News: Plans to renovate historic town centre building submitted

A planning application has been submitted to renovate part of the historic Essoldo Building in Rotherham town centre. A key building in the council-led Townscape Heritage Initiative area of town, plans have been submitted to renovate the former snooker club within Essoldo Chambers at the top of the High Street into eight apartments. Extensive discussions with Rotherham Council have led to the plans for seven, two-bed apartments and one, one-bed apartment on the two floors above the current restaurant and takeaway. The building's facade, windows and other external features are also set to be refurbished. Further plans are discussed to improve the building's exterior along Westgate and Ship Hill. Bought for £1.9m in 2006, the Essoldo Building was built in 1913 as the Empire Theatre and was designed by Chadwick and Watson of Leeds, who designed the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford a year later. Now used as a nightclub, the building also housed a cinema until 1990.

Rotherham