News: Progress for Rotherham civic office development

Rotherham's Renaissance continues to go forward despite the current national economic downturn.

Rotherham Borough Council, their partners Evans Regeneration Investments Ltd, and key stakeholders joined together last week at the site of the new civic offices on Main Street in the town centre.

The steel structure emerging from the ground for the purpose-built 172,000 sq ft (16,000 sq m) building, on the former Guest & Chrimes site, is a major step forward for the £2bn Renaissance plan to regenerate the heart of Rotherham town centre.

Incorporating a "three-fingered" design consisting of a four, five and six storey building, the work is being carried out by GMI Construction.

Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, Cllr Roger Stone said: "This development will go a long way to further boost the town centre's Renaissance programme by not only regenerating this site and encouraging further major players to help do this, but by also freeing up several valuable town centre sites to allow further re-development works to take place.

"This project, in fact, really highlights Rotherham Council's commitment to pushing the town forward by forming one of the most significant public sector property transactions outside of London in the last year."

Chief Executive for the council, Martin Kimber, added: "It will provide the town centre with a modern building that will greatly improve the services we provide to Rotherham people.

"By housing all services under one roof, the council will become even more efficient and will continue to provide an excellent standard of service to our residents from a single building, rather than dispersed across the town."

Artwork for the 85m stretch of hoardings surrounding the development site along Main Street was also unveiled by local artist, Adam Mileusnic.

Rotherham Renaissance website
GMI Construction website

Images: Rotherham Renaissance / gmiconstructiongroup.co.uk