News: Tram-train spotted in Rotherham

You may have thought that the day may never come but the Sheffield-Rotherham tram-train project is moving ever closer to servicing Rotherham as the innovative new vehicles are now being tested in the borough.

First mentioned in 2009, the now £100m+ project will see vehicles running on both rail and tram networks, using the freight route from Rotherham and then joining the Sheffield Supertram network at Meadowhall South. The service will run between Parkgate and Sheffield Cathedral.

Work was completed in April on overhead power lines in the Tinsley area to connect the Supertram and Network Rail routes. The new Citylink vehicles, which have been operating on the regular Supertram timetable from October 2017 to support the existing Stagecoach service, were tested on the heavy rail network overnight in May.

Daylight testing and driver training is now underway along the Network Rail line and, as the video below shows, vehicles have been spotted at the new lowered platforms at Rotherham Central station in addition to testing out the new sidings and turnback at Parkgate.

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The project has been delayed a number of times as Network Rail struggled to get to grips with some of the heavy rail modifications, including power, track modifications, approvals and testing and commissioning. The lead contractor, Carillion, entered administration at the start of 2018.

New vehicles will eventually run between Sheffield city centre and Parkgate via Meadowhall South and Rotherham town centre. A revised construction programme was announced last year that points to infrastructure being completed during Summer 2018.

Network Rail says that the new tram train route is expected to open "by late autumn" 2018.

With funding from the Government, the scheme is set to run for two years with a view to permanent operation. It is the first of its kind in the UK and if it is successful, it opens the way for tram trains to be introduced in other parts of the country.

A report from the National Audit Office (NAO) criticised the management of the trial when it revealed that by December 2016, the cost of the works, which had been given an initial estimate of £15m, had quadrupled to £75.1m, pushing the overall cost of the scheme over £100m.

The Government's Public Accounts Committee looked at the issues of cost increases and delays, the under-estimation of the scale and complexity of the works, and the risks involved in delivering new technology. It said that the project had all the makings of a "how not to" seminar for future projects.

Supertram website
SYPTE website

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News: Rotherham traders head to Yorkshire Youth Market

Young entrepreneurs representing Rotherham will set their stall out this week as part of a competition to find the county's best young stallholder.

Rothbiz reported in May on the work of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) in running a nationwide competition that celebrates young entrepreneurs trading on our markets, festivals and fairs.

A number of heats - including Rotherham on May 26 - have provided opportunities for young people to gain experience in trading. Markets are low-risk, affordable, and flexible platforms to test out, launch and grow a business and young people aged 16 to 30 from around the UK have taken part.

Two traders from Rotherham have been chosen to go through to trade at the regional Yorkshire finals at Leeds' famous Kirkgate Market on August 1. The largest covered market in Europe was the founding location of Marks & Spencer which opened in Leeds Market as a penny bazaar.

Jordan Mangnall, who runs Jaded Heart in Rotherham town centre will be taking part tomorrow. Aged 20, Jordan opened her store on Moorgate Street in March 2017 and has since launched over 170 products including exclusives from Bomb Cosmetics as well as clothing, alchemy and jewellery ranges. Jordan plans to introduce a further 80 products to the store to mark a period of strong growth and significant increases in both sales and footfall.

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Also taking part is Lauren Charlton from Rotherham who sells handmade illustrated designs and prints under her Yorkshire Print brand. Enterprising Lauren, 27, decided to launch the business whilst studying fine art at Manchester School of Art.

At the end of the event, one young trader will be crowned Yorkshire's Young Trader of the Year and three Highly Commended trophies will be awarded. Judging will be by markets industry experts.

At least one trader from every area will be offered a pitch on the National Youth Market in Stratford-upon-Avon on 31 August and 1 September. A £500 prize is up for grabs.

Joe Harrison, chief executive of the NMTF, said: "The event is a real demonstration of the potential of the region’s markets to support young entrepreneurs to test, grow, and launch a lean business.

"Yorkshire is leading the way in the UK – this event is the first of its kind in the country. Market operators have come together to support young traders with enthusiasm and professionalism."

Jaded Heart website
Yorkshire Print website
NMTF website

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News: Harworth Group in £8.4m land deals

Rotherham-based regeneration specialists Harworth Group plc has announced a number of new deals, including selling off parcels of residential development land for £8.4m.

One of South Yorkshire's largest publicly listed companies and was created through the complex restructure of what was UK Coal. A specialist in brownfield regeneration, Harworth is one of the largest property and regeneration companies working in the North of England and the Midlands.

At its Prince of Wales development in Pontefract, Harworth has completed a third land sale at the 917 home consented scheme, with the sale of 5.34 net acres, to Avant Homes Avant, with reserved matters planning consent secured from Wakefield Council to build 83 two, three and four bedroom homes.

Avant's second land purchase at Prince of Wales follows its purchase of 11 acres in December 2014 where it has subsequently delivered 131 three and four bedroom family homes.

At Simpson Park, the 107-acre former Harworth Colliery site, the Company has unconditionally exchanged contracts for the sale of eight net acres of land to Kier Living, where it plans to build 125 two, three and four bedroom homes over the next two years. It represents the second phase of development at the site, following Jones Homes' delivery of 118 homes since 2015.

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Phil Wilson, managing director of Capital Growth at Harworth, said: "These transactions provide further evidence of the underlying strength of the residential market in the regions in which we operate in, as well as the significant progress we continue to make at two of our major developments.

"Avant Homes' decision to purchase a second land parcel from us at Prince of Wales proves both the strength of the development as a residential location and the popularity of their product with local people. I am also pleased to welcome Kier Living as a new customer and would like to thank Homes England for providing the loan to allow the next phase of land at Simpsons Park to be brought forward.

"There remains a continued and well-publicised lack of housing land supply in the regions to meet the needs of a growing population, presenting an opportunity for us to leverage our market-leading masterplanning and technical expertise to both deliver land that helps to meet this shortage whilst also realising further value for the business."

The focus for Harworth has been on "beds and sheds" sectors and the company, which is based close to its Waverley development in Rotherham, owns and manages a £400m+ portfolio of around 21,000 acres of land on around 135 sites.

Harworth has also announced a deal at its commercial development scheme at Logistics North in Bolton where it has set up a joint venture with Lancashire County Pension Fund.

rijo42, the UK's leading supplier of commercial coffee machines, coffee beans and coffee ingredients, has signed up to take a 20,344 sq ft unit.

Harworth Group website

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News: Another Sheffield-Rotherham link road planned

A second direct road link between Rotherham and Sheffield is being developed to boost the city region economy and enable users to avoid the heavily congested junctions on the M1.

The £20m+, alternative, all transport route known as the Tinsley Link opened in 2016 following delays. It bypasses the congested M1 junction 34 South by providing a new section of highway beneath the Tinsley Viaduct.

It is the northern route of a £30m Sheffield to Rotherham Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme but a southern route between the town and city via Waverley has previously been denied Government funding.

Now a second link through the Don Valley is set to play a key role in supporting the emerging Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) and the vision for a Global Innovation Corridor that stretches across the region, linking people to key sites including Sheffield city centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and Barnsley's Digital Campus.

A new transport strategy published by Sheffield City Council includes the specific action to provide a new road link between Sheffield and Rotherham avoiding motorway junctions.

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The strategy explains: "Connections with our neighbouring towns, particularly Rotherham, must continue to be strengthened, in support of local and city region economies. We must deliver a transport system for Sheffield with the connectivity and accessibility needed to support and enable our growing and thriving economy.

"Almost all movements between Sheffield and Rotherham must pass through motorway junctions. These junctions suffer significant congestion at peak hours, and there is little scope for increased capacity at these junctions given physical constraints. Additionally, the number of freight movements through the motorway and its junctions is exacerbated by constraints on the local highway network, notably low railway bridges, which also hinder accessibility and permeability within the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, raising a serious challenge for the city.

"The operators of the motorway, Highways England (HE), now routinely object to and hold up planning applications, due to adverse impacts on the national Strategic Road Network. This capacity constraint will need to be eased if the growth of the city is to be achieved. Collaboration will be required between Sheffield and Rotherham councils, and HE, to ensure the solution addresses both Highways England's concerns and the city's need to support growth in a sustainable and equitable manner.

"The X1 Sheffield to Rotherham to Maltby SteelLink bus service, started in September 2016 and the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train service due to commence later in 2018, should help improve public transport connectivity, but this is not expected to be sufficient to address the issue in itself."

The Innovation Corridor project is a key part part of the Government's Large Local Major Projects programme and the city region is bidding for around £100m from the Government's Transforming Cities Fund. Rotherham's capital strategy includes a £45m plan to widen the Parkway to three lanes between the M1 and Catcliffe.

No details of the proposed route of the new link road have been released but it would likely pass through the Lower Don Valley. Recent planning documents for creating the River Don District on remaining sites alongside Meadowhall show that a parcel of land has been "left available for the possible future development of a new link road to the AMRC in this part of the Lower Don Valley, should that scheme be brought forward."

The strategy comes at the same time as the Government urges the area to address air pollution. Sheffield and Rotherham Councils are preparing final plans on what measures can be introduced so that air quality limits are achieved within the shortest possible time. The plans are due by December 2018.

In the short term, a £4.5m programme of bridge maintenance is due to get underway at Tinsley Viaduct on August 8. The project includes resurfacing, replacing barriers and waterproofing the steel structure and is due to be completed in April 2019.

Images: Tensar / AMRC / Bond Bryan

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News: Chamber Means Business back at New York Stadium

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber's annual business showcase, Chamber Means Business, is returning to Rotherham United's New York Stadium in September.

Taking place at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Thursday September 6 from 9:00am to 2:30pm, Chamber Means Business – sponsored by Burrows Fleet and Business Centre, ONS Group and Osborne Technologies - is free to attend and open to all entrepreneurs and business owners.

Throughout the event, exhibitors and delegates will have the opportunity to make new business contacts, network and take part in a range of seminars hosted throughout the day.

This year, all 56 exhibition stands available to local businesses sold out in record time, with confirmed exhibitors including AAG IT Services, awesome., Experian, SuperTram, Steel City Branded Merchandise and Worldpay.

On the day, exhibition sponsors Burrows Fleet and Business Centre will be providing free test drives for delegates to be pre-booked, along with Osborne Technologies who will be showcasing their mobile SensoryPod, an advanced self-contained multi-sensory room.

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Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend the "Investing in our future" session, taking place at 1pm, giving a chance to hear from panellists including:

- Ken Smart, Project Director, McLaren Composites Technology Centre
- Julie Kenny CBE DL, Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust
- David Shepherd, Service Director for Regeneration & Property, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Damien Wilson, Strategic Director of Regeneration & Environment, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

The interactive session will provide the opportunity to find out more about the current regeneration work being undertaken in our region, as well as offering an insight into one of the worlds well-known supercar manufacturers, McLaren, and their relocation to Rotherham.

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are delighted to have attracted such a high level of speakers to our event. I trust that local businesses will come along and get involved in the panel session and take the time to visit all our exhibitors on the day."

Two seminars are scheduled to take place during the day and the topic and speaker for the morning seminar will shortly be announced.

Chamber Means Business website

Images: RUFC / BR Chamber

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News: United Carpets reports sales rise

Bosses at Rotherham-based United Carpets, the third largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, have been pleased with the company's 3.2% like for like sales increase.

Challenges in the retail market, and within the home furnishings sector in particular, have persisted since the Bramley-based, AIM-listed company restructured its business following a pre-pack administration deal in 2012.

The group uses a franchise model and the board said that "recording moderate increases in revenue, level profits and positive like for like sales of 3.2% is therefore a satisfactory outcome for the year."

In its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended March 31 2018, United Carpets reported a pre-tax profit of £1.52m, compared to £1.53m in the previous year, as revenue rose 2.5% to £21.72m.

With the like-for-like sales increasing during the period the company said that they had however fallen 1.6% in the first months of the new financial year.

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During the year, one corporate store was added to the portfolio taking the total number of stores to 58. One new store could open this financial year. Of the 58 stores, 50 are operated by franchisees and eight are corporate stores of which three are considered to be long term corporate stores and five could be franchised.

The board at United Carpets said that the key driver for the increase in sales "came from the effectiveness of the franchise network and the combined commitment of our franchisees who act as individual business owners with the ability to draw upon the resources of the group."

Paul Eyre, chief executive at United Carpets, said: "In the context of today's retail market, achieving a 3.2% like for like sales increase was a pleasing performance. It reflects strong product ranges at attractive price points and a high level of personal commitment from our franchisees to their individual stores, displaying substantial resilience when market conditions become more challenging.

"While the adverse impact of the recent exceptional weather and the World Cup is unsurprising, the resilience of the franchise network represents a key point of differentiation for United Carpets and one that continues to be important in the current market environment."

United Carpets website

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News: Dinnington deal done as momentum builds

The regeneration of the former Dinnington colliery is ramping up again with Trebor Developments, working in conjunction with its strategic partner Hillwood, acquiring a speculative development site at the Rotherham site.

The partnership has purchased a five acre site for an undisclosed sum at the prominent 31 East site located less than 2.5 miles from Junction 31, of the M1, near Rotherham.

A single, speculative, 83,000 sq ft industrial unit will be developed and will be available in first half of 2019 and promoted as "Atomic" 31 East.

Bob Tattrie, managing partner of Trebor Developments said: "We are delighted to secure this further site and will bring the speculative development forward on our fast track basis. A planning application has been submitted. The unit will be available to lease or purchase and can meet local or regional occupier needs in a size range not readily available in the location."

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The acquisition represents the second between the partners following the announcement in March at MIPIM that Trebor had entered into a long term strategic partnership with Hillwood to undertake industrial and logistics developments across the UK.

Trebor Developments LLP was formed in 2008 by Bob Tattrie, formerly managing director of Alfred McAlpine Developments. It has been one of the most active speculative developers of industrial and logistics real estate across the United Kingdom, carrying out a range of schemes with a focus on those that range between 30,000 and 300,000 square feet.

Hillwood is a leading American based commercial real estate investor and developer with offices in the United States, Germany, and Poland. Active in Europe since 2013, the Perot company anticipates investing £400m in industrial and logistics across the United Kingdom over the next two years.

Trebor/Hillwood are advised by agents at CBRE (Leeds), CPP (Sheffield) and Knight Frank (Sheffield).

Rothbiz reported earlier this month that a planning application had been submitted for a commercial development on part of the 31 East site.

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The 44 acre site on Todwick Road, adjacent to the existing 45 acre Dinnington Business Park, already has outline planning consent. Local specialist developer, St Paul's Developments agreed in 2015 with the Homes and Communities Agency (now called Homes England) to create a 750,000 sq ft logistics hub and the site was granted Enterprise Zone status.

The latest plans are from another local specialist developer, E V Waddington Ltd, and include creating a speculative development on around 12 acres of land off Todwick Road.

Rothbiz has also reported on the £18m investment from United Caps who are progressing plans for an initial facility at 31 East that will be 54,000 sq ft, with an option to expand to 215,000 sq ft as business growth demands.

Trebor Developments website
Hillwood website

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News: AESSEAL recognised as a UK leader in customer satisfaction

Rotherham manufacturing firm AESSEAL has earned top scores in the UK's largest independent customer satisfaction survey – beating giants including Amazon, John Lewis, Apple and IKEA.

With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the award-winning company manufactures mechanical seals for a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

AESSEAL scored 87.5 out of 100, compared with a UK average of 77.9 and beating Amazon, who achieved the highest score of the published UKCSI listed organisations.

The The UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) is considered the national measure of customer satisfaction. It gives insight into the quality of customer service in 13 sectors of the economy, as well as the UK as a whole, and reveals how companies measure up against each other.

AESSEAL scored significantly above average in all the categories its customers were questioned on, including product quality, reliability and cost, the helpfulness and competence of staff and notably customer effort (how easy it is to do business with AESSEAL).

The company's ethos is based around providing such exceptional service to customers that they need never consider alternative sources of supply.

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Chloe Davies, European customer service manager at AESSEAL, said: "As a company we've always had a very strong focus on customer service and have won numerous awards in recognition of this.

"We chose to be assessed against the Retail (non-food) Sector of the UKCSI - the toughest classification which really sets the bar for customer satisfaction and innovation in customer service.

"Obviously we're thrilled to have scored higher than companies of the scale and reputation of Amazon and John Lewis, but at the end of the day the most important thing is that our customers are very happy with our products, staff and services."

She added that AESSEAL will not be sitting back on its laurels.

"We'll be examining the full report in great detail to look at any areas where we might improve our customer service even further."

AESSEAL website

Images: AESSEAL

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News: SteelPhalt restores historic Wentworth Woodhouse driveway

21st Century road surface technology is being used to restore Wentworth Woodhouse to its full glory.

Vital repair work is well underway at the largest privately-owned house in Europe, under the guidance of the owners, the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT).

As part of the trust's plans for a major restoration of the site, Rotherham road surface specialists SteelPhalt have given their products, experience and time for free to repair and upgrade the house's grand drive way.

The company is laying its acclaimed SteelSurf product, whose durable properties have proved popular with local authorities for use in high stress locations such as roundabouts and industrial estates.

The project is also being supported by bitumen supplier Total and Rotherham Council's high performing Highway Delivery Service carried out the surfacing work.

SteelPhalt - part of the Harsco group of companies - has been developing and manufacturing high performance asphalt products for the UK road making industry since the 1960s. It has an extensive facility at Templeborough.

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Lee Birkbeck, commercial manager at SteelPhalt, said: "As soon as we heard about this project we knew that we wanted to be involved and that we had the product that could make a real difference to the thousands of visitors who come to Wentworth Woodhouse every year.

"As part of our ongoing corporate social responsibility campaign, we are always looking for projects that will improve our community.

"Last year we worked on a new car park for Rotherham Hospice and when we were contacted by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust we were delighted to be able to come to their assistance too."

Sarah Mcleod, CEO at the WWPT, added: "We are so grateful for this tremendous act of corporate generosity from SteelPhalt.

"Wentworth Woodhouse is such an important site and the access road has been a significant problem for a long time. Thank You to all who have made this happen."

Historic England is overseeing spending of a £7.6m grant funding for emergency repairs through its repair grants for heritage at risk but WWPT, estimates it will need up to £200m to restore the historic Grade I listed mansion to its former glory.

SteelPhalt website
Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: SteelPhalt

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News: Parseq steps up for Bluebell Wood

Two team members from Rotherham-based business process and technology specialist, Parseq and their trusty canine companion have raised £4,615.63 for Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice by hiking 50 kilometres each over the last month.

Based at Hellaby, Parseq specialises in mobile and online banking software and technology-led outsourcing services. It handles over 70 million calls, digitises 25 million customer correspondence documents and processes £15 billion of electronic payments every year.

Based at North Anston in Rotherham, Bluebell Wood provides care and support to families who have a child who has a life limiting condition and is not expected to live into adulthood. It has to raise over £4m each year to continue its work, and receives less than 10% statutory funding.

Craig Naylor-Smith, managing director of Parseq's Finance & Administration division, Mick Gott, a warehouse manager in Parseq's facilities support team, and Bluebell Wood's George the dog were sponsored to walk 10 kilometres every Friday of June.

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The team carried out five park walks across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, in parks including Clumber Park, Lakeside Park, and Rother Valley Country Park.

George, a cocker spaniel who was Craig and Mick's companion on their walks, is Bluebell Wood’s mascot. George is named in memory of Georgia Finlayson, who, with her family, was supported by Bluebell Wood after she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in late 2010.

Craig Naylor-Smith, said: "Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice makes a real difference to the lives of young people and their families affected by life-shortening conditions. The services they offer are totally free, and its standards of care are outstanding. We were really keen to be able to support it in any way we could, and I'd encourage anyone interested to get in touch with the hospice and see how they can help. Thank you to all of our friends, family members, clients, partners and colleagues who sponsored us."

Helen Mower, head of fundraising, Bluebell Wood, added: "The generosity of people like Craig and Mick is essential to keeping our work going. Every penny raised helps our families to make special memories together while going through unimaginably tough times. We're so grateful to all who supported Craig and Mick on their walks."

Parseq website
Bluebell Wood website

Images: Parseq

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News: Two new Rotherham areas earmarked for selective licensing

Rotherham Council is set to extend its selective licensing scheme to Parkgate and Thurcroft to tackle the low housing demand and significant and persistent levels of antisocial behaviour related to the private rented sector.

The authority has already designated four areas as selective licensing areas where a licence fee for each property must be paid for by the landlord or agent and where each licence contains a set of conditions that the landlord must meet.

Utilising powers under the Housing Act 2004, the designations came into force on May 1 2015 and will last for five years. The areas are: Eastwood, Masbrough, Dinnington and Maltby South East as these have been deemed, or are likely to become, areas of low housing demand.

Rothbiz reported last month that officers were progressing plans for the future designation of selective licensing areas in Parkgate, but now plans to also target Thurcroft have been outlined.

Cabinet support for extending the scheme will be sought in the coming months. Further designations would require further public consultation which is scheduled for September.

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A report to the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Management Board states that designating parts of Thurcroft and Parkgate as Selective Licensing areas, "will help combat problems associated with housing and housing conditions within areas of deprivation, and deliver improved health and social wellbeing outcomes for those communities."

Licensing, together with inspections and compliance monitoring, is aimed at improving private rented housing management by landlords to ensure that those who rely on the private rented sector have safe and healthy homes.

Over 2,000 Rotherham properties are registered on the current scheme, around 90% of all licensable property, and the Council reports that it has seen "significant successes in improving housing conditions to make properties safer for our most deprived communities."

Concerns over the costs of licences were raised during the initial consultation, predominantly from landlords, that the licensing fee per property (around £600) is too much. Also that, expecting payment upfront, would severely affect landlord's businesses.

A legal challenge brought by local landlords was defeated in 2015 and Rotherham Council believes that the income from applications (around £1.5m) is expected to cover the costs of administration of the scheme.

The proposed licensing area in Parkgate covers Broad Street / Rawmarsh Hill from Parkgate roundabout to the church. Also included are Goosebutt Street, parts of Netherfield Lane, Albert Road and Spalton Road.

The proposed licensing area in Thurcroft covers parts of Woodhouse Green, parts of Green Arbour Road and parts of Katherine Road. Charles Street and Peter Street are also included.

RMBC website

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News: Long-vacant Rotherham building sold

The long leasehold interest of Humphry Davy House in Rotherham has been acquired with residential conversion in mind.

The 45,460 sq ft property was built for the University of Sheffield at Manvers in 1998 and was previously home to its School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Rothbiz reported first in February that a planning application had been submitted signalling prior notification for the proposed change of use from an office use to dwellinghouses.

The property has now been bought for an undisclosed sum by The Investment Room.

Barnsdales acted for the buyers with SMC acting for the university.

Jason Barnsdale, director at Barnsdales, said: "This has been a long and complicated deal which we have worked on for many months, the acquisition is one of many offices we have acquired for permitted development to residential use for a number of clients over the last 18 months and our clients are keen to find other similar opportunities."

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The Investment Room is an independent property investment company with offices at Stocksbridge in Sheffield. It offers cash investors an extensive portfolio of rental property in the Yorkshire area. Its sister company is The Lettings Room Ltd.

Humphry Davy House is already being offered to investors with 109 apartments at £8.2m with a potential annual rental income of £784,800, an estimated yield of 9.6%.

The conversion is set to create five studio apartments, 99 one beds and five two beds, all newly built to a high standard.

The new owners will need to secure planning permission after Rotherham Council refused the initial prior notification application, stating that it did not include any supporting evidence regarding its use (or lack thereof) over the last ten years.

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Adjacent to the Dearne valley College Campus, the site was previously occupied by the National Coal Board. Humphry Davy was a British chemist best known for his experiments in electro-chemistry and his invention of a miner's safety lamp.

After the university pulled out of a tender process, the last intake of Midwifery Studies degree students was in July 2006 and the building went up for sale a year later. It has been vacant ever since.

The Investment Room website

Images: SMC

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News: All Poundworld stores set to close

All Poundworld stores in Rotherham will have closed by August 10 unless the administrator of the failed retailer secures an eleventh hour deal for the remaining stores.

Rothbiz reported last month that administrators from Deloitte had been appointed by the Yorkshire-based discount retailer which was suffering in extremely challenging trading conditions.

Administrators have so far failed to secure a deal to save the business through a sale or a rescue of the company itself through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

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Poundworld Retail operated 355 stores in the UK. In Rotherham, Poundworld operated stores on Howard Street in Rotherham town centre and at Parkgate Shopping.

Poundworld Retail also operates as Bargain Buys, which has a store in the high profile premises on College Street, known by many as the previous home of national retailer, Marks & Spencer.

Announcements confirmed specific store closures as a deal appeared more and more unlikely. The town centre store closed last week and the Parkgate store was due to close this week.

In a recent announcement, Deloitte said that the remainder of the estate would shut their doors by August 10 if no buyer for the chain is found.

Clare Boardman, joint administrator at Deloitte, said: "We would like to thank all the employees for their continued support and commitment during this difficult time. We are keeping staff appraised of developments as they happen."

The Financial Times reported that Poundworld founder Chris Edwards and Steve Smith, founder of rival Poundland, have been in talks regarding a takeover.

Based in Normanton, the firm employed over 5,000 staff and was acquired by TPG Capital in 2015 for £150m when it was undergoing an aggressive expansion and store opening plan.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Toyota partners with AMRC

In the slipstream of McLaren Automotive, TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has joined forces with the University of Sheffields Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to remain at the front of the automotive technology grid.

With multimillion pound facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors.

A partnership between industry and academia, members pay in to get access to the state of the art equipment and world-leading engineers.

TMG, whose parent company is Toyota Motor Corporation, has built its reputation in motorsport via World Rally, Formula 1 and now the FIA World Endurance Championship, which includes the Le Mans 24 Hours. It joins the AMRC as a Tier 2 member with a focus on research and development of lightweight materials.

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Professor Keith Ridgway, executive dean of the AMRC, said: "I'm extremely pleased the AMRC is working closely with TMG, which is part of the world's number one endurance racing team - winners of the recent Le Mans 24 Hours event. This is further proof that the Sheffield city region's Global Innovation Corridor is the come-to-place for manufacturers who want to take on the world’s best and win.

"The AMRC now has a global reputation for its expertise not just in the development of new composites and processes but also within the increasingly important arena of lightweighting where we lead the way.

"It will be fascinating to work closely with a company involved in high-level motorsport. Like us, they want to make things faster, leaner and cleaner."

The Global Innovation Corridor is a vision to stretch the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) being created in Sheffield and Rotherham across the region, linking people to key sites including Sheffield city centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the AMP in Rotherham and Barnsley's Digital Campus.

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Ben Kitcher, head of automotive strategy at the AMRC, added: "We will be looking for opportunities to apply horizontal innovation – transferring technology from one sector to another. We'll be applying innovative technology from other industries to inject fresh ideas and processes into motorsport, as well as setting out a collaborative roadmap of where new technologies will be delivered to motorsport."

McLaren Automotive already has 45 employees housed at the AMRC, innovating the process for creating lightweight tubs for its supercars and roadcars. This is in preparation for the opening of its new £50m facility on the AMP in Rotherham which, when fully operational, will see the team grow to around 200 people.

Toyota Motorsport website
AMRC website

Images: Racing by TMG

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News: Rotherham bus company acquired by social enterprise

HCT Group has completed its first commercial acquisition, purchasing Rotherham's Powells Bus for an undisclosed sum.

With a depot at Hellaby, Powells Bus Company Ltd is a family run bus service which operates local bus services, school buses and private hire services in the Rotherham and Doncaster areas. Founded in 1996, it has a fleet of approximately 30 vehicles.

HCT Group started out as Hackney Community Transport in 1982 when around 30 local community groups in the London Borough of Hackney pooled their vehicle resources. A new business model was launched in the 1990s based on social impact and a commercial focus has seen the group expand to merge with other community transport providers across the UK.

Dai Powell, chief executive of HCT Group, said: "We have been working in Yorkshire as CT Plus since 2004 and are looking to expand our operations.

"We have been looking for three things in our first acquisition. The first was a business that was a good match for our own in terms of services operated. The second was a business where there were significant opportunities for growth. The third is arguably the most important – we believe that local services have a real social impact for communities and we sought out an operator that felt the same way.

"We think that this acquisition is a sign of things to come for HCT Group. A social enterprise buying a commercial operator – with a view to turning it into a social enterprise – is a great way of providing public services for public benefit."

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Ian Powell, of Powells Bus, added: "HCT Group have the resources and expertise to help take Powells Bus to the next level – pursuing new opportunities and growing the organisation."

Jane Powell, of Powells Bus, said: "HCT Group really understands the ethos we have built here at Powells. They have a genuine track record of providing local services in the communities where they work – and, like us, they know what our services mean to the people that use them; that they are vital lifelines."

HCT Group said that it has plans to grow the business and that no jobs are at risk from the move.

With a turnover of £202k in 1993, HCT Group is now a large scale social enterprise with 1,200 employees, more than a dozen depots spread across London, Yorkshire, the Southwest, the Northwest and the Channel Islands, a fleet of 625 vehicles and a 2016/17 turnover of £49.6m.

Powells Bus website
HCT Group website

Images: Powells Bus

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse wows with land art

A colourful confetti trail at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham has won the Land Art Competition as part of the recent Tour de Yorkshire.

The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) concluded the acquisition of the largest privately-owned house in Europe for £7m last year. The aim of the trust is to preserve the Grade I listed house and grounds on a long term sustainable basis and raise funds for repairs and other essential works.

With the high profile bike race passing through the borough in May, the artist group, Landmark Collective, spray painted colourful shapes onto the lawn in front of the house to represent its history.

Artist James Brunt and his team created a 140m x 150m confetti design on its front lawn which included symbols and imagery associated with the house's rich history. As well as being picked up on the live race coverage, the design was also gained national attention after being featured on BBC's The One Show. It is the second time a Brunt-designed piece has won the coveted Tour de Yorkshire Land Art Trophy after his "The Finest View" design on Sutton Bank also topped a public vote in 2016.

The inspiration for the land art came from a story that guests were given rose petals to leave a trail back to their bedrooms because the house is so big. Wentworth Woodhouse is one of the largest houses in Europe with more than 300 rooms.

The design features a giant Yorkshire rose; a checkerboard to represent the flooring in the marble hall of the house; and a wheel to represent the area's mining heritage.

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Dominic Somers, representing Wentworth Woodhouse, said: "It feels incredible to have won this prize and it acknowledges all the hard work our team, the team at The Landmark Collective, the volunteers, and all the local schoolchildren put in to bring our artwork to life. It was an amazing opportunity to be part of the Tour de Yorkshire and it really put a spotlight on Rotherham and Wentworth Woodhouse. I'm delighted everything came together and we'll try to raise the bar again in the future."

Landmark Collective were commissioned by Great Place Wentworth and Elsecar, the three year project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Arts Council England (ACE), looking at the heritage, culture and community engagement.

12.5 million people watched the race around the world. Starting in Barnsley town centre for Stage 2 on May 4, riders raced through the picturesque village of Wentworth before a designated sprint at Swinton. The route continued past Kilnhurst and Hooton Roberts before taking in Conisbrough Castle. Passing Mexbrough, the riders headed North to the finish in Ilkely.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Great Place Wentworth and Elsecar

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News: First look at Rotherham's newest school

Draft designs for the Waverley Junior Academy, the new school proposed for the Waverley development in Rotherham, have been submitted.

Only the second new school built in Rotherham in the last 25 years, the school will form a central part of the new Waverley community, which is fast taking shape on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery. The £6m Eastwood Village Primary School opened in 2015.

Last year, Aston Community Education Trust (ACET) was appointed as the sponsor for the new school at Waverely by the Regional Schools Commissioner, following the completion of the sponsor selection process.

Now a planning application has been submitted which will update the Waverley masterplan and include designs for the new primary academy that is set to be built on land at Highfield Lane and Waverley Walk.

Drawn up by Rotherham Council officers and Ellis Williams architects, the plans show how the new building will fit within the approved design code for the area which is Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield mixed-use development and is being brought forward by regeneration company Harworth Group plc.

There are plans to build 3,890 new homes on the Waverley development site and local infrastructure will include new primary school provision, community facilities and leisure facilities.

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The building, of 1.5 or 2 storeys high, would front Waverley Walk, creating a "civic presence." A signage / feature intervention could be used to create a main entrance on the landmark corner of the plot.

Sports pitches, wildlife areas and outdoor classrooms are also shown on the designs. Play areas would be located so they are not adjacent to surrounding streets and residential areas. An area for expansion, for example a new sports hall, has also been designed into the proposal.

The masterplan includes a proposed public square in front of the school and it is proposed to omit car parking in front of the school to provide a car-free feel to this section of the Waverley Walk.

Speaking last year when announced as the new school sponsor, Eunice Newton, chief executive of ACET said: "All of the team are absolutely delighted to hear that the new Waverley school will be part of the ACET family and we intend it to be a flagship school for the 21st century.

"We are hugely excited to be involved with the creation of a thriving community and to establish a school from scratch.

"Our core values will be embedded at the Waverley school, as indeed they are at all ACET schools, not least that all learners will achieve and we shall leave no child behind."

Occupation of the 550th dwelling on the site releases funds for the design / procurement process for a primary school and the occupation of the 750th dwelling will release funds for the building of the new primary school. The trigger points have been changed through the planning process. Occupation of the 1,750 dwelling will trigger the process to start the development of a second Waverley school.

Building work has been scheduled to start in June 2019 with the school opening in September 2020.

Images: RMBC / Ellis Williams

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News: Beatson Clark provides innovative solution for high-end drinks company

A high-end drinks company has turned to innovative packaging to fight the war on sugar, with the help of Rotherham glass manufacturer, Beatson Clark.

Kolibri Drinks asked Beatson Clark to design and manufacture a bottle which allows consumers to control the amount of sugar in their drink.

The Greasbrough Road firm, which has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751, specialises in providing glass packaging solutions for niche brands in the food, drink and pharmaceutical markets worldwide.

The sugar is stored in the cap of the bottle rather than in the liquid of the drink. The idea behind the unique design is to allow the consumer to customise the amount of sugar and flavour in their drink, to suit their own taste and preference.

Beatson Clark's in-house design team worked with Kolibri Drinks from the early concept stage through to manufacture. The brief was to create an elegant bottle which would appeal to the premium retail and restaurant market.

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The bottle itself, designed and produced in Rotherham, is a cone-shaped 300ml white flint flask made from 30% recycled glass on average.

All the sugar has been removed from the botanical drink in the bottle and is stored instead in an elegant cap, so for the first time consumers can decide how much sweetness – if any – they wish to add to their drink.

Kamila Sitwell, co-founder of Kolibri Drinks, said: "At a time when consumers are incredibly discerning and expect premium experiences in all aspects of branding, standard off-the-shelf bottles wouldn't work for Kolibri Drinks.

"Beatson Clark worked with us from the very beginning, all the way through consumer and industry testing and the complex incorporation process with the patented cap which enables customisation of sweetness.

"I don't think many companies are able or willing to go the extra mile to go through a complex and time-consuming process to deliver something truly disruptive."

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Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark, said: "We're finding more and more companies, particularly small businesses with big ideas, approaching us for unique bottle designs. The drinks business is a multi-billion pound industry, and competition is fierce, so they're all looking for something to make their product stand out on the shelf.

"Rather than being bound by what we can't do, we take a can-do attitude. This type of bottle is the first of its kind we’ve produced and the finished product looks great. The quality of the glass matches the level of innovative design."

Beatson Clark website

Images: Beatson Clark

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News: New premises for Functional Fitness

Functional Fitness and its team of exercise specialists have taken on additional premises in Rotherham.

In addition to offering personal training and support for its gym users, Functional Fitness is playing a key role in the Rotherham "Active for Health" Research Project which aims to increase the physical activity of patients' with long term conditions.

With its first centre at Swinton, the gym operator has now taken on Unit 2, The Galax on Fitzwilliam Road at Eastwood. The property comprises some 7,084 sq ft of warehouse and office accommodation which has been let to Functional Fitness as part of their continued expansion.

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The letting was secured by Burgess Commercial, the Rotherham-based agents who provides a range of services including valuations, sales and letting, and property management, plus expert guidance on rent reviews, business rates, dispute resolution, compulsory purchase and compensation.

Functional Fitness are exercise specialists, delivering high quality physical activity and exercise which ranges from personal training to specialists in long-term illness and health related conditions. As part of Active for Health, Functional Fitness work in partnership with NHS Rotherham, Rotherham Borough Council, The Centre for Sport and Exercise and Sheffield Hallam University.

Active for Health offers specialist physical activity referral pathways for people with cancer, heart disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and back pain. The programme encourages active lifestyles in the long term identifying how physical activity can contribute to the recovery from a health condition.

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Following referrals from rehabilitation or health professionals, patients undertake a 12 week free programme of exercise, tailored to their condition. Group sessions are delivered by specialist exercise professionals with individualised programmes to improve patients recovery.

Functional Fitness is now working on tailored sport and exercise programmes with other parnters including The MS Society and the Rotherham Institute for Obesity (RIO).

Functional Fitness website
Burgess Commercial website

Images: Burgess Commercial

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News: United Caps confirms Rotherham investment

United Caps, an international manufacturer of caps and closures, has confirmed that it will make a multimillion pound investment in a new facility in Rotherham that will manufacture beverage and dairy closures.

Rothbiz reported last month that the Luxembourg-based multinational had selected a site at Dinnington in Rotherham for its first UK location.

Formerly known as Procap, the company is a European leader in the development, production and sale of plastic caps and closures. A preferred partner to the world's leading companies, United Caps produces custom designed specialty closures for the likes of Arla, Danone, Unilever, L'Oréal and Pfizer.

The initial facility will be 54,000 sq ft, with an option to expand to 215,000 sq ft as business growth demands. A planning application is being submitted for a site on the 31 East development on the remaining land at the reclaimed Dinnington Colliery.

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Production is expected to begin at the end of 2019 and will initially focus on beverage and dairy closures, with options to add additional segments as needed. This project represents an estimated €20m (£18m) investment including the first phase of machinery and is expected to increase group turnover by 15% in phase one and will initially employ 20 staff.

The investment in Rotherham is being backed by a £1.5m direct grant from the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority.

Benoit Henckes, CEO of United Caps (pictured back row, far left), said: "This expansion to the United Kingdom is in response to increasing demand there for our products. We chose Rotherham because of its central location along the M1, available technical skilled people and the reasonable cost of land in that area. This will be our first plant in the United Kingdom, and we are looking forward to working closely with the Rotherham Council as the project proceeds."

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Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, added: "We are excited to have a company of the quality of United Caps joining our community. We look forward to working with them to ensure a timely completion of the new factory, as well as future expansions as their business needs dictate. The beginning of operations means 20 new jobs almost immediately, and the welcome news that we can be hopeful there will be many more jobs to come for dedicated local people in the future.

"This development is further confirmation of the attractive location that Rotherham has become for investors, with United Caps sitting alongside McLaren Automotive, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Siemens, Forgemasters and others.

"The Council and Local Together Partnership are working to give businesses the confidence to invest in jobs, homes and developments within Rotherham and it's resulting in Rotherham becoming one of the fastest growing local economies in the country.

"As the economy continues to grow we can look forward to seeing more local people in highly skilled and entrepreneurial jobs, and Rotherham becoming a quality place to live and work, with a strong transport, digital and environmental infrastructure."

United Caps, which had net sales of €137m in 2017, has made a number of acquisitions in recent years and is opening a new manufacturing plant in Malaysia at the end of 2018. The firm also invests in R&D such as developing greener enclosures using plant-based plastics rather than petroleum-based plastic.

The "Close to You" strategy involves the company becoming more customer-oriented, focused on customisation and service. United Caps said that it conducted a number of market studies leading up to the selection of the Dinnington site.

Henckes added: "Our studies reflected that demand was highest for beverage and dairy closures. More specifically, we will focus on the production of plastic closures for flat and medium carbonated drinks as well as fruit juices and dairy products in PET bottles. Of course, our customers in the United Kingdom will have access to our full portfolio of caps and closures, as well as to the expert resources in our Messia R&D facility [in France]."

United Caps website

Images: United Caps

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News: Council prepares to sell off historic former boys' school

A former boys' school in Rotherham that dates back to the 1800s could be sold off for redevelopment by the local council.

Officers are seeking expressions of interest "for the possible freehold disposal, commercial lease or asset transfer lease" of the former St Ann's building on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

St Ann's Road Board School opened a new boy's department in 1893 on the corner of St Leonard's Road. Providing accommodation for 244 children, the stone building includes a 45 ft bell tower above the main entrance.

The Council's legal pack for the property states: "The property comprises of a former boys school largely built towards the end of the 1800's with some additional extensions being added over the years. Mostly of stone construction, the St Ann's building has an attractive frontage, including an impressive tower above the main entrance.

"Although previously used as a school, the site has been vacant for over 15 years. Internally the property has been stripped back to bear [sic] brick and rafters."

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The marketing exercise is being undertaken solely to gauge interest for the building. The future of the building is to be determined by the Council's cabinet at a later date. The 0.3 acre site is described as "suitable for a number of uses — Subject to Planning."

Whilst not a listed building, the property is on Rotherham Civic Society's local list which compiles properties of architectural or historic interest.

The society states that the original boys department became the St Leonard's annexe of the Rotherham College of Arts and Technology in late 1979. The former girls department and infants department building was converted into the Unity Centre in early 2000.

The adjacent Unity Centre, a multi-purpose community resource, would not form part of the proposed sale.

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The Rotherham District Civic Society's add that the building is now one of the very few examples of the School Board's work left standing and that: "these are important examples of the work of local architects such as Henry Louis Tacon, James E. Knight and Joseph Platts. These buildings also complement and are material to the setting of the Grade II Listed Church of St Stephen."

The church is now St Anthony Church having been a Coptic Orthodox Church since 1997.

The site is situated with in a conservation area and currently allocated for community use. Restrictive covenants are also thought to be in place regarding the use of the site.

Images: RMBC

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News: Rolls-Royce flying high at Farnborough

Plans for a flying taxi, powering Airbus' whale-shaped BelugaXL and recreating its engines in Lego may have made the headlines for Rolls-Royce at the Farnborough International Airshow but it is the latest accreditations and constant stream of contract announcements for its Trent engines that are powering the world-renowned engineers to new heights.

A month on from confirming a "fundamental restructuring" programme that affects 4,600 jobs, and still also reeling from problems from earlier iterations of its Trent 1000 engines, Rolls-Royce has used the trade show to announce new deals and discuss key milestones.

Rolls-Royce's £110m facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is the most advanced turbine blade casting facility in the world. The 150,000 sq ft facility employs around 150 people and has the capacity to manufacture more than 100,000 single crystal turbine blades a year.

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At Farnborough, which attracts 100,000 visitors over the trade days alone, Rolls-Royce announced a number of new deals: STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan selected 17 and Sichuan Airlines selected ten Airbus A350 aircraft, which are powered by the Trent XWB; AirAsia X selected a further 34, and Uganda Airlines selected two Airbus A330neo aircraft, powered by the Trent 7000 engine; Hi Fly, a Portuguese charter airline headquartered in Lisbon, becomes a new operator of Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines following the addition of an Airbus A380 to its growing fleet.

The A330neo was a star attraction at Farnborough Airshow, where it made its first appearance. Airbus itself won further new business for 431 aircraft (93 firm orders and 338 MoUs).

The A330neo is exclusively powered by the Trent 7000 which brings together more than 50 million flying hours of experience from the Trent 700, which powers the original version of the A330. It combines architecture from the Trent 1000 TEN – the latest version of the Trent 1000 engine – and the latest technology from the Trent XWB.

Trent engines contain turbine blades made in Rotherham.

The A330neo has received its "ticket to fly" from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) this month, with Rolls-Royce also delivering the first production engines to the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France.

The Trent 7000 is the fourth Rolls-Royce engine to receive formal certification in just 12 months, following in the footsteps of the Trent 1000 TEN, Trent XWB-97, and Pearl 15.

Chris Cholerton, President – Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said: "This is another great milestone in a period of unprecedented activity for us. Certifying and delivering the Trent 7000 engine further strengthens our position on the latest generation of aircraft and I would like to thank everyone at EASA and Airbus, as well as my own Rolls-Royce colleagues, who have worked so closely to get to this point.

"We now look forward to supporting Airbus and TAP Air Portugal as they prepare for the aircraft to enter into service later this year."

The 68-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 will deliver a step change in performance and economics compared to the Trent 700. Benefitting from a bypass ratio double that of its predecessor, the Trent 7000 will improve specific fuel consumption by ten per cent, and will significantly reduce noise.

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Also this month, Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines powered Airbus' new BelugaXL air transporter (pictured) on its first flight from Toulouse, France.

The BelugaXL is based on an Airbus A330 design and is used to carry complete sections of Airbus aircraft from different production sites and to the final assembly lines in Europe.

Rolls-Royce website

Images: Airbus / Rolls-Royce

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News: Guest & Chrimes demolition begins

A section of the Guest & Chrimes building in Rotherham is being demolished for safety reasons following a large fire at the historic site.

The former factory on the edge of Rotherham town centre was well alight when five fire crews arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning, July 1.

Opened in 1857, the history of the works is of national and international significance due to the role of the Guest & Chrimes business in pioneering the design and manufacture of brass valves and screw-down taps across the world. The firm once employed thousands.

The large premises are on Don Street between Rotherham Council's Riverside House and Rotherham United's New York Stadium.

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A spokesperson for Rotherham Council and Rotherham United, said this week: "Following initial advice from Historic England, an independent structural engineer has been consulted and has concluded that a section of the Guest and Chrimes building requires immediate demolition for safety reasons.

"Due to concerns over public access to the site, demolition to part of the frontage of the building will begin on Thursday 19th July. Following this initial work, and in view of the building's historical importance, a further assessment will be made on the last section of the frontage which contains both the main entrance and the most interesting architectural features."

Don Street, which passes between the building and the River Don, is used by fans accessing the family stand and away stand at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. The Millers kick of their home campaign back in The Championship on August 11 with home friendly against Premier league Cardiff City scheduled for July 25.

Empty since 1999, the site was purchased by Rotherham Council for £2.6m from developers, Evans in 2010 and is now controlled by the football club which has a very long lease from the Council.

The town centre masterplan outlined an aim for Guest & Chrimes to create a focus for recreation and sporting activity in the town. It concluded that "it is recognised by all that change and some demolition will be necessary to deliver a viable and deliverable scheme."

Images: SYFR

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News: HS2 parkway decision needed now

David Higgins, the outgoing chairman of HS2 Ltd, says that the Government needs to make a decision on whether a potential parkway station on the high speed route through South Yorkshire will be included in the £55.7 billion project.

The Government has been carrying out a study into a potential station on the main HS2 line in South Yorkshire after it opted to back proposals to re-align the route through the region.

The option proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. Instead of travelling into a new station at Meadowhall, the HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley.

In 2016, the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling asked HS2 to study possible sites for a parkway station but a report, due in 2017, has not been published.

Alongside Wales, Bramley and Hooton Roberts in Rotherham, also on the shortlist was Mexborough, Hickleton and Clayton in Doncaster plus sites at Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam before the previously proposed new HS2 depot at Crofton in West Yorkshire.

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David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd, said: "In my report on options to serve South Yorkshire, published in 2016, I called on HS2 Ltd and the Secretary of State to consider the potential for a parkway station on the high speed line, which could serve the South Yorkshire areas as a whole, and to extend HS2 services beyond Sheffield Midland to serve locations such as Barnsley and Rotherham.

"Work has since been undertaken in this area and ultimately this is a decision for the Secretary of State for Transport. As we move towards submission of the hybrid Bill for Phase 2b into Parliament, a decision will be needed on whether to include provisions for a potential parkway station in the scheme design.

"Including passive provision for a parkway would allow the infrastructure to be future proofed to meet the future needs of communities and businesses in South Yorkshire."

The government said in 2017 that it intends to bring forward a third hybrid Bill for phase 2b in 2019.

The delay in whether a station is included, and on where it might go, has also caused headaches for the Sheffield city region (SCR) who were provided with £1.3m in Government funding to study the impacts of the new route and how it can get the most out of HS2.

The high-level Government study considered eight possible locations based on the assumed HS2 route through the SCR. However, it did not go so far as to examine the potential economic or social benefits from a Parkway at each location or investigate the environmental impact.

The HS2 Growth Study for the SCR has been delayed. An evidence base report and a connectivity study was commissioned first, whilst the business, skills and employment workstream was postponed.

A report to the SCR Combined Authority in March explained that uncertainty had made it difficult to accurately quantify or identify the economic benefits, adding: "This has been exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty over whether there will be a parkway station in South Yorkshire and its precise location. Such a station could have significant impacts on the overall economic position."

At the start of July, HS2 Ltd was asked by the Department for Transport to begin preparatory works for the future electrification of a 25km section of the Midland Main Line from Clay Cross to Sheffield Midland Station. Confirming works on the spur for HS2, no announcement has yet been made on paying for the Northern Loop out of Sheffield.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: HS2 Ltd

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