 95 places selected for an impact fund that will be delivered by local authorities and targeted at areas "in need" with the aim of building strong, resilient, prosperous, and inclusive communities.

The £1.5m is expected to be used for capital projects and needs to be spent before March 2027. A recent cabinet report explained: "£750,000 has been allocated in 2025/26 and a further £750,000 in 2026/27 to be spent within each financial year on improvements to community spaces, public spaces and high streets across the borough."

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MCHLG).

A Government prospectus sets out that local councils will act as the accountable body for the Pride in Place Impact Fund, and "should work in collaboration with MPs and other stakeholders to identify the interventions that will deliver the most benefits to local residents and breathe new life into the areas in which they live."

A fund prospectus explains that the Pride in Place Impact Fund has three objectives:

a. Community spaces: creating, extending, improving or refurbishing existing community facilities and enabling community organisations to take control or ownership of underused but valued local assets.

b. Public spaces: enhancing the physical environment in public spaces - examples of initiatives include new or improved green spaces or public squares, improved outdoor play, sports and leisure spaces, installing street furniture, public art or wayfinding.

c. High street and town centre revitalisation: making these areas more attractive and welcoming places where people congregate and which encourage economic activity. Examples of initiatives that could be funded are shop frontage improvements, adaptations that bring premises back into use, streetscape improvements, public art, trails and wayfinding, and creating or improving the infrastructure for regular markets.

Images: RMBC

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