News: Don Valley Corridor - What's in it for Rotherham?

Partners have formally launched a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire based around the Don Valley Corridor.

Rothbiz reported first last week that the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) is proposed for a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

Bringing together the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets."

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

Headline figures are that, through coordinated development, the 30 year transformation will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes with a £1.3bn uplift in GVA.

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The Don Valley Corridor will evolve into a connected innovation and industry corridor.

In Rotherham, the main area for development is the Rotherham Gateway Innovation Campus: A new rail-linked innovation hub around the future mainline station, supporting engineering, low carbon, materials and digital sectors.

At Templeborough the remaining land for development will see the area reshaped into a modern green energy hub and employment zone.

With the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham due to complete next year, the focus will be on expanding the ethos of the park over the border into Sheffield and enabling 2,000 jobs and 1.5m sq ft of new R&D space at Runway Park.

The programme will address transport issues (including the proposed new mainline and tram train stop at Parkgate), flood resilience and brownfield land which has been held back by contamination, low land values and viability constraints.

The corridor has capacity for 10,500 new homes with specific delivery targets being a new garden community at Bassingthorpe in Rotherham, with green spaces, new schools, health facilities and strong active-travel and rail links to Rotherham town centre, another target area where new housing can be enabled by infrastructure investment and long-term delivery partnerships focused on town centre renewal.

Added to the regeneration projects is a pledge to ensure that the economic growth is inclusive, ensuring local people shape development and have access to opportunities.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: “For Rotherham, this really is about forging ahead with the next chapter of our borough’s growth, building on the lessons of the AMP as we build on the strengths of our heritage and the opportunities of new industries, infrastructure and investment. You only have to look at our plans for Rotherham Gateway to see the scale of that ambition - a new mainline station, new employment space, and the chance to bring thousands of good‑quality jobs right onto our doorstep.

“And of course, you can already see the impact of this investment at Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park. What was once industrial land is now home to world‑leading employers, cutting‑edge research, and thousands of new homes - a real example of how these projects can transform a community and create the skilled jobs of the future.

“By expanding the available business and employment space, including through the proposed Templeborough Business Zone, improving the quality of life through, for example, the work already happening in the town centre, exploiting the great transport links already in place, you can see how the corridor through to associated projects in Sheffield fits together; generating wealth well into the twenty first century, just as it did in the past. We’re investing in Rotherham’s future in a way that people will really feel - more homes, better connections, and more chances for local people to build the careers they want.”

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government recently committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Don Valley Corridor website

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Welding technology centre opens on Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park

Welding technology pioneer Fronius UK has opened a “Technical Competence Centre,” at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Fronius is an Austrian-based, family-owned global leader founded in 1945, specializing in high-quality welding technology, photovoltaics, and battery charging. It had around 6,700 employees worldwide at the end of 2024 with 37 international subsidiaries and a network of sales partners in more than 60 countries.

The new centre on the AMP offers customers the opportunity for bespoke welding trials, demonstrations, training, servicing and hands-on technical problem solving. A dedicated team of Sales, Service Engineers and Application Engineers will be on hand to take care of customers’ needs across the region. The expansion strengthens support for customers nationwide and complements the company’s existing sites in Milton Keynes and Kilmarnock.

Daniel Kastner, Managing Director of Fronius UK, said: “Our goal is simple: being as close as possible to our customers allows us to increase on-site time to truly understand their needs and support them as well as we possibly can. This new site allows us to respond faster, collaborate more closely, and stand alongside manufacturers by rising together to tackle their daily welding challenges - true to our motto connected by welding, united by passion!”

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As a leading European manufacturer of state-of-the-art welding technology, Fronius delivers advanced products and comprehensive services spanning manual gas shielded arc welding, high-performance robotic systems, user-friendly cobot welding solutions, and fully automated welding solutions tailored to customer requirements.

With over 1,700 active patents, Fronius stands as a global innovation leader, consistently setting groundbreaking standards in welding technology. Its portfolio includes the high end, multiprocess iWave TIG power source, the high performance TPS/i TWIN series, plug-and-play cobot solutions and the pioneering Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) process—enabling thermal joining of galvanised steel and aluminium, as well as precise welding of aluminium sheets as thin as 0.3 mm. The range is further strengthened by the new Fronius Fortis, a versatile, high quality manual MIG/MAG system that combines robust engineering with intuitive operation.

Renowned for exceptional arc stability, repeatability, and reliability, Fronius equipment is trusted across demanding sectors such as automotive, aerospace, nuclear, commercial vehicle manufacturing, and heavy industry.

Kastner added: "As manufacturers face increasing pressures - from skilled labour shortages to ever stricter quality and sustainability standards - we want to make welding easier, safer and more consistent for everyone. That’s why we place such strong emphasis on intuitive, user-friendly operation, perfect seam quality and long-term sustainability in all our high end welding solutions. Every Fronius product is designed for durability, repairability and recyclability, made entirely in Europe, and rigorously tested to perform reliably for decades.”

Phil Brown, Welding Application Engineer based at the new Centre adds, “We are proud to support customers from across this innovative manufacturing hub and welcome them to our new facility at the heart of the Advanced Manufacturing Park. This is a place where worldleading ideas take shape, and we’re excited to contribute to the British industrial achievements that will undoubtedly be made here in the years ahead.”

Fronius UK website

Images: Fronius

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News: Private sector developer brought in for next phase of Rotherham town centre housing

Rotherham Council is appointing a private sector developer for the next phase of large scale house-building in the town centre.

The Rotherham town centre masterplan of 2017 confirmed the need for more housing and leisure uses as a way to develop economic vitality, bringing more life, activity and spending back into the town centre and moving away from the traditional retail market. It also highlighted the need for derelict and long-term vacant sites to be brought into public ownership.

The aim is "to bring forward new development, diversify the town centre offer and establish a new residential community" with the latest plans leading "to the development of a pipeline of detailed and deliverable schemes which align with market demand and secure the Council’s ambitions for high quality, legacy developments."

Having acquired a number of strategic sites, the authority has been assessing ways to progress the regeneration projects.

When the Council acquired the warehouse and yard on Sheffield Road that is currently home to SIG Roofing Rotherham, Rothbiz reported on efforts to complete the development of plans to RIBA Stage 1 (the preparation and brief stage) for the next phase of major housing in the town centre.

Now a decision has been made to appoint a preferred developer using a closed tender process.

The company securing the contract has not yet been named, neither have the key sites, the quantum of development or total value, but the tender for feasibility works is valued at £397,442.

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A council update reads: "The Strategic Sites programme aims to bring forward high-quality mixed-use development across the Council’s strategic town centre sites, creating a new community supported by integrated services, leisure uses and commercial opportunities. Its objectives include securing a long term positive legacy for the town centre, accelerating progress on complex brownfield sites, attracting credible private sector partners, and addressing viability challenges in a low value market through targeted public sector intervention.

"The Council has made significant progress in acquiring, demolishing and preparing a portfolio of stalled, underused and derelict brownfield sites for redevelopment. The intention is to create new communities that increase activity in the town centre and support its long term sustainability through additional housing, improved public realm, enhanced leisure opportunities and new commercial space delivered through public and private investment.

"To achieve the Council’s aims and establish clear viability and deliverability from the outset, an experienced private sector developer is required to prepare Strategic Regeneration Plans for each core site, with potential to progress into delivery subject to defined gateways.

"The Council has completed a compliant closed tender process following approval under the Sub Scheme of Delegation to allocate the required funding. The tender evaluation has identified the preferred contractor, and awarding the contract is now necessary to enable the works to proceed."

Rothbiz reported in 2024 on the potential sites and funding for redevelopment. Council-owned sites include the cleared site of burnt out buildings on Corporation Street, sites on Sheffield Road for Riverside Residential Quarter Phase 2, the site of the former magistrates court at The Statutes and the site of the former Primark on High Street.

Last week the Government announced a £2.3bn City Investment Fund that will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. Documents show that it is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

The Council's most recent major housing development was the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise - that has seen 171 new homes built in partnership with Willmott Dixon. However, a previous tender exercise for the £6m scheme on Corporation Street received no interest, likely due to the smaller size of the scheme.

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Social value network highlights careers inspiration at Skills Street

Business leaders from across South Yorkshire experienced first-hand how an innovative careers education facility is helping to deliver measurable social value for the region’s young people and employers.

South Yorkshire’s Giving Network (SYGN) brought together networkers at Skills Street in Rotherham for a special event focused on linking business social value ambitions with practical careers education.

Hosted at the immersive facility – which features a real-life airport lounge and plane cabin, aviation training suite, health centre and hands-on construction site – the session explored how practical learning environments can help address regional skills gaps while supporting companies to meet their own social value targets.

Since opening in 2025 next to Gulliver’s Theme Park Rother Valley, more than 4,000 young people have taken part in sessions at Skills Street. Visiting students rotate through four themed zones, each lasting 45 minutes, gaining sector-specific skills to broaden their aspirations and improve employability.

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James Beighton, Development Lead at Skills Street, said: "Skills Street is all about inspiring the next generation. We know there are significant workforce gaps across South Yorkshire, particularly around essential soft skills as well as sector-specific roles.

"We’ve created a unique facility that changes perceptions of industries, educates and inspires children from primary age upwards, and helps them become better informed about future career opportunities. We cover 14 sectors, all age-appropriate, offering hands-on practical experiences from construction and STEM to aviation and leisure.

"We’ve looked closely at what South Yorkshire needs and where the skills gaps are, and we’re aiming to help plug those gaps. We are keen to continue developing the space so that even more young people can benefit. This facility is unique to South Yorkshire and something we should all be getting behind."

South Yorkshire’s Giving Network (SYGN) has been developed by South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF).

Through SYGN, SYCF works with businesses committed to delivering social value across South Yorkshire to help them build connections and create measurable community impact.

Michelle Dickinson, Head of Philanthropy and Programmes at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: "This was an incredible opportunity to bring together our networkers to show how collaboration between businesses and facilities such as Skills Street can deliver shared value.

"Skills Street is an absolutely fantastic facility. We are so grateful to James and his team, along with Gulliver’s Valley and the Work-wise Foundation, for supporting and hosting such an engaging and thought-provoking event."

South Yorkshire's Giving Network website
Skills Street website

Images: SYCF

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News: Rolls-Royce Rotherham investment confirmed, £21m for casting facility

Rolls-Royce, one of the most famous names in engineering throughout the world, has confirmed that it will invest in a £21.3m expansion project at its Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported first last year that the firm was working on proposals to double the factory’s production capacity with support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

The £110m facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham was officially opened in 2015 and is where turbine blades are manufactured for Rolls-Royce's world-leading aeroplane engines.

With a grant of £2m from SYMCA, a total of £21.3m is funding an increase in the capability and productivity of the facility, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced turbine blades for Rolls-Royce jet engines that power long haul aircraft. Additional specialist machines funded by the investment will double output at the facility by 2030.

Nigel Bird, Executive Vice President, Turbine Systems, for Rolls-Royce, said: We’re grateful to South Yorkshire’s Mayor for his support. It’s a clear example of how regional government can generate confidence for private sector investment, helping to retain and expand this type of unique UK capability, and supporting UK exports.

“Thanks to Rolls-Royce's ongoing transformation we’re able to make this investment, which will bring benefits to the region and our customers. Our incredible team in Rotherham are making components every day that are pushing the boundaries of science. This investment is a vote of confidence in them and in the capability of the wider region to stay at the forefront of advanced manufacturing. We look forward to future collaboration that will help keep these valuable skills in the community.”

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South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard added: "South Yorkshire is home to world‑class engineering, world‑class innovation and world‑class talent.

“I’m proud that our support will help to unlock growth, keep cutting‑edge manufacturing here in South Yorkshire and further strengthen our role at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing industry.”

The ABCF employs more than 300 people and casts, machines and inspects intermediate and high pressure turbine blades for the Trent XWB-84 which powers the Airbus A350-900 and the Trent 1000 XE, which powers the Boeing 787. Each high pressure turbine blade generates the power of a Formula 1 car, with between 60 and 90 inside each engine to provide enough thrust to propel some of the largest and most efficient aircraft into the sky.

Investment Zone status provides South Yorkshire with up to £160m over ten years which can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses.

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Rolls-Royce

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