News: Housebuilder submits plans for development on safeguarded Rotherham greenbelt site

Land taken out of the greenbelt in Rotherham could be home to 231 houses, if plans submitted to Rotherham Council by a national housebuilder are approved.

The plans from Taylor Wimpey represent the use of "safeguarded land" rather than land specifically allocated for residential use in the borough's local plan.

The plans are for 12.12 hectares of land currently in agricultural use located to the north of Rawmarsh, off Priestley Avenue.

The application proposes 231 dwellings with a range of two, three and four bedroom homes, all of which are designated as affordable housing. Taylor Wimpey says that this mix supports various needs, from young professionals to families and those looking to downsize.

The application states: "The site is identified as Safeguarded land SL1. This means land that is set aside for development in case it is needed for development. Given the current housing shortage and the fact that the site is available and achievable now, it is considered to be an appropriate site to come forward in the short term for new homes."

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Bounded by existing residential properties to the south, the land is close to Warren Vale Community Woodland and Sandhill Park. Historically, the site was agricultural land until the western half was covered with ‘colliery spoil’ associated with adjacent colliery land. Rawmarsh Colliery and Victoria Colliery were located nearby.

When the land was taken out of the greenbelt the policy document stated that: "Further investigation and assessment will be required to determine suitable highways, cycle and pedestrian access. The site is adjacent to a landfill site and further investigation and potential mitigation measures will be required to address likely contamination and methane gas issues."

Connected land to the west, close to Warren Vale, will not be used as part of the housing development due to the potential for significant contamination relating to the presence of colliery spoil.

Access to the development is proposed to be taken from Priestley Avenue between number 71 and 73. Areas of public open space are shown to the northeast corner where a SuDS drainage is provided and in the southwest of the site where a play area is proposed.

Taylor Wimpey is hoping to bring forward the houses in conjunction with Wakefield District Housing (WDH), a registered provider of affordable housing. It echoes the £28m devlopment the devleoper and provider are working on off Kilnhurst Road to provide 135 homes, available for a mix of affordable rent, rent to buy and shared ownership, managed by WDH. Taylor Wimpey had faced viability issues before teaming up with WDH who could access funding via Homes England.

Taylor Wimpey website

Images: Taylor Wimpey / Google Maps

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News: New heading for Rotherham sailing club

Contractors, Kier are making headway with a multimillion pound development at a Rotherham country park and now plans have been drafted for a new home for a local sailing club.

A £7.4m contract got underway at the end of 2024 for an improvement and regeneration project at Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, the centrepiece being a new waterfront café.

Rotherham Council confirmed last year that the scope for the project had reduced with some aspects of the orignal plans removed, affecting the future of Firbeck Sailing Club.

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A planning application from Kier and Rotherham Council explains: "A new visitors centre is being provided on the existing site historically occupied by Firbeck Sailing Club. A development site had been designated just south of the Water Sports & Activities Centre building to rehome Firbeck Sailing club, however, due to budgetary restrictions associated with redeveloping this site, a new location has been selected further south along the lake which will provides a more cost-effective location to construct a new boat storage and welfare facility for Firbeck Sailing Club."

The new site is closer to the Cable Waterski & Aqua Park - the North of England's biggest cable wake park.

Proposals are to construct a sailing club with parking spaces, boat bays and a welfare unit. The secure storage compound also includes a slipway.

Built on grassland, the propsal will result in both the permanent and temporary loss and/or alteration of some of the habitats located on the proposed re-development site. Consultant's reports and the council's ecology department make a number of reccomendations regarding the loss of habitats and biodiversity net gain.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund (LUF), £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

At Rother Valley, physical works were programmed to commence in Autumn 2024 and complete in Autumn 2025.

Images: Firbeck Sailing Club / Facebook

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News: SMH Payroll expands into new office in Rotherham

SMH Payroll, part of the SMH Group, has relocated to a new office in Rotherham as it continues to expand its payroll services offering. The move marks an important milestone in the firm’s growth, providing additional space and facilities to support both clients and employees.

SMH Payroll provides comprehensive payroll solutions, including payroll processing, pension auto-enrolment, and compliance support, allowing businesses to focus on their operations while ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

Andrew Senior, Head of SMH Payroll, said: “This move is an exciting step forward for SMH Payroll. Our continued growth means we needed a larger space to accommodate our expanding team and evolving client needs.”

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SMH has office space on Mansfield Road in Rotherham town centre.

The new office reflects SMH Payroll’s commitment to delivering a high-quality, outsourced payroll service to businesses across the region. As payroll compliance and regulations become increasingly complex, the firm is focused on ensuring businesses have access to expert payroll management that keeps them compliant and operating efficiently.

The move aligns with SMH Group’s long-term strategy of expanding its service offering to meet the needs of businesses across Yorkshire and Derbyshire. With expertise spanning a wide range of services including accounting, financial planning, commercial finance, and payroll, the firm is a trusted partner for businesses seeking a full suite of professional services.

SMH website

Images: SMH

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News: Signs are that NatWest are taking Rotherham call centre building

NatWest, the major UK-based retail and commercial bank, appears to be taking on a vacant building in the Manvers area of Rotherham.

A planning application has recently been approved for new signage at Callflex Business Park showing that the company intends to use Unit 6, also known as Discovery House.

Recruitment for Customer Service Advisors based in the building began in February after refurbishment completed last year.

NatWest took on the large Cyan Building at Adwick Park in Manvers in 2007 when RBS Group plc, now known as NatWest Group plc, moved their Lombard business across Rotherham.

Lombard is one of the UK's leading asset finance providers and started out as the North Central Wagon and Finance Company in Rotherham in 1861.

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Unit 6 at Callflex is 33,822 sq ft and was previously used as a call centre by the The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Rothbiz reported in 2022 that at least 1,000 jobs were at risk over DWP's planned closure of 13 processing sites, including Rotherham.

Records indicate that Ashfield District Council operates the Callflex building as an investment property.

Also at Manvers, the Concentrix Call Centre at Adwick Park has been put up for sale as an investment.

At 62,652 sq ft over two floors on a 4.95 acre site, there is car parking either side of the building providing 440 car spaces.

The property is let on an FRI lease to Telecom Service Centres Ltd (TCS). The lease was re-geared last year on a ten year term from March 2024 at £430,000 per annum with a tenant option to break March 2029. TCS has been in occupation since 1999.

Concentrix Corporation is based in the United States with operations around the world, including the UK business entity, Telecom Service Centres Ltd. It has previously operated under the name, Webhelp. Concentrix set out plans in 2023 to buy Paris-based outsourcing and consultancy firm Webhelp in a $4.8 billion deal.

AP Investment and Andrew Dixon & Company are marketing the Manvers property for sale having been instructed to seek offers in excess of £4m.

Images: AP Investment / Knight Frank

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News: Gym fit for retail use

A weight has been lifted for the landlords of a Rotherham building who will now be able to fit out a former gym in Rotherham for retail use.

i-Motion Gym in Parkgate closed in 2023 when management said that a combination of factors, including the COVID pandemic and the energy crisis, "had made the business books difficult to navigate."

Rothbiz reported in 2018 that a deal for the operating company was secured after administrators were called in after the firm struggled in the challenging environment for low cost gym operators.

Since closing, the 12,266 sq ft Unit 10 at Stoddart Way, Foundry Retail Park, has been advertised to let with the agents, Knight Frank, explaining: "The unit has most recently been used as a gym but can be stripped out / refurbished to suit the requirements of an incoming occupier."

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Rotherham Foundry RP Limited has recently asked Rotherham Council to confirm the potential usage of the site given changes to planning legislation.

Changes in 2020 grouped Commercial, Business and Service in Use Class E and includes both the retail sale of goods, other than hot food, and indoor sport, recreation or fitness uses including gyms.

A report from the planning officer at Rotherham Council, said: "In this case, the key issue is whether or not the existing use falls within use class E and therefore doesn’t require a change of use application.

"It is considered that the proposed use of the unit for retail can be carried out without the submission of a full planning application, as the previous and proposed uses fall within the same wider use class and as such there is no material change in the use of the building."

Documents from the administration of i-Motion (Rotherham) Ltd has the landlords, Rotherham Foundry RP Limited, listed as an unsecured creditor, owed over £565,000.

The rest of the adjoining retail park, which was built as part of the enterprise zone and known as Great Eastern Retail Park, is now fully let after the 2024 openings of B&Q and Rotherham Hospice.

Images: Knight Frank

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