News: Rotherham schemes included in £1.45 billion transport investment plan

A number of high profile Rotherham schemes are included in a £1.45 billion Transport for City Regions (TCR) programme that the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is preparing to submit to the Government.

Rothbiz reported on the confirmation of the trasnport funding last year and now board approval has been secured for the programme that forms a key part of the Mayor's ambition to create a fully integrated South Yorkshire People's Network, connecting communities with jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities right across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Headline projects include the move to bus franchising, previously given a £350m budget, the continued renewal of Supertram fleet (£530m) and core budget that council's use to sustain the condition, safety and resilience of South Yorkshire’s road network.

For Rotherham the major inclusion is the Rotherham Gateway Station project.

A new mainline rail station at Parkgate would deliver faster links to Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, and Doncaster, unlocking wider regional and national connectivity. The aim is for journey times to Leeds to be cut from 60 minutes to 30 minutes and to be 75 minutes to Birmingham.

With opening pencilled in for "late 2030," the four-phase masterplan for the £300m scheme sets out that it could bring 1,000 highly-skilled jobs and support more than £1bn of private investment.

With council teams and consultants in place the funding will be used to support the development of a full business case, where £11.35m of funding has already been approved by SYMCA.

The contracting strategy for the design and delivery of Rotherham Gateway rail infrastructure has recently been agreed, with Network Rail undertaking the rail and tram train elements.

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The TCR programme is also set to fund the development costs of the active travel route along Effingham Street to connect the town centre to the station. A set of bridge and access improvements area also planned linking Eastwood to Parkgate.

Also included in the programme is a proposed project at Waverley - the provision of new railway station on the Sheffield to Lincoln line, providing rail connectivity to the Advanced Manufacturing Park and Waverley, was earmarked for funding from previous government pots.

Funding for a wider "Public Realm and Placemaking Enhancement Programme" in Rotherham is also included.

More than £125m has been identified to support the development and delivery of rail priorities including projects like Rotherham Gateway Station, Waverley Station and Sheffield Station enhancement.

Funding has also been set aside for potential extensions to the Supertram network but more detail is likely to be announced following the conclusion of a connectivity study.

South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said: "I’ve been clear we need a world-class public transport system, to offer people real freedom and choice about how they travel and move right across South Yorkshire and build the transport network our communities deserve.

"Funding through the Transport for City Regions programme would help make that vision a reality, supporting investment in better buses, a renewed Supertram network, stronger rail connections, improved links to Doncaster Sheffield Airport and better neighbourhoods across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

"This investment will help connect people to jobs, education, healthcare and opportunities, support economic growth and bring us another step closer to delivering our South Yorkshire People's Network."

SYMCA website

Images: RMBC

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News: New Rotherham facilities being developed through RNN Group’s specialist centre for defence

The RNN Group are developing plans to establish a new Defence Technical Excellence College (DTEC) with campuses in line for new specialist facilities.

Rothbiz reported in April on a £175m national investment in skills, the initiative being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education.

RNN Group recently brought together defence employers, education partners and higher education representatives for a collaborative event focused on shaping the future of technical skills for the UK defence sector.

Made up of a number of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham, the group is a national DTEC provider and will act as a regional anchor for defence skills across Yorkshire, Humber and the North East and Yorkshire, working alongside further and higher education partners.

Interest is strong in shared access to specialist facilities, including robotics, drone testing and advanced fabrication environments. This aligns closely with the facilities being developed through RNN Group’s DTEC hubs.

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At University Centre Rotherham, the expanded Regional Defence Hub will bring together technical education, applied innovation and industry recruitment, with facilities focused on digital and cyber skills, autonomous systems and immersive cyber training. The hub will also include an Esports Hub designed to support progression into defence-relevant drone piloting and unmanned systems operations.

At RNN Group’s Rotherham campus, plans for an Advanced Manufacturing Lab will create an Industry 4.0 training environment reflecting a modern defence factory. Facilities will cover automation and mechatronics, CAD/CAM and additive manufacturing, advanced composites and welding, and non-destructive testing and quality assurance. A dedicated Under 25kg Drone Hub will also provide practical experience in flight planning, cargo logistics, aerial surveillance, automated payload delivery and tactical drone operations.

Capital investment is due to start soon before a full DTEC Hub rollout and employer progress review in April 2027.

By 2030, DTEC aims to establish a sustainable hub-and-spoke network supporting defence and dual-use technology skills across South Yorkshire and the wider UK.

The programme aims to support more than 2,500 learners and employees, engage more than 200 employers, create over 500 industry placements, live projects and work-based learning opportunities, and expand higher technical provision from Levels 2-6.

The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre, based nearby on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, is among the education partners involved. Its contribution includes specialist engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships, while future areas of focus include increasing degree apprenticeships, developing high-level technical competencies in advanced manufacturing and expanding machine learning programmes at higher levels.

RNN Group website

Images: RNN Group

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News: Reytons confirm Rotherham return

A repeat of The Reytons’ homecoming gig in Rotherham is set to take place in 2027, reports Visit Rotherham.

The concert held in the summer of 2024 drew thousands of attendees from across the nation. It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park on the edge of Rotherham town centre, attracting around 20,00 people.

The follow up event is to celebrate ten years of The Reytons.

The announcement comes days after a triumphant performance at Manchester's Co-op Live, the UK's largest entertainment arena.

An update on social media reads: "It’s officially happening… We’re returning to Clifton Park in July!!!

"The Reytons are heading back to home soil, Let’s go to Disneyland… "

Priority pre-sale sign ip is open now.

The date announced today is Saturday July 10 but the application is listed as a two day event with Rotherham Council.

Visit Rotherham revealed in October that promoters had submitted a licence application that would enable them to hold large scale events in Clifton Park in July 2027.

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The application to Rotherham Council is from Communion ONE Ltd, the company created when FKP Scorpio and Communion Presents merged in 2024. FKP Scorpio was the promoter that worked on the previous Reytons event in Rotherham and Communion ONE currently promotes events for the band.

Listed as a two day event, the application is time limited for July 9 to 11 2027 and would technically allow three outdoor music concerts to be provided in the park during this period.

If approved, the licence would enable the provision of live and recorded music outdoors on Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10 between 2:00pm and 10:30pm, and on Sunday July 11 2027 between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

Alcohol would be allowed to be on sale between 12 noon and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, and between 12 noon and 10:30pm on the Sunday.

Mirroring the layout for the 2024 gig, the stage is set to be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelshield."

The perimeter is again shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the museum, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

The similar 2024 application allowed for two gigs, where in reality, only one took place.

Local businesses and accommodation providers are likely to welcome the news. A study was commissioned and Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

The journey for The Reytons began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena in Sheffield in 2023.

The Rotherham event at Clifton Park in 2024 was a career highlight for the band, who since then have played at massive European festivals, Wembley Arena and Co-Op Live. A world tour is already scheduled for 2026/27 taking in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

The Reytons website

Images: The Reytons

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News: Have your say on the Millmoor Reborn project

Consultation is underway on a £9.5m vision for transforming the site of Rotherham United's former home into a new 2,000-capacity stadium, national women's football centre of excellence and community sports village.

Millmoor is currently being demolished and Rotherham United Women FC recently revealed its initial vision for the historic stadium, following discussions with owners the Ron Hull Group and meetings with representatives of Rotherham Council.

The proposals would see football return to Millmoor, which was home to Rotherham United for more than a century before the men's team departed in 2008.

At the heart of the plans is a national centre of excellence dedicated to girls' and women's football, with facilities designed to attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the UK and potentially further afield.

The initial £9.5m vision includes a 2,000-capacity football stadium – a new home for Rotherham United Women, featuring a 3G playing surface, spectator facilities, hospitality and potential for future expansion. Other facilities could include padel courts, a health and fitness hub, community and multi-sport facilities and a tribute to Millmoor's heritage.

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An update from the club states: "Millmoor Reborn is about giving the ground a new purpose for a new generation. The consultation invites ideas on how Millmoor could once again become a place where the community comes together, whether through matchdays, grassroots and youth football, community events or facilities open to local people all week long.

"For Rotherham United Women's FC, the opportunity is especially exciting. The women's game is growing faster than ever, and a revitalized Millmoor could offer a home that reflects that ambition: somewhere for our players to perform, for young girls to see a clear pathway into the sport, and for supporters to build matchday traditions of their own.

"The club believes the best future for Millmoor will be shaped by the people who know it best. That is why every voice matters, from lifelong fans with stories of the old terraces to families who have never set foot inside the ground."

The consultation is open now and closes on November 9. To take part, visit https://www.ruwfc.com/millmoor-consultation.

Rotherham United Women website

Images: RUWFC

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News: Rolls-Royce's government-backed £2.5bn research and technology programme could support future growth in Rotherham

The UK Government and Rolls-Royce have announced plans for a joint 10-year, £2.5bn research and technology programme to develop cutting-edge gas turbine technologies for civil and defence aerospace, unlocking the biggest opportunity to transform advanced manufacturing across the UK for a generation.

Ministers believe that it provides an opportunity to support future growth in Rotherham.

The programme would advance more efficient and lower-emission jet engine technologies – as Rolls-Royce looks to secure a UK engine position on the next generation of commercial aircraft in the fast growing, high-volume, ‘narrowbody’ market segment – including through an engine demonstrator project. It would also sustain vital development and testing capabilities, strengthening national resilience by supporting the UK’s critical sovereign capabilities in defence aerospace.

Chancellor John Healey made the announcement during his budget speech, stating that it would support thousands of jobs across the Midlands, Bristol and the UK. The investment is expected to support for 3,300 existing jobs over the next few years, with the potential for tens of thousands of new roles beyond that.

Delivering the initial stages of the plan, which is subject to a final agreement being reached, will support 3,300 UK jobs at Rolls-Royce and supply chain partners by the end of 2029. Securing a UK engine position on new narrowbody aircraft would create tens of thousands more. As a result, Rolls-Royce and the Government will work together on a jobs and skills development plan to provide the necessary pipeline of future talent. The investment plan will also benefit the UK’s academic institutions, with university departments carrying out new research.

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Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, said: "This is a landmark moment for the UK’s aerospace industry. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lay the foundations for decades of sustainable economic growth across the UK, creating high-value jobs and transforming the country’s advanced manufacturing supply chain. Aerospace is a growing and globally attractive market and this programme with Government is vital to enable the UK to compete. Working together, we can also sustain the nation’s capability to power military aircraft and secure its position as one of only two countries that can design, develop, make and service the jet engines that power the world’s commercial airliners.”

New jobs are expected to cover a range of areas from engineering and research to manufacturing – creating roles which run from the design stage all the way through to the factory floor.

The vast majority of these will also be created outside London and the South East – tapping into the numerous sites and supply chains Rolls-Royce maintains across the country.

Rothbiz revealed last year that the world-leading engineers were planning to invest in Rotherham and in March this year came the the confirmation of a £21.3m expansion project at the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham. The £110m facility is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines. Output is set to double by 2030.

The AMP is also where Rolls-Royce has carried out cutting edge research with long-standing partners, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and where a parcel of land for development sits next to its castings facility.

In a letter to Sarah Champion - Rotherham's MP, the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "For areas like Rotherham with a significant Rolls-Royce presence this agreement provides an opportunity to support future growth, help retain highly skilled jobs and strengthen the UK's position as a global leader in aerospace engineering and manufacturing."

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Rolls-Royce

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