Thursday, December 12, 2024

News: Rotherham colliery restoration plans updated

By

A planning application has been submitted to make changes to a reclamation scheme of Maltby Colliery in Rotherham that would have seen the Green Belt returned into woodland and grassland by 2023.

Owned and operated by Hargreaves Services plc, the 500 acre colliery was mined for over 100 years until geological conditions could not be overcome and underground operations ceased in 2013.

It had been expected to continue coal production until 2025 but the winding tower was brought down in 2014 and the mine shafts have been filled and capped. With the sudden closure, the future restoration scheme, included in the planning permission for the mine's operation, was re-examined and plans were approved in 2017.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on the intention of the site owner to update the plans.

The 2017 scheme, which has been delayed by COVID, involved cut and fill operations and the importation of 1.32 million tonnes of suitable fill material and 150,000 tonnes of soil making materials. The 2024 scheme includes the importation of approximately 1.63 million cubic metres of suitable fill, including soil making materials, and would extend the restoration until the end of September 2033.

The latest application also confirms proposals to develop a quarry on the north east part of the pit yard which would provide for the extraction of 3.9 million tonnes of magnesian limestone to supply local markets and those further afield.

After quarrying and backfilling, a development platform for beneficial employment use would be created.

Advertisement
Reagrding traffic impacts, the plans explain: "It is assumed that approximately 300,000 tonnes per annum of fill, including soil making materials, will be imported by HGVs using the existing site access off the A631 Tickhill Road during the Proposed Development.

"Mineral export by HGVs will be approximately 200,000 tonnes per annum during Phases 3 to 7 inclusive [up to 2029] and it is envisaged that two thirds will be round trip movements importing fill on the return leg to the Site. This will generate an average of 128 HGV movements (64 in/64 out) per working day similar to the currently approved reclamation scheme. It is assumed that the remainder of the fill import and mineral export will be by train using the existing rail head on the pit yard until the end of September 2033, with up to 16 trains per week."

It is envisaged that fill material will typically include inert and/or non-hazardous wastes such as construction and demolition arisings. A permit from the Environment Agency will be required.

Applicants, Maltby Management Limited (MML), add that the new scheme "represents a safe, sustainable and appropriate proposal which is achievable in both a practical and economic sense and is not reliant on European, national or local government funding which is no longer considered available.

"MML anticipate that any ‘gate fee’ revenue received from the import of fill, including and soil making materials, to the Site will contribute towards the cost of implementing the reclamation of the Colliery Tip and MML will need to finance any residual balance to complete the Scheme where necessary."

In 2023 Hargreaves exchanged contracts on 28-acre site at Maltby for the sale of 185 residential plots that will generate gross proceeds of £4.9m.

Hargreaves website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Medical equipment manufacturer moves back to Rotherham

By

Wassenburg Ltd, which is a world leader in manufacturing endoscope reprocessing products and solutions, has taken a 10,900 sq ft modern warehouse and office unit at Ignite @ Magna Business Park in Rotherham.

The Dutch-owned company is taking a five-year lease, at a headline rent of £8.95 per sq ft at Templeborough.

The move is made possible by global steel business Danieli moving from Templeborough to a new purpose built headquarters in a prime plot on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Andrew Betts, Managing Director of Danieli, said: "As part of Danieli’s relocation to the Advanced Manufacturing Park following significant expansion, Knight Frank was appointed to market our former premises which offered a high quality, industrial/business unit, with above average office content. Following strong interest, a letting to Wassenburg was agreed and Nick Wales of Knight Frank Sheffield has been retained to sell the investment."

Rebecca Schofield of Knight Frank, who dealt with the letting, added: “The Ignite at Magna Development continues to prove popular; the premises are of high quality and are well located with easy access to J33 and 34 M1. Unit 4 Ignite was well received to the market and the layout and fit out proved attractive to occupiers. Wassenburg was attracted to the quality of the unit and the split between office and warehouse space, and it is great to see them relocate and expand in the area.”

Advertisement
In 2011 Wassenburg transferred its UK operation from Hellaby to Smithy Wood in Sheffield.

Rakesh Javer, Managing Director at Wassenburg, said: “We are delighted to relocate to Unit 4 Ignite. The high-quality facilities and strategic location provide the perfect base for our operations as we continue to expand and serve our customers more effectively.”

Ignite @ Magna offers easy access into Rotherham and Sheffield. It is also around one mile from Junction 34 of the M1, and also close to Junction 33 of the M1 allowing distribution networks across the entire country. Well known occupiers nearby include ETA, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Parcel Force and AESSEAL.

Wassenburg was established in 1984 by Gerrit Wassenburg, and has developed from a family company into a global player as an expert in all aspects related to automated endoscope reprocessing.

Since its establishment, Wassenburg, with headquarters in The Netherlands, has grown exponentially and has sales offices in The UK, Ireland, France, Germany, the US and an exclusive distributors network in Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand.

Wassenburg website
Danieli website

Images: Knight Frank

Read more...

News: Plans approved for houses at Waverley Railside

By

The planning board at Rotherham Council has voted to approve an application for one of the remaining plots of land at the massive Waverley development in Rotherham.

At Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield mixed-use development, Harworth Group is transforming the former Orgreave coal mining site in to a new sustainable community that will comprise up to 3,890 homes, shops, restaurants, a primary school, and leisure and community facilities, including 310-acres of green open space.

177 dwellings are proposed for a plot of land known as Plot 4 or Waverley Railside.

The site is bound by Highfield Spring to the north, the Sheffield-Worksop-Lincoln railway to the south, and industrial units to the east and west (Pasuda and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP)).

Advertisement
As plans progress for housing on the site, a potential Waverley train station is also being progressed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA). This would be potentially located next to this site on the Sheffield-Worksop-Lincoln line and be centred on the existing railway bridge which would be upgraded to provide access for all users of the potential new railway hub.

With a mix of housing sizes, from 1 bed to 4 bed, the planning board heard that 113 affordable housing units are to be provided on the site (63.8%), including five 4-bed affordable dwellings and 12 1-bed affordable dwellings.

Jane Beckett, associate director at Barton Wilmore, presented the plans to the planning board on behalf of Harworth Group. She told the board that the plans "deliver much needed affordable housing - a mix of size and tenure will all help to contribute to that affordable provision needed locally. We've tried to work with officers, not to argue about viability, to make sure we are achieving the 21% overall on site."

A number of objections were received but planners concluded that: "The proposed development adequately addresses how the development does not affect the amenity of any existing nearby residents, and that the amenity of the future residents will also be acceptable" given the location near to the road and railway line.

Waverley website

Images: Harworth / nineteen47

Read more...

Monday, December 9, 2024

News: £11.5m new road opens in Rotherham

By

There is some Christmas cheer for shoppers and commuters as a delayed new link road in Rotherham opens.

The new 800 metre road between Aldwarke Lane and both Stonerow Way and Stadium Way provides a second access route to Parkgate Shopping, via a roundabout between the two railway bridges. It is designed to relieve existing congestion on the A633 around Parkgate Shopping and improve traffic flow and bus journey times on the corridor and wider road network.

In addition to improving the vehicular, walking and cycling infrastructure, also included in the scheme is a new 300-space Park & Ride facility for the Parkgate Tram Train terminus, including electric vehicle bays.

The Parkgate Link Road has opened to traffic creating a new entrance and exit from Parkgate Shopping for the festive season but work continues on the car park for the Park & Ride.

Contractors Tilbury Douglas began work on the scheme at the start of 2023 with an initial completion date of February 2024.

Rothbiz reported in July how the completion date was pushed back to "Autumn 2024" as costs increased.

Advertisement
The majority of funding is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Transforming Cities Fund.

Tilbury Douglas' appointment was based on a competitive tender which was completed in December 2021 on a fixed price basis, held until April 2022. The contract was worth £8,420,930 but the planning application wasn’t submitted until August 2022 and the preferred contractor "could not hold their tendered price which was increased to £9,293,987.05."

Various issues with earthworks, drainage, design changes and statutory undertakers’ diversions have occurred during the contract and resulted in an increase to £11.478m.

It is not clear what effect the cost increases will have on the £1.7m needed for upgrades to Taylor's Lane roundabout that was highlighted in the initial scheme.

Rothbiz also reported on how the new road has spurred landowners and developers into action. Outline plans were approved for five units for B2 General industrial and B8 Storage or distribution with a gross external area of 434,862 sq ft on a remaining 22 acre plot of undeveloped land bordered by Aldwarke Lane, Parkgate Shopping, the railway line and the new link road.

The Stadium Group successfully developed Parkgate Shopping retail park in the Enterprise Zone created on the former Parkage steel works. The remaining land was historically used to dispose of blast furnace slag associated with the former steel works and formerly contained coke ovens, a tarred slag works, railway sidings, liquid waste lagoons and a subsequent aggregate working plant.

Images: Tom Austen

Read more...

News: First festive season at Forge Island

By

Visitors to Forge Island in Rotherham can now enjoy some extra special "sparkle" lighting up the new leisure destination throughout the festive season.

To mark its first Christmas since completion, nationwide place maker, Muse – who delivered the scheme in partnership with Rotherham Council – has funded a new light installation in the form of a giant present wrapped in a bow which is now in situ in the attractive waterside setting.

The new landmark development for the town, Forge Island, which officially launched with a special celebration event in September, is home to independent movie theatre, The Arc Cinema and Travelodge Hotel, with a host of eateries set to join the neighbourhood in the coming months.

Raife Gale, Senior Project Manager at Muse said: “We wanted to celebrate the first Christmas season here with something special, and we hope this striking light installation will help spread a little festive cheer. I know there will be lots of people heading to the cinema to enjoy a Christmas film or visiting from further afield to stay at the hotel whilst seeing friends and family locally – and this is a gift from us to welcome everyone coming to enjoy Forge Island.”

The new light installation is a welcome addition to Rotherham town centre’s colourful Christmas illuminations – with hundreds of local people attending the town centre’s official light switch on earlier this month. Forge Island played its part in the celebrations – with processional performances from Punjabi Roots Dhol drummers across the new pedestrian bridge; a sound and light installation entitled ‘Breathe’ by Sheffield-based theatre company Pif-Paf and Moon Palace – a former school bus converted into a mobile observatory and artwork - parking up to offer people an opportunity to ‘star gaze’ on site.

Advertisement
Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council: "The light installation at Forge Island looks fantastic and we'd love to see shoppers visiting Forge Island to take photos with it. We'd like to thank Muse for gifting the installation to Rotherham this Christmas.

"Forge Island is a key part of Rotherham town centre's bright future and we can't wait to welcome new food and drink offers over the coming months to join Arc Cinema and Travelodge. There's lots of work going on behind the scenes and announcements will follow soon, but in the meantime, we'd urge everyone to try Arc Cinema - especially with Christmas blockbusters hitting the screens - with free 3.5-hour parking for cinema goers."

In addition to big name showings including Moana 2 and Wicked, Arc are getting into the Christmas spirit with classic Christmas films for £5, event cinema with The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, discounted family tickets, and a prize draw.

Forge Island has been completely transformed from a derelict site – which has historical significance as a former foundry and an iron works – into a flagship leisure destination for the town. Together with Rotherham Markets, the improvements at Forge Island are a key part of Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration plans which are a catalyst for kickstarting new life into the heart of the borough.

It is hoped that Forge Island will continue to be a central hub for family-friendly activities year-round and the team are exploring opportunities for even more activities to complement other events across the town.

Forge Island is located next to Rotherham train and tram station and there is free parking available on site for cinemagoers and Travelodge users. It is also free to park in all other Council-owned off-street town centre car parks every weekend.

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / RMBC

Read more...
Members:
Supported by:
More news...

  © Blogger template Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP