News: Rotherham United investing in the future
Rotherham United have taken a big step forward in their plans for a new training ground and Centre of Excellence with the granting in principle of a lease with the council on an area of land at Roughwood Road.
The Millers have been training at the Keepmoat Stadium since leaving Hooton Lodge last year but plans are now in place to move back into the borough of Rotherham. Millers Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas was keen to stress that this was a major benefit not just for the club but for the wider community:
"We have been talking with RMBC for some time about the prospect of finding some land to allow us to return to Rotherham from our current training base in Doncaster," he said.
"From the outset this was on the understanding that whilst its primary purpose would be to train and develop new young talent for Rotherham United, as well as the first team, it would serve to benefit the community in which it was based as well as the wider community of Rotherham as a whole. We as a club are fully committed to this principle.
"On this basis we have in principle been granted a lease on a piece of land on Roughwood Road and will now work on obtaining the necessary planning permission, which will in turn require that we consult with the people in the area, to enable this development to happen."
Karl Battersby, Strategic Director for Environment and Development Services for Rotherham Borough Council, said that although the authority has agreed in principle to lease this particular area of land to the football club this was only the start of a long process:
"The details of the lease have yet to be finalised but we have had on-going discussions with the clubs who currently use the site, and they are positive about the opportunities this proposal will bring," he said.
"In addition, the plans for a training ground will also have to be considered as part of the usual planning process. We appreciate that community access and the effects on the locality are key to the proposals for this particular application, which incidentally will not take all the available land on this site. That is why the public and all interested parties will be fully consulted as part of the planning process, which will take place in due course."
The Millers have been training at the Keepmoat Stadium since leaving Hooton Lodge last year but plans are now in place to move back into the borough of Rotherham. Millers Chief Operating Officer Paul Douglas was keen to stress that this was a major benefit not just for the club but for the wider community:
"We have been talking with RMBC for some time about the prospect of finding some land to allow us to return to Rotherham from our current training base in Doncaster," he said.
"From the outset this was on the understanding that whilst its primary purpose would be to train and develop new young talent for Rotherham United, as well as the first team, it would serve to benefit the community in which it was based as well as the wider community of Rotherham as a whole. We as a club are fully committed to this principle.
"On this basis we have in principle been granted a lease on a piece of land on Roughwood Road and will now work on obtaining the necessary planning permission, which will in turn require that we consult with the people in the area, to enable this development to happen."
Karl Battersby, Strategic Director for Environment and Development Services for Rotherham Borough Council, said that although the authority has agreed in principle to lease this particular area of land to the football club this was only the start of a long process:
"The details of the lease have yet to be finalised but we have had on-going discussions with the clubs who currently use the site, and they are positive about the opportunities this proposal will bring," he said.
"In addition, the plans for a training ground will also have to be considered as part of the usual planning process. We appreciate that community access and the effects on the locality are key to the proposals for this particular application, which incidentally will not take all the available land on this site. That is why the public and all interested parties will be fully consulted as part of the planning process, which will take place in due course."
Rotherham United website
Rotherham
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