News: Huge American restaurant chain planning to open in Rotherham

Visit Rotherham reports that a vacant restaurant building could be converted into South Yorkshire's first branch of a huge American fast food restaurant chain, if plans for a new drive thru are approved by Rotherham Council.

With more than 3,000 sites, Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States and is known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. Specialising in chicken sandwiches, the chain's menu also includes salads and milkshakes.

Last year the first restaurant opened in Leeds as part of the company’s commitment to open five restaurants in the UK in the first two years and invest more than $100m in the UK in the next ten years.

Visit Rotherham states that a planning application is on its way for a new 4,000 sq ft restaurant at the Cortonwood Retail Park, which is in Rotherham.

Plans are for the change of use of the existing restaurant building (Use Class E) to a drive-thru restaurant (Use Class E / Sui Generis) plus some external alterations and a 300 sq ft extension to the existing unit.

Rothbiz reported last year that the Pizza Hut restaurant at Cortonwood would close after a UK operator of the brand entered administration.

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The plans, drawn up by agents, Lichfields, state that the proposed development represents an opportunity to bring a vacant unit back into use and add that it "incorporates a high-quality design, including retained and cleaned red brick facades, timber effect planks, bronze fascia canopy and glazing. The overall design approach will significantly improve the appearance of the existing unit while also being in-keeping with the retail character of Cortonwood Retail Park."

To facilitate the new drive-thru lane, on-site car parking will be reduced from 17 spaces to six spaces, comprising four standard bays and two accessible bays.

The application states that a proposed Chick-fil-A drive-thru restaurant would create around 80 jobs, with a mixture of full / part time staff.

Applicants have also carried out a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), as required for hot food takeaway proposals in line with Rotherham Council's planning policies.

Chick-fil-A's franchise model means that most restaurants are locally owned and operated. Local individuals therefore manage each restaurant, being responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business including hiring and developing their staff.

Chick-fil-A is famous in America for being closed on Sundays. The rule started in 1946 with the founder, Truett Cathy, who was a devout Christian and wanted to give workers a guaranteed day off to rest, spend time with family, or go to church.

Chick-fil-A website

Images: Chick-fil-A / Google Maps

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News: Further delays for Dinnington regeneration project as tender fails

More delays have been experienced at a long awaited £12m regeneration scheme in a Rotherham town after the council failed to appoint a contractor to carry out the work.

Led by Rotherham Council, the revamp of Dinnington market, originally approved in 2024, includes clearing derelict buildings, creating a new town square, and developing purpose-built commercial units to diversify the local offer.

The council bid for funding for the project in 2022 and eventually secured £11m in Government funding. It aims to improve the outdoor market, pedestrian routes, and public spaces - creating a healthier, safer, and more sustainable environment for residents, visitors, and businesses.

After delays were caused by a lengthy compulsory purchase order (CPO) process, the Government confirmed that the spending on the project can be extended from 2026 to 2028.

An update on the project from the Council reads: "The project has experienced some challenges during the recent tender process, which has unfortunately led to delays in progress. The Council has been working to address these issues and get the project back on track.

"As part of this process, the scheme is currently being re-tendered to ensure the right contractors are appointed to deliver the project."

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Demolition is underway on site and Rothbiz reported earlier this month on the updated plans for the scheme gaining approval.

The next steps involve site hoardings being installed around the site with the demolition of the indoor market expected to begin on site in early autumn, this is dependent on Northern Power Grid diversion works having been completed in advance. This will be delivered separately from the main construction contract.

The main works contract will be re-tendered, followed by the appointment of a contractor to deliver the wider redevelopment scheme.

The £12m redevelopment of the high street will include a new public square with a flexible pack-away market, purpose-built commercial units creating new opportunities for local businesses, and improved pedestrian links between transport hubs and the high street.

The scheme has been designed to include an outdoor market presence in an improved location and environment, one with demountable stalls which is designed to limit the prevalence of anti-social behaviour and provide dedicated welfare and storage facilities.

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Rotherham printer announces £2m investment

Rotherham-based instantprint has announced a £2m investment in its stickers and labels production, expanding its premium product range and introducing new technology to help businesses create more impactful packaging, branding and promotional materials.

The Manvers company has previously invested in its large format category.

The latest investment includes the installation of new HP Indigo technology alongside an ABG DigiLase Duo digital finishing line with Dual Bar DigiJet, significantly increasing instantprint's capability to produce high-quality stickers and labels with premium embellishments, custom shapes and specialist materials.

As demand for standout packaging and branded products continues to grow, the investment enables instantprint customers to access a wider range of premium options without compromising on affordability, speed or ease of ordering.

Laura Mucklow, Head of Brand at instantprint, said: "Whether it's product packaging, branded giveaways or promotional materials, stickers and labels are often the finishing touch that helps a business make a memorable first impression.

"Our latest investment is all about giving customers more opportunities to create something unique. From premium finishes and specialist materials to custom shapes and reel labels, we're continuing to expand our range so businesses of every size can access professional-quality print that helps them stand out."

At the heart of the investment is the installation of the ABG DigiLase Duo and Dual Bar DigiJet, working alongside new HP Indigo technology to expand instantprint's premium stickers and labels offering.

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The advanced production line allows instantprint to produce more intricate custom shapes and shorter print runs with greater efficiency, while introducing premium embellishments including foil, Spot UV and tactile finishes. Combined with new thermal lamination capabilities, customers can create labels with enhanced durability and a premium look and feel, all through instantprint's easy-to-use online platform.

The investment also supports an expanding range of materials and formats, including transparent and silver metallic polypropylene, custom-shaped stickers and labels supplied on reels for businesses with specialist packaging requirements.

Alongside the investment in production, instantprint has continued to improve the online ordering experience with AI-powered artwork tools, streamlined proofing and enhanced ordering journeys, making it even easier for businesses to create professional stickers and labels with confidence.

Laura added: "Businesses expect more from their print than ever before. They want packaging and marketing materials that reflect the quality of their brand, and they want them quickly. We're continually investing in both our technology and our customer experience to make sure businesses can access the latest print innovations without the complexity traditionally associated with premium print."

The £2m investment marks the latest stage in instantprint's ongoing commitment to innovation, strengthening its stickers and labels range while giving businesses access to more premium products, greater creative freedom and the fast, reliable service they're known for.

instantprint website

Images: instantprint

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News: Objections heard over licence for proposed new events and sports venue in Rotherham

South Yorkshire Police has withdrawn its objections to an events licence for a sports and recreation facility in Rotherham, with work taking place to overcome potential issues using conditions and management control.

Initially the licence application was seeking permission for an outdoor events space at the site of the Guest & Chrimes pitches on Bassingthorpe Lane near Greasbrough.

The application for a premises licence is from SME Enviromental Holdings LTD, the company behind a number of regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre, including The Empire and The Bunka.

Plans show a large venue space complemented with a pavilion and café, plus 77 to 110 car parking spaces. Also shown are seven padel courts and an area for golfing activities - a netted driving range with 13 bays, a chipping area, and a putting area.

The application would be for between May and September and limits the provision licensable activities to a maximum of 16 occasions between 11am and 12 midnight on any day of the week.

With the site accessed via a narrow road, and events proposed that may attract significant numbers of attendees, objections from South Yorkshire Police, the Rotherham Council's Environmental Health department, and local residents were received and the plans have been updated in response.

Diane Kraus, Principal Licensing Officer at Rotherham Council explained to the council's Licensing Sub-Committee: "The significant change that has been made is that the police has continued negotiations with the applicant, and as a result of that, the applicant formally amended the application form.

"Principally, [the application] now seeks for six occasions between May and September, and at this stage the hours of application remain unchanged."

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The applicant has also offered a host of further management conditions including stewarding, vehicle management, monitoring music levels and encouraging patrons to leave the site quietly and respectfully.

Kirsty Leonard for Environmental Health at Rotherham Council, said: "Whilst Environmental Health welcomes the proposed control measures, we consider that they remain largely aspirational and lack sufficient detail to provide confidence that events will be effectively managed and controlled in practice."

The officer told that meeting that the applicant's intention to hold events like galas and farmer's markets was not reflected in the application.

Opposing the application, Environmental Health go on to say that, if the committee are to approve the licence, then they recommend that entertainment and the sale of alcohol is restricted to 11am to 10pm with a maximum of one of the six events being a major music event (where music is the main focus), attracting up to a maximum of 2,000 attendees. The remaining five events may be minor music events (where music is not the main focus) attracting up to a maximum of 500 attendees.

A further 18 conditions are proposed.

South Yorkshire Police has withdrawn its objections but instead put forward 28 management controls, largely focusing on the production of event management plans for each event.

Many of the concerns relate to the use of Gin House Lane to access the site and a number of local residents have also made representations to raise their concerns.

Local councillors gave their support for local events and activities in the ward but were opposed to the application. Cllr Linda Beresford said: "We feel that it is the wrong place to hold large events and has the potential to impact on public safety, to cause noise nuisance, and because of the number of people that could attend, and the time the events could finish, we think this will have a big impact on the community."

Mark McGrail, the applicant, explained to the Licensing Sub-Committee the history of the site that has been a sports facility for over 120 years and the legal agreements in place regarding access and its continued use for sports and recreation now that it is in his ownership.

McGrail said: "The intentions are to put in a new sports facility, a recreational facility and like all sports and recreational facilities, we'll offer a drinking option. Currently we are allowed to do any events within the parameters, so the argument to not be able to do an event up there is null and void, we can still do events up there. This is about licencing for drinks. So if we want to put a sports facility, any sports, any activity around recreation, we are able to do so. The point is that we are trying to control this, make it a safe environment and more community-led environment.

"A lot of issues regarding the access roads and transport up there. Our aim is to create a new facility to add to our projects in Rotherham town centre. We are a ten minute walk from the town centre, eight minutes from the [proposed mainline] train station. The council are looking at a bridge as part of the Gateway railway station, all that area where Greasbrough Road is is all getting redeveloped and this is a link to that.

"This ain't about raves all night, this ain't about music event sites like Hooton Lodge. This is about us creating a facility and creating a fund to create that facility. I am not about to cause mayhem and put Iron Maiden on in the middle of the night.

"I know that Rotherham Council is eager for me to build the sports facility but this is all part of it. Our planning application has gone in but we've held it back for this meeting.

"The reason why we are trying to do this is that the business model is to revitalise the town centre with leisure and tourism, same as Rother Valley, same as everybody else. This is a facility where people can camp there, glamp there, drink there, enjoy sports there, and use Gin House Lane as a pedestrianised area."

The applicant went on to discuss the issues with the COMAH [Control of Major Accident Hazards] in place at the Victrex site nearby, the lack of council maintenance of the highways, and that the sports facility was operating before any of the nearby housing estate was built.

The wider Bassingthorpe housing development was also discussed with the applicant keen to use his land to create a facility that can service the proposed 2,000 home development on former greenbelt land.

McGrail added: "There will be sports facilities, there will be a restaurant, there will be a cafe on there, a community element on that site, we've got padel courts planned. When that facility is done, we still need to apply for a premises licence regardless. This [current application] pre-empts that facility and for us, it determines which avenue we go down. But there needs to be an understanding that it is part of a bigger picture other than just a field getting a licence. It is part of a larger community - 2,400 houses, community, school, everything else.

"This application has been reduced to a point so we are not essentially having events every day. We can still hold sports and recreational activity events but we want it to be a controlled environment where we can deliver something better for the community.

"I am passionate enough to get it delivered, and strong enough to see it what it needs to be. If it is was about money I should sell the land for housing, but it's not, it's about bringing it back into use."

Having heard the representations, the Licensing Sub-Committee went into a private session to decide on the licence application. A decision is expected to be published in due course.

Images: Google Maps

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News: AESSEAL extend Rotherham United stadium naming rights deal

Rotherham manufacturer, AESSEAL, has extended its partnership agreement for the stadium naming rights at Rotherham United.

With global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL manufactures seals to stop leakage of harmful liquids and gases into the environment for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

The £20m home of Rotherham United was first called The AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2014. The substantial deal worth six figures was signed two years after the stadium opened on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

With one year remaining on the previous five-year agreement, the AESSEAL New York Stadium name will continue until the end of the 2029/30 season.

Chris Rea, managing director at AESSEAL, said: “We are delighted to extend our long-standing association with Rotherham United Football Club and the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"Over more than a decade, we have built a strong relationship with the club, which in turn benefits the wider Rotherham community.

“The stadium is home to a range of businesses and supports many more across the town, with local trade driven both directly through the club and on matchdays. Some of those may well not be here but for the existence of the club, which has played a vital part in the fabric of Rotherham life since its formation in 1925.

“We were proud to become the club’s first stadium sponsor in 2014, and we remain equally proud to continue that commitment through to the end of the 2029/30 season.”

AESSEAL recognises that Rotherham United could receive a more financially attractive offer from another company and, if that occurs, has told the club it would be willing to step aside.

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Steve Coakley, Commercial Director at Rotherham United, said: "We remain massively thankful to Chris Rea, and all colleagues across the AESSEAL Group, for the incredible support and belief afforded to us and the wider Rotherham community.

“We enjoy such a strong relationship, full of admiration and pride, as to what has been achieved both at AESSEAL and for the strength of shared values that have developed for well over a decade.

“The extended stadium naming agreement comes in addition to AESSEAL’s recent commitment to remain a Diamond Partner for the 2026/2027 season, the fourth consecutive year - a collaboration between five local businesses that enables the Rotherham Hospice name and logo to appear in pride of place on the front of shirt position.

“AESSEAL is such a unique success story, having started right here in Rotherham on Mangham Road back in 1979 with just five members of staff.

“Their incredible growth since then now sees them employ over 2,000 people within 108 locations, covering Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and with bases on all four sides of Australia, serving more than 100 countries.

“It is now one of the world’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems and has experienced an incredible 47 years of continuous growth.

“AESSEAL’s reputation in business has been hard-earned and is one that speaks for itself, but it has been really pleasing to see that now translate into the footballing world, in which people immediately associate their name with our first team home.”

RUFC website
AESSEAL website

Images: RUFC

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