News: New parking system at Forge Island includes four hours free

Users of the Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham town centre will now be able to park for free for up to four hours.

Forge Island is Rotherham town centre's landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema and a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel and food outlets - Vetro Lounge, Sygnature Dish and Heavenly Desserts.

Rothbiz reported last month on a council decision regarding a hybrid, ticketless parking system to introduce new concessionary free parking and new parking charges. An original tariff for the 340 space car park has never been implemented due to "operational issues."

The chosen option introduces concessions for all other businesses as part of the Forge Island development alongside the current free parking for cinema and hotel users.

From this week, the authority is implementing parking fees of up to 1 hour for free with up to 2 hours costing £2.50, up to 4 hours would be £5, and up to 24 hours would be £8.

Additionally, parking concessions have been extended to customers of all businesses located within the Forge Island development providing four hours of free parking.

Guests at the Travelodge are still entitled to free overnight parking between 4pm and 10am.

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An update from the Council states: "Enter your registration number on the devices in the business you're visiting. Our automated number plate recognition system will take care of the rest!

"You can of course park for longer than four hours - but just the first four hours are free. If you stay longer, you'll need to pay for the remainder of your visit.

"If you’re not visiting Forge Island businesses, you can still park for up to an hour for free, but longer stays will incur a charge. You will need to pay at a pay station before returning to your vehicle."

In making the decision, the authority explained that it had experienced difficulties in attracting businesses to Forge Island and in letting the units, and had received complaints from the tenants in respect of the car park.

In October 2025, the council's Parking Services staff were drafted in to ensure the site was used appropriately following "heavy usage by non-genuine customers," given the proximity to Riverside House, the police station and the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / Google Maps

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News: Official opening for new Rotherham country park facilities

A lakeside café is open again at a country park in Rotherham following an extensive refurbishment.

Utilising government funding, Rotherham Council has led on a project to upgrade an aging building at Thrybergh Country Park to create a modern, welcoming café with refreshed décor and a spacious outdoor terrace with spectacular views across the lake.

Local firm O&P Construction began work as the main contractor last year.

Visitors can now enjoy a contemporary new look designed to complement the park’s natural surroundings, with a modern, inviting interior and fully accessible toilets and entrances for people with mobility needs.

The café’s menu is also serving up a brand-new look, with weary walkers able to enjoy tasty breakfasts, freshly brewed coffee and handcrafted sandwiches alongside daily-baked treats.

The project was given a budget of £789,873 and is being funded by a £19.9m package of investment secured by the Council from the Government and its Local Regeneration Fund.

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Cllr. Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces, said: "The new cafe is superb - whether you're grabbing a morning coffee, or unwinding with an afternoon treat, there’s no better spot than the new lakeside terrace.

“The Country Park is a much loved Rotherham gem with both residents and visitors, and this investment will really help it reach its full potential as a welcoming, accessible destination – and this is just one example of how we’re forging ahead with improvements across our attractions.”

A larger project was initially planned for Thrybergh with £2.5m plans for a new café building, but they were scrapped due to rising costs.

£325,000 of work to resurface paths has also taken place at the park and the next phase of upgrades will be at the play area. A £117,645 contract has recently been awarded by the council to local firm, Lightmain, for the creation of a play area with associated fencing, surfacing and planting works.

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham planning board recommended to give green light for Gleeson housing plans

The planning board at Rotherham Council are being recommended by officers to approve plans when it meets later this month to decide on an application for over 100 houses from developer, Gleeson.

It comes less than a month after rival plans were withdrawn.

Rothbiz reported in 2024 that Gleeson Homes had identified a site at Mansfield Road in Aston for a new development with a planning application submitted for 111 houses.

The wider site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accommodated here alongside employment uses.

Another planning application for part of the site was submitted for 155 houses by Persimmon Homes in 2019 but was withdrawn last month.

Gleeson's plans are for a mix of houses across the sloping site but have been revised to now total 107 houses. 27 will have 2 bedrooms, 51 will have 3 bedrooms and 29 will have 4 bedrooms. The majority of the development will be two-storey in height, with the exception of the 12 bungalows.

The main access to the new development would be from Mansfield Road with existing telegraph wires and poles redirected to enable development. The south of the site would include open space and wetlands in the drainage area.

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A report from Cushman & Wakefield submitted with the application confirms that "landowners Network Space Ltd have owned the Site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development."

A report from planning officers states: "There is considerable, more attractive and easily deliverable land supply available, closer or adjacent to larger existing industrial areas, meaning that the loss of the Mansfield Road site from the employment allocation will have limited impact on local supply.

"For residential development, lower costs associated with topographical constraints and ground conditions owing to smaller footprints; coupled with higher achievable end values could cover the costs of development to support a viable scheme. As such, the proposal for residential development at the Mansfield Road site is considered acceptable given the constraints of the site for bringing it forward for employment development."

The viability of the scheme means that only nine of the houses are set to be classed as affordable with Rotherham Council's policy setting that 25% of houses should be affordable in developments of this size. The applicant sets out that despite the site being located in a good market location, relatively high abnormal development costs reduce the financial viability of the scheme.

58 letters were submitted as part of the planning process with many objections, including from the local parish council.

Recommending the application be granted planning permission, any approval comes with a number of conditions. A legal agreement between the council and the developer called a Section 106 agreement (a mechanism which makes a development proposal acceptable in planning terms, that would not otherwise be acceptable) would include over £600,000 being covered by the developer for things like education provision at the nearby Aston Academy and expanding medical facilities at Swallownest Health Centre.

The site is adjacent to another potential housing site where builder Keepmoat is progressing plans. Closer to Swallownest, the site known as Aston Common was allocated for residential use in the council's local plan that was adopted in 2018, taking it out of the green belt.

Agents said last year that the intention was to pursue a full planning application for 189 dwellings on the 16.2 hectare site.

Gleeson Homes website

Images: Gleeson / Google Maps

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News: Dinnington regen plans updated as demolition set to begin

A multimillion pound regeneration scheme in a Rotherham town needs updating but work on site is set to begin later this month with the demolition of burnt-out buildings.

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

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

Revised plans are now being prepared for units on Laughton Road.

After detailed surveys revealed the buildings were in a worse condition than anticipated, the Council now intends to fully demolish and rebuild the buildings rather than refurbish them to deliver a safer, higher‑quality and future‑proofed space for businesses that will also better meet the needs of the community.

The scheme has also 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.

The new building plans will be submitted for planning approval this month. A tender process to appoint a main contractor will begin shortly, with work expected to begin on site in the summer.

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Rotherham Council, who acquired the required properties last year, recently appointed local firm, Ron Hull Demolition, to carry out work on site. The demolition, which will start on February 23, will include the removal of the former florists and dance studio on Laughton Road, which were destroyed by fire.

Demolition work is expected to be completed by March.

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. Interest from businesses in the scheme is high.

Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: “I’m delighted to see the first steps being taken in this exciting new chapter for Dinnington.

“The demolition marks a significant milestone, clearing away buildings that have long been seen as eyesores and signalling the start of real, visible progress.

“Our decision to demolish the remaining buildings rather than refurbish them means that residents, businesses and visitors to Dinnington can expect a brand-new development to be proud of. We want to make sure the regeneration of the high street is as cost-effective as possible and rebuilding the units now will mean we avoid costly refurbishment work in the future.

“This is just the beginning of a transformation that will bring lasting benefits to the town and its community. It’s all part of the Council’s commitment to ensuring places are thriving, safe and clean.”

The Government has confirmed that the spending on the project can be extended from 2026 to 2028.

Images: Google Maps / RMBC / AHR

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News: Rotherham Persimmon plans pulled

An application for 155 houses in Rotherham by Persimmon Homes submitted in 2019 is no longer being assessed by the local planning authority. It comes as rival housebuilders prepare plans for the adjacent plots of land.

Rothbiz reported last year that a masterplan was updated for a proposed housing scheme on a parcel of land at Aston where developers have been unable to bring forward a commercial scheme.

Persimmon Homes and Gleeson Homes had both identified the site at Mansfield Road for development.

The wider site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accomodated here alongside employment uses.

Landowners Network Space Ltd has owned the site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development.

Gleeson's 2024 plans are for 111 houses - a mix of houses across the sloping site - 23, two-bed houses, 63, three-bed and 25, four-bed. Twelve are designed as bungalows.

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Rotherham Council has asked for a masterplan for the "comprehensive development of the whole site" which is required to support any planning permission.

Consultants, nineteen47 on behalf of Gleeson Homes, submitted a masterplan, which includes planned uses for Gleeson's site, Persimmon's site, and a remaining parcel of land between the existing Mansfield Road Industrial Estate and the A57 Aston Bypass.

The 2024 application for Gleeson, drawn up by Nineteen47, explains: "The neighbouring application to the east does not comprise committed residential development. The application was validated in December 2019 and since that time very limited progress has been made towards the determination of the application. There is no clear rationale for the delays and the application could yet be withdrawn or refused by the LPA, it cannot be relied upon to satisfy the housing requirement within the allocation. The proposed housing within this application could therefore contribute to the anticipated provision of housing within the site."

The 2019 Permisson application remained undetermined until last month and is now listed as withdrawn.

The whole site is adjacent to another potential housing site where builder Keepmoat is progressing plans. Closer to Swallownest, the site known as Aston Common was allocated for residential use in the council's local plan that was adopted in 2018, taking it out of the green belt.

Agents said last year that the intention was to pursue a full planning application for 189 dwellings on the 16.2 hectare site.

Images: Google Maps / Gleeson / nineteen47 / niemen

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