News: Bellows Road retail development moves forward

Plans for the long awaited redevelopment of the Bellows Road shopping centre in Rawmarsh have been submitted to Rotherham Council.

To regenerate the centre, the council used compulsory purchase orders to acquire the Bellows Road Shopping Centre and the adjacent Joblot premises. Compensation settlements have also been agreed with a number of business occupants with negotiations ongoing with the remainder.

Working in cooperation with the council, Caddick Developments has now submitted the plans for the first phase of a larger mixed-use development that partners hope will also include housing.

The two phases will enable new business premises to be completed, and enable current and new retailers to continue in business whilst the new housing is constructed as part of the second phase of development.

To progress the scheme, the council entered into a development agreement with Wetherby based Caddick Developments who will fund the retail development.

Their plans have been put together by architects, Taylor Young and the first phase will see the demolition of the Joblot unit, the open market area and clearance of a large portion of the car park area. This application incorporates six units of 806 sq m of retail floorspace on the southern end of the site with a 372 sq m unit to be occupied by Tesco Express.

The single storey units will front the High Street with a new 29 space car park fronting Bellows Road and Caddick Developments hope that construction on the first phase will start on site in early 2012.

The housing phase of the development had been allocated over £4m from the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder but this national fund was withdrawn by the government.

A plan to end the operation of the underutilised open air market was approved by the Cabinet Member for Town Centres, Economic Growth and Prosperity last week.

Images: Caddick Developments / Taylor Young