News: The Food Warehouse gets opening date for new Rotherham location

The Food Warehouse has an opening date for its new store at a popular Rotherham retail destination.

Rothbiz revealed last year that, following TUI's relocation, The Food Warehouse was eyeing up the former TUI unit next to Morrisons at Parkgate Shopping.

The Iceland brand is set to open on June 30.

The Food Warehouse is part of the Iceland Foods Group and is revolutionising the way that people shop in stores. It takes the same product lines as Iceland and extends them in a warehouse space, giving customers the ability to buy in bulk and take advantage of the savings.

The 12,500 sq ft store is a newly reconfigured store space to allow for The Food Warehouse's super simple store layout with wider and fewer aisles.

A spokesperson for The Food Warehouse said: "To celebrate our new store, we've got £1,500 worth of the Food Warehouse vouchers to giveaway to the first 150 customers, and more! The Food Warehouse brings you new and exclusive brands, great selection of bigger value packs, plus we're stocked up with all your favourite household essentials."

Another recent opening is mydentist which has relocated from Rotherham town centre.

Advertisement
Looking ahead, a one of the last remaining vacant units is now listed as being under offer. The 11,000 sq ft unit was vacated by Sports Direct when the store relocated to a large Frasers Group unit at Parkgate,

At the current Poundstretcher unit, a planning application has recently been submitted by the site's owners that would split the unit in two seperate units. Agents for the applicants say that the works are proposed to enable the floorspace to be reoccupied.

Also at Parkgate the iconic steel tree sculpture that has welcomed visitors to the shopping park since 2018 has found a new home at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

The six metre metal structure, has been relocated to the heart of the hospice’s memory garden – which helps to provide a peaceful space for families to reflect and remember their loved ones.

The bespoke piece of artwork was created by celebrated local sculptor Steve Mehdi who was inspired by Parkgate’s former logo. Following the leading shopping park’s rebrand in October 2025 – complete with a new logo – it was important to everyone at Parkgate that the sculpture was repurposed and found a home where it could continue to be appreciated by the community.

The relocation was made possible with the support of Parkway Sheet Metals, H.Askey Transport, Bramley Construction and Landscape Ltd and Holemasters Demtech Ltd whose teams played a key role in ensuring the safe moving of the sculpture.

Mark Kanaris-Sotiriou Senior Operations Manager at Parkgate said: “We’re incredibly proud to be donating Parkgate’s tree sculpture to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. The steel sculpture has welcomed visitors to the park for nearly a decade, and we’re glad that it will remain part of the community in Bluebell Wood’s memory garden. The team at the hospice undertake incredible work caring for babies, children and young people, as well as providing vital support for their families. We’re so proud to partner with them through this addition to the memory garden."

Heidi Hawkins, CEO of Bluebell Wood commented: "We are delighted to welcome this new sculpture to Bluebell Wood. The garden is a very special and important part of our hospice and with summer just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for families to enjoy this wonderful addition. We are incredibly grateful to Parkgate for their support and look forward to sharing this feature with the families in our care."

The Food Warehouse website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Food Warehouse / Parkgate Shopping

Read more...

News: Lloyds to close another Rotherham branch

Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed plans to close another branch in Rotherham as part of plans to close 79 branches across the country.

The bank says that most customers are now using the app, online services or phone banking.

The Rotherham town centre branch is closing on October 15 2026.

The last closure was the Wickersley branch in 2023.

Lloyds has carried out an assessment of the location on Wellgate which says that just 610 customers were regular monthly branch users - those who transacted at the counter or Immediate Deposit Machine (IDM) four months out of six months ending February 2026.

The Closing Branch Review said that 75% of customers to the Rotherham branch also used other Lloyds branches, and online banking or phone banking – in the six month period ending February 2026.

Advertisement
Following the closure, Lloyds customers needing to use a branch can visit any Halifax or Bank of Scotland branch to do things like pay in cash and cheques, take out or transfer money and pay bills. Rotherham town centre still has a Halifax on Howard Street.

Customers can also use the nearby Post Office for everyday banking.

The nearest Lloyds branch is in Sheffield city centre.

The bank says: "We regularly review how our customers choose to bank with us. And, with most now using our app, online services or phone banking, we're closing our Rotherham branch.

"Lloyds is proud to be part of the same family as Halifax and Bank of Scotland. We’re introducing more ways you can manage any personal accounts you have with Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland in one place, using co-servicing. Whether that’s online through the apps and online banking, or with a colleague over the phone, or in a branch."

The freehold of the property at 9 Wellgate sold for £225,000 in 2024. The substantial three storey building totals 5,402 sq ft and was sold with the possibility of future development potential.

Lloyds Bank Plc have been in occupation since 1996.

Lloyds website

Images: SMC Brownhill Vickers

Read more...

News: Infrared workout studio coming to Rotherham

A new concept gym looks set to strengthen a Rotherham regeneration scheme.

A prominent brownfield site at Eastwood was transformed by a scheme centred around new food retail units. The vacant site at Mushroom Roundabout was previously home to a D.C. Cook car dealership but was empty since 2008 following demolition. QFM has pioneered the scheme which is currently home to Taco Bell and KFC. A Toby Carvery pub also operates on the site.

A gym was previously on site above the food outlets but closed during COVID.

Now QFM is hoping to reintroduce a gym at the site following the relocation of Taco Bell to the purpose-built drive thru unit.

J.I.M - Joy In Movement is the UK’s first fully automated infrared fitness studio. A new concept involves "30-minute, low-impact classes in 40° heat, set to fresh DJ-produced beats, designed to help people sculpt, stretch, strengthen, and feel good in their bodies."

The Australian firm opened its first studio in 2023 and now has 35 studios. It signed a franchise deal to expand to the UK and is targeting ten studios in the next 12 months, with 100 the target over the next five years.

QFM brought the franchise to Sheffield earlier this year and is rolling it out across the UK. It offers 100+ classes per week and is open 365 days a year - designed to fit real life.

Advertisement
The Joy In Movement mission is to create a fun, non-intimidating, group training experience that leverages technology and infrared heat for more results - in less time.

The state of the art infrared technology helps create a detoxifying sweat that stimulates blood circulation, improves flexibility, and accelerates weight loss. Each J.I.M. class offers short and effective workouts that incorporate aspects of popular and effective exercise methods, such as Pilates, Yoga and Functional Training.

The business model has been successful because it is a member only, subscription-based model that aims to maintain 150 members in a small studio, with a studio manager and no staff.

An application for signage has been submitted and recruitment is underway for a studio manager for the Rotherham location.

Joy In Movement website

Images: Joy In Movement

Read more...

News: Esh Construction appointed to deliver £3.1m Rotherham flood alleviation scheme

Plans to strengthen flood defences at Whiston have taken a step forward with Rotherham Council appointing Esh Construction to complete the £3.1m Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The project aims to reduce the flood risk along Whiston Brook, a tributary of the River Rother which flows through the centre of the village, and has been affected by recurring flooding in recent years.

Most recently, Whiston experienced significant floods in October 2023, with high water levels exacerbated by surface water runoff and pressure on existing drainage infrastructure. Flooding has previously impacted homes, businesses and the local road network, including Howarth Road and Long Lane.

Steven Garrigan, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “Whiston has experienced the very real impacts of flooding in recent years, and this scheme will play a vital role in better protecting residents, businesses and local infrastructure.

“By combining flood storage, improved conveyance and naturalised watercourse enhancements, the project takes a holistic approach to managing flood risk while also delivering environmental benefits. We’re pleased to be working with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a solution that supports long-term resilience for the village.”

The project will introduce a series of targeted interventions at key locations to manage water flow more effectively, reduce peak flood levels and improve resilience across the surrounding area. Works will be delivered across three main sites.

Advertisement
At Worrygoose Lane, Esh will install a new parallel culvert and upsize existing culvert sections to increase the maximum capacity the brook can hold alongside the construction of a new flood wall and embankment. Improvements will also be made to the culvert inlet headwall serving a tributary flowing from Sitwell Golf Course.

Upstream of the village, within agricultural land at Royds Moor Farm, an online Flood Storage Reservoir (FSR) will be created to temporarily store floodwater and release it in a controlled manner, which will target reduced volume and the speed of water reaching Whiston during heavy rainfall.

The project also includes realignment and meandering of Whiston Brook through the storage area, with existing culverts removed to allow the watercourse to run in the open. New wetland areas and backwaters will be created to support biodiversity, providing habitat for aquatic wildlife and plant species.

Further works will see the diversion of a Yorkshire Water surface water conduit to improve flow routing, along with upgrades to the B6410 Royds Moor Hill road crossing, where the existing structure will be upsized and new headwalls and parapets installed to increase flood capacity. Additional improvements will be carried out at nearby road crossings to help manage runoff and reduce surface water ponding.

Cllr Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “We know flooding has been worrying for people living in Whiston, and we understand how it has affected people’s lives. This scheme is an important step in helping to reduce flooding in the future. It will help manage water during heavy rain and protect homes, businesses and local roads.

“We’re pleased to be working with Esh Construction on this project. We will keep residents updated during the works and will do our best to keep disruption to a minimum.”

It is anticipated that when the project completes, the Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme will significantly reduce flood risk through the village centre and limit the effects of high rainfall causing flooding in Whiston by storing the water in an upstream reservoir and slowly releasing it.

Esh Construction website

Images: Esh Construction

Read more...

News: AMP transformation makes Rotherham a global story

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is described as one of the best examples of economic development in the country, with its impact something you can see, physically and numerically.

A new report from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) has examined Rotherham’s economic transformation over the past two decades, building on a report last year that showed that Rotherham had the fastest-growing sub-regional economy in the North, with a 63.9% increase in productivity between 2004 and 2023.

The latest analysis pinpoints the smaller area that includes the AMP - the site at Waverley developed by Harworth and anchored by the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which now supports a cluster which brings together businesses like Boeing, Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive with world-class research capability.

The report shows that real gross value added (GVA) grew in the AMP area from £111.6m in 2004 to £369.8m in 2022, a 231% increase in real terms, the strongest of any area in the borough by a substantial margin.

In 2022, small-area GVA per employee job in the AMP area reached £79,400 (2022 prices), 50% above the borough average and up 46.5% in real terms since 2015. The report says that this strongly indicates that the AMP is generating high-value economic activity.

Henri Murison, Chief Executive at The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, was talking at a Rotherham Together Partnership event last week about the transformation. He said that his organisation has been intrigued by the borough, saying that there was something "unusual and special about Rotherham."

Murison said: "The AMP economic trajectory is way above the borough, and the normal economy, and you can physically and numerically see the impact."

Situated on the former Orgreave colliery and coking works site, the AMP represents a striking example of economic renewal. An area once synonymous with the challenges of industrial decline, it is now home to one of Europe’s most significant clusters of advanced manufacturing, research and engineering activity.

Murison added: "The AMP is one of the country's best examples of economic development and the commitment by the area's leadership to push forward and prioritise employers like Rolls-Royce has had genuine dividends."

He referenced the collaboration with city neighbours, where the innovation district has expanded over the border from the AMP onto the site of the former Sheffield airport, and said that closing the economic productivity gap with city neighbours, as Rotherham has done, was unusual.

Murison concluded that Rotherham will need to take risks to continue the growth and pointed to the potential of the Don Valley Corridor and new Rotherham Gateway station on the mainline.

He said: "The point is, you have done this before, and when people like us say that you are likely to do it again, investors and people in real estate see this."

Advertisement
Andrew McPhillips, Chief Economist at the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and author of the report, said: “Rotherham has recorded the fastest productivity growth of any major town in the North since 2004, but what is particularly striking is what sits behind that performance.

“Our analysis shows a long-term shift away from traditional heavy industry towards advanced manufacturing, engineering and innovation-led activity centred on the Advanced Manufacturing Park and the wider Don Valley corridor.

“The lesson is not that every place should try to replicate Rotherham exactly, but that through sustained collaboration between universities, businesses, investors and local leaders, we can create the conditions for long-term economic transformation.”

Tom Riordan CBE, Northern Growth Envoy, was also at the Rotherham Together Partnership event. He said: "Rotherham is a global story. It's not just you, it's a story for the North, and the UK - let's use it because this is how you get people working together, this is how you get that flywheel effect."

The former Yorkshire Forward boss also discussed the opportunity with the Don Valley Corridor and new Rotherham Gateway and said that he would continue to be a "friend and ally of Rotherham."

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “The story of Orgreave and its transformation into something genuinely world‑leading at the Advanced Manufacturing Park to testimony to an extraordinary group of people, but it demonstrates a model which should inspire us for the future.

“Rotherham’s success story over the last decade is perhaps slightly obscured by the fact that hard work was undertaken in the typically determined, resilient but never showy style of our community. As we look towards the next decade of opportunity, the Don Valley Corridor has the potential to be one of the most important growth areas anywhere in the country and an exemplar for the North. This is about forging ahead, building on the lessons of the AMP while making the most of new industries, infrastructure and investment.

“Our plans for Rotherham Gateway, which would bring mainline services back to Rotherham for the first time since the 1980s, we’re looking to go further still, bringing new connections, new employment space and thousands of good-quality jobs closer to our communities.

“This welcome report shows not just how far we’ve come, but what’s possible when we get that long-term partnership right, giving certainty and stability for investment, and building on our strengths. There is much more to do, but with the momentum we have, we should be looking to the future with confidence.”

Northern Powerhouse Partnership website

Images: JPG / AMRC Training / RMBC

Read more...