News: New burger place opens in Rotherham - and it looks amazing

A Doncaster-based food firm has opened its latest burger outlet in Rotherham and fans are taking to social media describing it as "better than Five Guys."

Rothbiz revealed in October that Urban Burger wanted to open a new restaurant at the Tradeworld development at Parkgate in Rotherham.

The £5.5m trade counter retail development was completed in December 2016 and is home to the likes of Halfords Autocentre, National Tyre Services and the Gym Group. However, Unit 7 has remained vacant since opening with no interest in the unit shown.

Planning permission was secured and now Urban Fresh Burger & Fries has opened its second site. The first opened at Wheatley Hall Road in Doncaster.

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The chain's vision is to provide a good quality alternative burger restaurant that differed from national chains. It is looking to create a network of restaurants throughout South Yorkshire, with another outlet due to open at Lakeside in Doncaster.

Creating eight full time staff and four part-time staff, Urban Burger offers flat iron beef burgers, chicken fillet burgers and Mediterranean veggie burgers.

Posting on Facebook this weekend, the firm said: "Thank you to everyone who came down for our official opening yesterday in Rotherham! We're now open seven days a week and we're ready to serve you great, fresh food."

Bakewell-based Litton Property Group, which purchased the Ruscon engineering works on Rotherham Road in 2003, has also secured planning permission for the remaining unit on the development which will enable Angling Direct, the leading fishing tackle retailer in the country, to open a new store.

The Rotherham store would be the first Angling Direct store in Yorkshire, with the closest store available for residents of the county located in Dronfield, Derbyshire.

Urban Burger website
Angling Direct website

Images: Urban Burger

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News: Investigative work begins on Forge Island flood defence scheme

Investigative work has started on the multimillion pound flood defence works that are key to enabling the new leisure development in Rotherham town centre.

Muse Developments was chosen as the Council's preferred partner for its site at Forge Island with a proposal that includes a cinema, food and drink outlets and a hotel. The leisure facilities will be set within an attractive public space and will include a new pedestrian bridge connecting to the rest of the town centre.

Plans have been approved for Rotherham Council's flood defence scheme which inlcudes 3.75 metre high retaining walls and a new flood gate. A terraced amphitheatre and improved canal path are set to enhance the new waterside destination.

Initial works will see site investigations undertaken by Sirius Geotechnical ahead of the flood defence work being carried out. Works are expected to take around eight weeks.

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The cinema development will be built on a podium to lift the area out of the flood plain, with a stepped amphitheatre beside Rotherham Lock. A wall will be added along the route of the old court buildings with extensive public realm improvements comprising hard and soft landscaping, resurfaced footways and a stepped amphitheatre beside Rotherham Lock. Floodgates will also be added at Bridge Street and Main Street.

The Forge Island Flood Defence works have a total project cost of £4.1m and the flood defence wall and adjoining public realm are currently out to tender, with a partner to be chosen in July.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Rotherham is Yorkshire's fastest growing economy and we know residents are keen to see the town centre developed to befit a town of this status. Forge Island will act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the rest of the town centre, and the burgeoning population of students, residents and workers, retaining this market into the evenings and weekends."

A draft timeline has Muse and the Council working towards a planning application for the leisure scheme being submitted in 2019 after agreements over the lease are made. Work is set to begin later in 2019 with the practical completion of the cinema and the first two food and beverage units pencilled in for October 2020.

Forge Island website

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News: Millers launch new kit following sponsorship deals

Rotherham United has launched its new shirts for the upcoming season having confirmed that Embark Group will be the club's new home shirt sponsor.

A leading UK provider of investment and pension related services to a range of household name financial services companies, the group has held a long-standing partnership with The Millers, which started as executive box holders at the time the AESSEAL New York Stadium was opened, before later agreeing deals which saw them become the club's home and away shorts sponsor across the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Last season Embark also sealed the club's first ever sleeve partnership for the 2018/19 Emirates FA Cup competition when Paul Warne's men went out to eventual winners, Manchester City.

Steve Coakley, commercial director at Rotherham United (pictured below, left), said: "We are thrilled to further enhance our partnership with a truly progressive company who continue to grow and make numerous acquisitions within the company group.

"The club have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Embark Group, and both parties are really excited about the future potential of the relationship.

"We firmly believe this latest deal will be hugely beneficial for both parties, and we are all looking forward to working together again next season."

The Embark Group are headquartered in London, with offices across the UK in places such as Edinburgh, Great Manchester, Leicester and Salisbury. It operates in the retail banking, wealth management, workplace savings and robo-advice sectors.

Phil Smith, CEO of the Embark Group (pictured, right), said: "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to step up to become the home shirt sponsor for the forthcoming 2019/2010 campaign, following several seasons of mutual collaboration with the Club. Rotherham United is a fabulous Community Club, built on teamwork, a strong work ethic, and a spirit of stakeholder inclusion. These are all elements common to our company ethos, brand, and our own culture as a business.

"We look forward to continuing our outstanding relationship with everyone at the AESSEAL New York Stadium throughout what promises to be an exciting season ahead."

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Local firm, Hodge Clemco, which has sponsored the Millers' home shirt for the past three seasons, has signed a new agreement which takes their association with the club into next season and will see their branding appear on the reverse of the club's home, away and third kit shorts.

Neal Crisford, group MD for Samuel Hodge Group, parent company of Hodge Clemco, said: "Over the last three years as home shirt sponsor we have developed a real affection and affiliation for the club.

"During the initial three year period we experienced the unforgettable day at Wembley as the club clinched promotion to The Championship. To see the Hodge Clemco name associated with the success was a real highlight.

"We were always keen to stay as part of the Clubs commercial family and we are delighted to have secured an extension to become the back of shorts sponsor."

Mears Group recently signed a new deal which will see them continue as the club's away shirt sponsors.

A new partnership for the club sees CR Civil Engineering become the new back of away shirt sponsor.

Glynn Booth, regional director at CR Civil Engineering, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a deal with the club to sponsor the back of the away shirt.

"We have strong links with the area, and as the company has grown this has enabled the business to open a regional office in Rotherham, to assist with the number of contracts we are continuing to be awarded within the region, and also enables the employment of local people within the civil, rail, highways and surfacing industry."

RUFC website
Embark Group website
Hodge Clemco website

Images: RUFC

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News: Bid to establish Rotherham as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture

Rotherham is planning to brand itself as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025.

The move is part of a new cultural strategy which aims to "get more people active, creative and outdoors, more often."

The strategy is overseen by Rotherham's Cultural Partnership which aims to develop talent in creative, digital, cultural, leisure and tourism sectors, build stronger communities and pride in the borough, increase participation and improve health and wellbeing.

Rothbiz outlined some of the aims of the strategy when it went out for consultation last year.

It comes after a Government intervention package in the borough which saw commissioners appointed in 2015 to provide leadership, taking over the roles of the Council's cabinet that was deemed "wholly dysfunctional" following a Government review on the back of a 2014 report into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham that described how vulnerable children had been repeatedly failed by the Council.

One of the priorities in the Improvement Plan for Rotherham Council was for Rotherham to become a "Child-Centred Borough."

The cultural strategy is now going through a sign off procedure at Rotherham Council and the final draft includes seven "game changers" which include work around the town centre, Wentworth and Rother Valley.

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Alongside various high profile events like the Rotherham Show and the Women's European Football Tournament in 2021, the strategy sets out how the partners would like to see Rotherham be the world's first Children's Capital of Culture by 2025.

The action is described as highlighting Rotherham as "a place people want to visit, where everyone can enjoy Rotherham through the eyes, ears and actions of children and young people."

Support is set to be given to young people in their ambition to create a programme of events and activities for everyone to "make all of Rotherham's cultural destinations, libraries, leisure centres and green spaces child-focused, family-friendly and safe for everyone, young and old."

Ultimately this means the initiative will be a way of increasing the quality and range of things to do and places to go for children and young people.

The European Capital of Culture initiative has been a powerful tool to enable unfancied regions to reinvent themselves as cultural destinations and acts as a catalyst for economic regeneration. A UK City of Culture was launched to build on the success of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.

The name, Children's Capital of Culture, has already been trademarked and recruitment is underway for a creative producer for the project on behalf of the Rotherham Local Cultural Education Partnership.

The job advert reads: "This ground-breaking programme will create an astonishing, world-class, year-long festival to take place in Rotherham in 2025.

"The programme will also support major new infrastructure developments to transform the experience of children and young people as both visitors to, and residents of, the borough: these include major new capital projects, such as the transformation of cultural and leisure facilities in Rotherham town centre, the development of the £130m masterplan for Wentworth Woodhouse, the launch of a new family-friendly theme park, Gulliver's Valley Resort and the redevelopment of other facilities such as the Clifton Park Museum, Rother Valley Country Park and Magna.

"We need to plan, now, for our children's future. Our legacy will ensure that Rotherham is known world-wide as the best place to be a child, the best place to raise children and the place which enables the voice of the child and young people's imaginations to influence everything it does."

The idea is to launch the project at this year's Rotherham Show in September.

Images: RMBC / WE Great Place

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News: RNN Group told to improve in first Ofsted since mergers

Five years after Rotherham College attained its best ever Ofsted grade, the RNN Group has been given an overall report of "requires improvement" by Ofsted inspectors.

RNN Group has expanded in recent years. It incorporates Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College, alongside apprenticeship business, RNN Training, and a number of subsidiary companies in specialist training sectors.

An initial merger between the Rotherham and North Nottinghamshire Colleges took place in 2016.

In the inspection report, Ofsted, which inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages, said that in the period following the two mergers, management structures and processes were ineffective in maintaining a good quality of education and training across the group.

The report made clear nthat the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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A declining quality of provision was noted across all sites. This was particularly evident at wholly-owned subsidiary companies in Mansfield and Worksop which have now been closed down. Inspectors found that achievement was low for the apprenticeships delivered by the colleges and the group's subcontractors and subsidiary companies. Managers suspended recruitment of new apprentices in October 2018 and, from December 2018, have started gradual and carefully planned enrolment of new apprentices. Newly recruited apprentices are making expected progress.

Apprenticeship provision is one area where leadership has been significantly strengthened recently. The report states that "new managers have rapidly identified their ambitious priorities to secure necessary improvements to reverse low levels of apprenticeship achievement."

The report added that governors and the newly constituted leadership team have taken significant improvement actions in the last six months, stating that "they are beginning to tackle the weaknesses in the quality of education and training across the group."

John Connolly, the former principal and chief executive of the RNN Group, stood down last October. Former deputy principal, Phil Sayles left earlier in the year.

In the most recent publicly available documents, the RNN Group, which has around 14,925 learners, was reporting a forecasted operating loss of £3.5m. A five year strategic plan is being developed.

In Rotherham, recent developments at the college has seen the opening of the £10.5m University Centre Rotherham (UCR) and RNN Group has recently taken over responsibility for the delivery of community learning in the borough.

RNN Group website

Images: RNN Group

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News: MBO at BGES

BG Energy Solutions (BGES), one of the UK's leading independent building management system (BMS) and energy solutions companies, has announced the successful completion of its management buy-out (MBO).

With its head office at Dinnington in Rotherham, BGES has installed and maintains 1,000s of systems in UK and Europe. Following the deal, managing director Gareth Barber and senior management colleagues, Mike Dauris and Simon Shaw, will head up the new management structure. The team of three – who clock up over 45 years' experience at BGES between them – have ambitious aims to further enhance the company's offering in terms of its open controls, advanced analytics, energy efficiency services and its technology portfolio.

The management buy-out will also enable the BGES leadership team to exploit new opportunities and markets, and forge strategic partnerships with like-minded companies in the technology and energy efficiency sector. It said that it plans to concentrate on organic growth, by executing plans to open new sites and increase its geographical reach, as well as expanding its technology offering.

The launch of a new version of its award-winning real-time energy monitoring software VISTA – VISTA 2.0 – aimed at the healthy buildings and human wellbeing market is just one of the innovations planned for late 2019.

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Gareth Barber, managing director at BGES (pictured, left), said: "We are very proud to announce our ownership of BG Energy Solutions. Together with Mike Dauris, Simon Shaw and our carefully selected funders, we believe we have an excellent opportunity to drive the business forward. The business has grown in the right direction in the last three years, and we are now financially in a very good position to drive forward into the new era.

"We all relish the prospect of further developing the company through innovation and positive change. The next stage in our journey promises to be an exciting and immensely rewarding journey for ourselves, our staff, our suppliers and customers alike.

"I would also like to thank the original co-founders of BGES, Duncan Biggins and Steve Gunn for all their support over the years, and we wish them all the best in their new ventures."

BGES website

Images: BGES

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News: New food hall opening in Rotherham

Food lovers now have a new destination in Rotherham to try new dishes from around the world with a town centre pub converted into a fashionable food hall.

Loading Bay is described as "an exciting new social destination" where diners can discover South Yorkshire's finest food vendors.

The food hall has been created inside the existing 1915 Bar & Bistro on Domine Lane where industrial chic tables create a communal dining space, surrounded by individual units for a variety of food and drink specialists.

The concept has proved popular in Sheffield with the likes of the Cutlery Works and Kommune bringing new opportunities for established food businesses and new enterprises to take space, at the same time providing food fans with new dishes to try. Rotherham Council has been considering improving the food offer in a revamped markets complex with something similar.

Loading Bay opens this weekend.

Vendors include Hungry Buddha which is a favourite inside the Moor Market in Sheffield serving Nepalese food with attitude - rice, dal, homemade pickles, chutneys and a choice of vegan, vegetarian or meat curry.

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Space has also been taken by Zias' Thai Kitchen. Currently operating at Parkgate, expect Thai fishcakes and Pad Thai.

Chicken Shack Industries and Sammie's Cravings are also signed up.

Bar specialist company, Urban 62, have also been brought in to create a bespoke bar for real ale fans and remaining space has been turned into an arcade.

The new direction comes after the conversion of the Old Post Office building on Main Street / Market Street in Kuppa & Cocktails, which backs onto 1915. On Domine Lane, the extension to the main Post Office was previously The Exchange and formerly Yates Wine Lodge.

Having completed 1915, Mark Mcgrail, owner of SME Environmental Holdings, led a £500,000 revamp of the George Wright Building - a Grade II listed "hidden gem" - which reopened as as boutique hotel, bar and restaurant last year.

Loading Bay Facebook page

Images: Loading Bay

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News: Teas made distinctive by Beatson Clark bottle

An apothecary bottle from Rotherham manufacturer Beatson Clark has been chosen to provide a distinctive look for a new range of kombucha fermented teas.

Thanks to glass packaging specialists Rawlings and manufacturer Beatson Clark, LA Brewery's range of flavoured kombucha teas is now on sale in an eye-catching clear pharmaceutical bottle.

The Greasborough 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.

Through Rawlings, Beatson Clark is supplying a 300ml white flint Alpha Sirop bottle from its apothecary range.

Louise Avery, founder of LA Brewery, said: "I have been dealing with Rawlings since 2016 and was confident in their ability as a packaging specialist to find the right bottle for my brand.

"Their consultative approach means they took the time to understand my business and were able to present bottles from multiple sources that would help differentiate our packaging and maximise shelf appeal. One of the bottles they advised on was the Alpha Sirop from Beatson Clark's range.

"It's a higher end bottle which achieves that mix of being slightly medicinal and also rather grown up. Most standard soft drinks bottles have a long neck, but with this bottle the short neck takes you into a different space.

"With the branding we've created something that can sit alongside both soft and alcoholic drinks in the pub and still look comfortable. It's designed to bridge that gap."

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Mark Carroll, account manager at Rawlings, said: "One of the biggest complexities is that kombucha ferments in the bottle, so the correct container selection is critical.

"Independent testing was carried out to ensure the container was fit for LA Brewery's bottling process."

Louise started making kombucha fermented tea in her kitchen in Hackney six years ago and sold it through cafés in her neighbourhood.

Charlotte Taylor, marketing manager at Beatson Clark, said: "Our apothecary range of pharmaceutical bottles look great on the shelf and they can give a drinks brand a really distinctive, vintage look.

"We're pleased to say that the range is becoming more and more popular with our customers, particularly for artisan spirits such as flavoured gins.

"Customers can even have these bottles embossed with their own name, logo or design, and the resulting bottle will still cost much less than a bespoke container that we've designed for them."

Beatson Clark's apothecary range was originally designed as pharmaceutical containers for medicines and tonics, and their vintage look and unusual shapes mean they give a new craft spirits brand a distinctive, retro appearance.

Beatson Clark website

Images: Beatson Clark

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News: Host announced for chamber awards

Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards is set to welcome star of stage and screen Dean Andrews to oversee proceedings at the tenth ceremony, which will return later this year.

Perhaps best known for playing DS Ray Carling in the hit TV shows Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, Dean has recently joined the cast of hit soap Emmerdale, bursting onto the screen as new comer Will Taylor.

In a career spanning more than 20 years Dean's breakthrough role came in 2001 when he secured a lead role in feature film "The Navigators", working alongside respected film director Ken Loach. Over the past decade he has starred in a diverse range of hit TV programmes including Last Tango in Halifax, New Tricks, Silent Witness, Father Brown and The Moorside.

Regarded by many as one of the most prestigious business awards to take place in South Yorkshire, the Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards celebrate achievements, milestones and the success of businesses and individuals within the region. The awards will return to Magna in Rotherham on October 18 with more than 500 guests expected to take part.

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Dean Andrews, said: "Being a very proud Yorkshireman and more so a Rotherham lad, I'm extremely pleased to have been asked to host this year's Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards. On my travels I love to champion the durability and successes of local business from our region and I look forward to being the person who announces all the worthy nominees and winners on this prestigious evening."

Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, added: "We are delighted that Dean has agreed to join us for the evening and I am sure that he will enhance an event that has become a highlight of the local business community calendar. I would encourage everyone to look at where and how they can get involved, remember only by entering will you have the chance to win!"

Award entries will open on Monday June 3 and sponsorship packages are available now.

http://www.brawards.co.uk/

Images: BR Chamber

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse on the BBC again

One of the UK's most important Grade 1 listed country houses, Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, has been back on the BBC this week, featuring in Gentleman Jack, an exciting new drama written by Sally Wainwright.

The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) has developed a masterplan to secure the future of the mansion which has already featured in numerous big screen and small screen productions. Handing over state rooms and gardens to filmmakers is an important means to raise the profile (and much needed revenue) of the property which for many years has been in relative obscurity.

Gentleman Jack is a Lookout Point production for BBC One, co-produced with HBO. It was filmed in Yorkshire with support from Screen Yorkshire's Film Office.

Set in 1832 West Yorkshire, Gentleman Jack is inspired by the true-story and coded journals of Anne Lister (played by Suranne Jones), and follows her attempt to revitalise her inherited home, Shibden Hall. Most notably for the time period, a part of Lister's plan is to help the fate of her own family by taking a wife.

In episode one, which aired on Sunday May 19, the long gallery at Wentworth Woodhouse is used as a grand house in Hastings for an emotional flashback scene. Seated at the stunning feature window, and with special effects changing the gardens to the west front into the seafront, a heartbroken Anne Lister learns that one of her aristocratic targets for marriage has accepted the marriage proposal of an army captain.

The long gallery is now used to host weddings!

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Shibden Hall was joined by other Yorkshire filming locations including Sutton Park (near York,) Newby Hall (Ripon) Bramham Estate (Leeds), Fairfax House (York) Broughton Hall (Skipton), Harewood House Estate (Leeds), Treasurer's House (York), Oakwell Hall (Birstall), St Peter's Church (Sowerby), Halifax Town Centre, Lawrence Batley Theatre & Queens Street (Huddersfield), Little Germany (Bradford), Wentworth Woodhouse, Ripponden Moor Holy Trinity Church and City of York streets. Production offices were based at Studio 81 in Leeds.

Phil Collinson, producer, Gentleman Jack, said: "As a proud Yorkshireman I was thrilled to come home to work on Gentleman Jack.

"This is an ambitious show filmed on location all over this glorious county. Everywhere we went we were supported and welcomed and the brilliant, mostly local crew worked tirelessly and with great skill. Screen Yorkshire too played its part in facilitating a very friendly environment for us to film in. I can't wait to come back and do it again."

Wentworth Woodhouse was used for previous productions shown on the BBC including King Charles III, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Billionaire Boy. It is also used for ITV's prime-time drama, Victoria.

On the big screen, Wentworth Woodhouse was used for scenes at Buckingham Palace in Darkest Hour, in which Gary Oldman won an Oscar playing Winston Churchill. In Mike Leigh's biopic of JMW Turner, the marble saloon stood in for London's Royal Academy of Arts.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: BBC / HBO

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News: Rotherham care home set to reopen following sale

New owners of a care home in Rotherham are hopeful of reopening this summer.

Greasbrough Residential and Nursing Home closed after entering administration. Rotherham Council terminated its contract last year following a damning report by inspectors.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has now sold the site to a first time buyer in the sector.

Initially built in the 1960s, the home was extended in the 1990s and continued to operate until its closure in Autumn 2018. The home has retained its registration with the CQC for 60 residents and is set over two floors, comprising 60 en suite bedrooms, a dining room, residents lounges, hairdressing salon and a secure wing for dementia patients. The property sits on a site with a fully enclosed lawned garden and parking for 15 vehicles.

The property has been sold to Mr Alexmon Baby, an experienced business owner, who intends to refurbish the property and rebrand the business as Jubilee Care Home, before reopening for residents.

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Alexmon said: "We are delighted to have acquired the former Greasbrough Nursing Home on Potter Hill. We are in the process of completing a £300,000 refurbishment and will then be opening the new Jubilee Care Home which will provide luxury accommodation for the people of Greasbrough and surrounding areas. Staff recruitment is well under way and we are hopeful of opening the doors by the end of July."

Jonathan Wickens, director at Christie & Co who handled the sale, added: "We completed a comprehensive marketing campaign for the sale of Greasbrough Nursing Home on behalf of administrators, which resulted in numerous viewings and multiple bids.

"The home offers an excellent opportunity for Alexmon and his team to establish a quality care facility for the people of Greasbrough and surrounding communities."

Christie & Co website

Images: Christie & Co

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News: Waste management consultancy acquired

A Rotherham-based consultancy providing analytical and consultancy services to the waste management industry has been acquired by Alfred H Knight Group (AHK).

Based at Manvers, Waste Research Limited (WRL) is a leading independent provider of inspection, sampling and testing services for the refuse derived fuel (RDF) and solid recovered fuel (SRF) industry.

AHK is a 135 year old firm that provides experienced, professional and reliable technical services in chemical analysis and inspection.

AHK said that the acquisition represents a key milestone towards its vision to become a leader in the provision of inspection, sampling and testing services to the RDF industry.

Through its subsidiary Knight Energy Services (KES), AHK has extensive UK and international experience and knowledge in the sampling and analysis of solid fuels including; coal, coke, biomass and SRF. KES' headquarters and principal coal and biomass testing laboratory are located in Dundonald, Ayrshire, UK, with satellite laboratory operations in key overseas locations.

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David Kerrigan, head of KES, said: "The acquisition of WRL strengthens our capability to provide a comprehensive service to our customers seeking to optimise and protect their supply chains and associated sale and purchase agreements."

WRL will rebrand to become part of KES. David Wilson, Clare Wilson and Carl Wilson will continue in their current roles and will, working closely in conjunction with KES' senior management, continue to operate from the WRL site at Century Park.

Waste Research Limited website
Alfred H Knight Group website

Images: AHK

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News: Rotherham has fastest growing economy in Yorkshire again

The positive signs for Rotherham's economy continue as the borough again places top in Yorkshire for economic growth according to recent research.

Rotherham's £4.4 billion a year economy has been a top performer for a number of years, staying at the top of the UK Powerhouse rankings for GVA growth.

The UK Powerhouse study is produced by Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and provides an estimate of GVA growth and job creation within 46 of the UK's largest cities at least 12 months ahead of the Government's official figures. It uses a range of more timely indicators to create a "nowcast" of GVA and employment for a range of key cities across the UK.

For GVA growth rate in Q4 2018, Rotherham is ranked 18 out of 46 with a year on year growth rate of 1.6%. Ahead of the national average, this is the top ranked economy in Yorkshire and is only bested in the North by Aberdeen (1.8%) and Manchester (1.7%).

Reading, Cambridge and Oxford make up the top three for economic growth with no locations in the North in the top ten with annual growth in all three Southern locations on or above 2.5%.

Over 2018 as a whole, the UK economy expanded by 1.4%, compared with 1.8% in 2017.

GVA, or Growth Value Added, is the increase in the value of the economy due to the production of goods and services. It is widely recognised by Government and policy makers as a measure of local economies.

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Predictions for Q4 2020 are also provided and Rotherham's economy is estimated to continue to grow, but at a slower rate of 1.3%, to £4.6 billion.

The report also ranks economies in terms of job numbers. It plots Rotherham's economy as having an employment level of 105,900, up 1.1% on the same quarter in the previous year. Another 1.1% growth is predicted for the coming year with a Q4 prediction for 2020 of 108,200.

The forecasts are based on the assumption that an amended version of the Brexit withdrawal agreement will form the basis of the future UK – EU relationship. It also assumes a transitional arrangement will be put in place that allows a continuation of the current relationship without any major disruptions until at least 2021.

Paddy Sturman, partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Brexit has and will continue to take up a lot of Government time, but it is vital that it refocuses its attention on rebalancing the UK economy and building on the potential within the Northern Powerhouse."

Irwin Mitchell website
CEBR website

Images: Sheffield Business Park

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News: Ritchie Bros. bids to make Maltby its long term home

Ritchie Bros., the world's largest auctioneer of heavy equipment and trucks, wants to use a former colliery in Rotherham as its UK location for the next 27 years.

Rothbiz reported in March that temporary approval was granted to enable 4.7 hectares of the pit yard at the mothballed Maltby Colliery to be used as an auction site which could accommodate large plant, machinery and equipment when auction events would be held up to ten times per year.

Having hosted two successful auctions already, now plans have been submitted that would provide approval for the operation on more of the pit site and over a much longer term.

A covering letter from WYG, agents for the scheme, explains: "This planning application for the Auction Scheme is submitted with a view, subject to securing planning permission, to enabling [sic] Ritchie Bros. to use the proposed 11.1 hectare Site (which includes the temporary 12 month scheme site and adjoining land) for their auction activities for a 27 year period, securing the 30 full time jobs and 40 additional temporary jobs for each auction event (over two days) up to 10 times per year, along with a proportion of such jobs commencing the week before the auction and also during the following week."

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It is estimated that the scheme would involve the investment of £3.58m by the landlord, Hargreaves Land, and Ritchie Bros. to develop the site, including the modification of an existing building to form an auction house, construction of a new check-in building and use of the existing workshop, along with associated works elsewhere on site, with the demolition of some redundant former colliery buildings.

Annual investment by Ritchie Bros. would involve a further spend of around £0.75m, which over the 27 year life of the venture, would total around £20.25m.

Ritchie Bros. has been holding auctions since 1958, initially in Canada and then expanding to now operate on an international basis. The UK auction operations had previously been based on land at Donington Park.

If approved, the new facilities could be in place for Spring 2020.

Ritchie Bros. website
Hargreaves Land website

Images: Ritchie Bros. / Hargeaves land

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News: Millers extend Mears deal

Rotherham United have extended the business partnership with Mears Group, who have signed a new deal which will see them continue as the club's away shirt sponsors.

The Mears branding first appeared on the Millers' change strip in the 2017/18 season and will now remain a prominent feature until the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign as a result of the new agreement.

Morrison Facilities Services, the company that maintains council properties in Rotherham, was acquired in 2012 by Mears, the UK's leading provider of social housing repairs and maintenance services.

This new deal further strengthens the relationship between the two parties, who are already in regular contact with the Mears National Training Facility based at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers will soon be unveiling the designs of the two strips that they will wear on the road next season, which will proudly sport the Mears Group logo across the front following the signing of the new agreement.

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Steve Coakley, commercial director at Rotherham United (pictured, left), said: "We are delighted to have agreed a deal that takes the shirt sponsorship into a third season.

"We are in regular contact with our friends at Mears, who have a heavy presence both here at the stadium and in and around the local community, they're held in very high regard.

"It is fantastic that we will be able to continue to work with David, who has been incredibly supportive in a number of ventures with the club.

"To have such a successful national PLC organisation on board is fabulous for the reputation of both parties and I am sure this new deal will see both ourselves and Mears continue to grow."

David Miles, chief executive officer at Mears (pictured, right), added: "The relationship that we have built up with Rotherham United over the years has been incredibly mutually beneficial and we are tremendously proud of our association with the club.

"The football club shares so many of our beliefs and we had no hesitation in extending what has been a partnership that has continued to flourish over time.

"The club are particularly active in the local community, as we are, and those values are paramount to us in our decision making when it comes to business partners.

"I am sure that over the course of the next season our relationship will continue to grow and I am hopeful that both parties are able to remain prominent at the heart of the local area."

RUFC website
Mears website

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News: SCR seeks £200m for transport schemes

The Sheffield city region (SCR) is seeking between £170m and £210m from the Government to improve transport links and boost productivity and the economy.

Board members of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will hear next week an update on the transport strategy for the city region which focuses on getting residents and businesses connected to economic opportunity, creating a cleaner and greener SCR, and a safe and reliable transport network.

A series of implementation plans setting out "how" the goals and policies can be realised and Government cash is set to be key.

A £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund was announced in the Autumn Budget 2017. The majority of the fund, to improve local transport connections, was divvied up to regions which had elected mayors, for them to control and spend as they see fit. As the SCR did not have an elected mayor at the time, the combined authority has had to bid into the remaining funds to get the cash to back its new transport strategy.

Following a recent transport conference at the New York Stadium in Rotherham, the latest update shows that, having secured £4.2m earlier this year, a draft business case in being submitted next month and focuses on three key transit corridors – the Don Valley, Dearne Valley and Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) corridors.

The bid "would unlock major improvements in transport networks across our region, with a focus on active travel and public transport at its core."

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The paper states: "SCR is seeking between £170m and £210m for a range of schemes across each corridor:

- Public Transport – a series of infrastructure improvements aimed at improving the performance of the public transport network, principally journey time, punctuality and reliability
- Active Travel – drawing on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and the recent appointment of an Active Travel Commissioner to start developing a network of active travel routes
- Rail – enhancing accessibility to/from and at rail stations within the SCR and interventions that support connectivity to HS2/ Northern Powerhouse Rail"

On Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) - a rapid, reliable and resilient rail network between the North's six biggest cities and other economic centres - interest is in the Sheffield to Leeds route via the Northern Loop, "which will include a potential new parkway station in Rotherham and Dearne Valley."

The need to accommodate additional HS2 and NPR services at Sheffield Midland Station means that some local services may need to be moved onto alternative networks, requiring an extension of the tram train system (underpinned by renewal of the existing tram system) beyond Rotherham into the Dearne Valley and Doncaster (and potentially to Doncaster Sheffield Airport).

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Combined Authority, discussed the three objectives for his transport vision at the recent conference. He explained: "One. Residents should be able to walk, cycle, drive or use public transport from their home to their nearest town centre in no more than 15 minutes.

"Two. By using public or private transport, people should be able to travel between the region’s major town and city centres of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield in no more than 30 minutes.

"Three. Journey times to at least four major cities in the North, including Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Hull, will take no more than 75 minutes.

"Stripping everything else away, it will be these three things that drive our investment decisions from here on in."

Meanwhile, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has given direction for Sheffield and Rotherham to press ahead with proposals for a Class C Charging Clean Air Zone and additional complementary measures to address air quality.

Rothbiz reported at the end of 2018 on plans for Rotherham that include reducing speed limits on the Parkway and banning HGVs on the A629 between the town centre and junction 35 of the M1.

SCR website

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News: Visible progress at Wentworth Woodhouse

A major milestone has been reached in the restoration of Rotherham's Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse, with over 100,000 sq ft of scaffolding encasing the stately home.

Woodhead Group, experts in heritage and conservation, has been appointed by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) to carry out the repair, restoration and replacement of the building's vast roof as part of its 25-year masterplan.

A bespoke scaffolding solution is being put in place by subcontractors Lyndon SGB to provide a temporary roof to protect the building during the conservation works.

Visitors are greeted by a unique scene, with most of the building's majestic East Front now shrouded in a steel scaffold shell. Public access areas are also being created so visitors will soon be able to view the works taking place and the mansion house can remain open over the two-year project.

It will take up to three months to fully install the scaffolding which will reach 30 metres in height - as high as six double decker buses. The scaffolding will incorporate almost 300 stairs and two specialist accessible lifts for use by the public when installation is completed, which will reach 18 metres high.

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Tom Woodhead from Woodhead Group said: "This project requires an exceptional collaborative approach with our scaffolding sub-contractors, Lyndon SGB, architects Donald Insall Associates and consultants to design and install such a complex scaffold system."

The scaffolding will comprise approximately 700 tonnes and 500 linear metres of scaffolding poles and 6,000 planks, and is being installed by up to ten technicians per day over the three-month period.

Jonathan O'Connor, general manager for Lyndon SGB, said: "We've been operating across the UK for 100 years and are familiar with creating tailored access solutions for all sorts of buildings and applications. Our team has been working in collaboration with Woodhead Group to progress the scheme which will ultimately allow Wentworth Woodhouse to continue to welcome visitors."

Sarah McLeod, CEO of the WWPT, added: "This much-loved property is one of the largest historic country houses in Europe with some 365 rooms.

"We needed a contractor who understood the complexities of working on a live site and had a strong track record of successfully restoring buildings from a similar era.

"Thanks to their approach, the mansion can remain open to the public and in addition we will soon be able to provide a rare opportunity of roof-top access for visitors while work is taking place."

Woodhead Group's work will also include some remedial repairs and conservation to the interiors, including the oak staircase and the eastern section of the Long Gallery.

The repairs are being supported with over £7m of Government funding through Historic England.

Giles Proctor of Historic England said: "We are delighted to be involved with such a transformative project, which will greatly increase public access to this wonderful building, including during the works."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Woodhead Group

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News: AMRC Castings enhances 3D sand printing capability

As one of the first foundries to take advantage of large-scale 3D sand printing technology, the AMRC Castings Group has recently enhanced both its capacity and physical envelope.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Cti was acquired by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in 2014. Since then, it has been split into two organisations; AMRC Castings, which focuses on research and development, and Cti Ltd, which carries out commercial work.

Following a £15m investment, the Castings Group went operational with Europe's biggest aerospace castings facility in 2017.

The centre now has two additive manufacturing machines for the printing of one-piece 3D sand moulds and complex cores that would ordinarily require significant capital investment in pattern equipment and multiple core-boxes to be made and assembled. Complex moulds and cores for oil, gas, aerospace and automotive can be produced without the need for dedicated tooling.

The ExOne S15 digital mould and core making system has recently been upgraded by the Castings Group to incorporate a new, advanced operating system which increases the speed at which printing takes place. This machine has also been modified to run on 100% Cerabead – suited to higher temperature alloys and boasting a build envelope of 1500mm x 750mm x 750mm.

It's sister printer, the ExOne SMax, produces highly complex sand cores and moulds in silica sand which is more suitable and cost-effective for aluminium and cast iron alloys. It also benefits from a larger build envelope of 1800mm x 1000mm x 700mm and two "palletised" job boxes; allowing rapid set-ups outside of the printing process and hence reduced lead times.

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Anthony Kenney at The Casting Group, said: "As before, both machines print 3D sand printed moulds and cores for use in the foundry industry.

"However, due to further investment in process enhancements we have been able to increase capacity, accuracy and further reduce lead times."

Anthony explains that due to the moulds and cores being made as single pieces, castings with a high degree of both accuracy and geometrical relationship can be produced to DCTG7 (casting dimensional tolerance) flexibly, quickly and accurately. Aside from the more obvious benefits, the hydrodynamic balance attainable from this technology is unrivalled.

He added: "This means, regardless of size, moulds and cores can be made with an accuracy of plus or minus 0.3mm and, depending on the print density, the typical turnaround time is between 12-24 hours printing for the SMax and between 24 and 50 hours for the S15.

"This can be transformational for clients, who typically invest tens-of-thousands of pounds in dedicated, inflexible tooling that takes longer alone to manufacture than it takes us to deliver a finished casting. Furthermore, we can easily incorporate minor design revisions without any further costs being incurred."

The group also operates a bureau service, printing moulds for casting by others, directly from a 3D CAD model. Cti can also consult and advise on design and methoding using 3D sand printed moulds and cores, if a foundry has no, or limited previous experience.

AMRC website

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News: Turnover increases by £10m at AESSEAL

Rotherham manufacturer AESSEAL has had yet another successful year, posting an 8% rise in organic sales, with currency adjusted profit up by 17.4% in 2018. Turnover has increased by £10m.

With its global headquarters at Templeborough, the company designs and manufactures mechanical seals and seal support systems for a wide range of global industries including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

Group turnover rose 6.3% from £170.6m to £181.3m in the year to December 31 2018, with organic sales growth of 8% when adjusted for acquisitions and currency fluctuations. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 15.7% to £34.7m.

Group net assets rose to £122.8m, an increase of 18.6% from 2017, and the group held a positive cash balance of £16.5m at year end, despite increasing capital expenditure – which included investment of £6.8m in additional 9 and 11 axis machining capacity.

2019 marks AESSEAL's 40th anniversary. Founder, Chris Rea purchased Aurora Engineers Supplies in 1979, as a small distributor of mechanical seals, with ten employees and an annual turnover of £400,000.

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The strong financial results complete a bumper year for AESSEAL, which won a number of significant business awards recognising international trade and its outstanding training and development programme.

As well as scooping a number of awards as a business, a number of outstanding individuals within AESSEAL were also recognised, with apprentices Amber Nicholson, Nathan Wall and Ryan Morris winning Apprentice of the Year awards in their respective regions, whilst managing director Chris Rea was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding contribution to the pump industry at the Pump Industry Awards.

Chris Rea OBE, Founder and managing director of AESSEAL, said: "Although 2018 was a year of political and economic turbulence, we are proud that the AES group has delivered another set of strong results. Hard work and a continued focus on the quality of our product and service has ensured that, despite market uncertainty, new and existing customers have continued to put their trust in us and our products. We look forward to 2019's results with great deal of optimism."

AESSEAL website

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News: Look out for Rotherham in new TV ad featuring Take That

A select group of super fans were treated to a road trip that they will Never Forget as pop royalty Take That teamed up with Suzuki to film a new high profile TV advert in Rotherham recently.

An inauspicious start saw fans of the group called to a car park in town unaware that they were to be part of "Suzuki Surprises" the latest in a series of adverts which follow Gary, Mark and Howard as they deliver some incredible surprises to their biggest fans as part of their 30-year anniversary.

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The fans, from around the UK, met at Rotherham United's New York Stadium and were ultimately cast as being stranded on the way to see their favourite group.

Luckily for them, the Take That lads turned up in a range of new Suzukis to take the starstruck fans to the the gig.

The roads around Rotherham provided a perfect backdrop for the journey. Mark Owen received a marriage proposal driving past the New York Tavern on Sheffield Road whilst Howard Donald took part in a sing-a-long with fans heading down East Bawtry Road.

Gary Barlow shares the laughs in his car on his way through Canklow.

The fans are driven to the gig, which through TV trickery was back at The Millers' stadium where the North stand was decked out with Take That banners.

Tammy Charnley, general manager marketing, automobile division at Suzuki, said: "We're delighted to be working with pop icons Take That to bring the fun of the unexpected to everyday moments – as the UK's most popular band they are the perfect partner to demonstrate the possibilities of our range to their hugely engaged audience."

It is not the first time that the New York Stadium has been used in a big name advertisement. Global sportswear brand, Nike, filmed at the stadium for its advert "The Switch" in 2016.

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News: New additions planned for business park

Workers at a Rotherham business park will be able to fuel up at a new petrol station and a Greggs outlet which are under development.

Rothbiz has reported in previous years on Essex-based Burney Estates, a commercial property developers with a nationwide portfolio of properties, and its plans for a development at Swallownest, servicing the Beighton Link business park and passing trade.

Adjacent to the Elmwood Farm pub and large Pricecheck headquarters, the previously undeveloped plot is adjacent to the roundabout where Chesterfield Road and the A57 meet.

A new Starbucks drive-thru on the site has recently opened and a new commercial retail unit has been constructed, replacing earlier plans for a Burger King.

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The occupier for the retail unit looks set to be taken by bakery chain, Greggs.

The leading bakery food-on-the-go retailer in the UK has almost 2,000 retail outlets throughout the country. It has been targeting new locations in travel and workplace catchments.

Plans have also been submitted for the remainder of the plot between the Starbucks and the railway line where applicants, UK Property Options Ltd and J F Finnegan Limited, want to create a new petrol filling station.

Plans, drawn up by Chapman Lily Planning Ltd, show details for a forecourt, a small associated retail unit, landscaping, associated car parking and access. Developers say that the A57 has 24,000 vehicles per day.

The 24 hour operation could create ten new full time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

At the regenerated colliery site Rotherham Council is working in partnership with JF Finnegan to build two business units, expected to total 49,000 sq ft.

UK Property Options Ltd website

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News: Watermans - a real growth story

The popularity of a self-developed hair-loss shampoo which became a best-seller on Amazon has seen a South Yorkshire business in line to post a £5m turnover this year.

Matt and Gail Waterman brought a new product to the market to address a common problem - hair loss. They trademarked their formula and shampoo - the Watermans GROWME products - and set up their business from home in 2014.

But it ranked as a best-seller on Amazon in just three months and they have gone from selling 200 bottles a week, to 200 a day, to one every 30 seconds.

Matt, who says he grew up "really poor" in the North East, met his wife Gail, the owner of a humble local hair salon in Rotherham, on a night out in South Yorkshire 18 years ago.

The idea for the business was developed when they both began suffering from different variations of hair loss.

After trying lots of pricey products on the market, they could not find anything that did the trick and decided to come up with their own formula.

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Gail Waterman, co-founder of Watermans, said: "We just created our products to start off with for my benefit but because it was so effective, we decided to pass it on to other people who had hair loss problems with no success.

"We both saved money from savings and made our first 5,000 bottles of shampoo and put them for sale on Amazon. Three months later they were already out of stock and now our products are so popular one tube is purchased every 30 seconds."

The firm, which is now based in Thurnscoe, Barnsley, has also harnessed the power of social media to raise the profile of the UK-made product range.

Matt Waterman, co-founder of Watermans, said: "The future plan for the company is to continue to make more money. Hopefully ten million in 2020, work with my more celebrities and continue to grow the line of Watermans to be known as the best selling hair loss product in the UK. In addition to this, expand into retailers in the UK e.g. Selfridges, Boots or Harrods.

"We have recently started distributing in America and would love to grow to more other countries."

Watermans website

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News: Final land sale at Rotherham colliery site

All 35 acres of remaining developable land at the former Dinnington colliery site in Rotherham have been sold.

St Paul's Developments plc and The Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) completed a development agreement in 2014 to bring the second phase of the former Dinnington Colliery site forward for development after the success of Phase 1 which was developed and sold off in the mid to late 2000's by the then regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

In the last 12 months, all 35 acres of development land have been sold in a series of land sales as a result of high demand for strategically located development land in the South Yorkshire region.

19 acres of land was sold in two separate transactions in May and November of 2018 to E V Waddington to speculatively build create small to medium industrial units. In July 2018, a further nine acres was sold to United Caps for construction of a purpose built multi-million pound manufacturing facility for which planning consent has been granted, initially for a 54,000 sq ft unit with an option to expand to some 215,000 sq ft over further phases.

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The most recent land sale was to Trebor Developments who took the remaining 5.5 acres for a 78,450 sq ft speculative warehouse development, completing the scheme.

Joint agents were CBRE and CPP.

When fully developed the 31 East site will accommodate a mix of over 450,000 sq ft of manufacturing, industrial and warehouse space. The vast majority will be constructed speculatively and represents a huge private sector investment in the area.

David Newton, managing director of St Paul's Developments, said: "To have concluded the regeneration of this significant former colliery site is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the demand for immediately available industrial development land in South Yorkshire.

"As part of our development agreement we could have developed out the land or sold it in parcels and due to the levels of demand we received, the land sales were the natural route. Having played a role in the long-term regeneration of many key sites in South Yorkshire, we are delighted to have facilitated more employment space and job creation within the region."

Mike Baugh, senior director of industrial agency at CBRE, added: "The 31 East scheme has been a huge success and the sale of all 35 acres of land within a 12 month period is testament to the site's key positioning and infrastructure as well as the benefits of its EZ status. Good quality accessible land is currently in short supply within South Yorkshire, so we are seeing an increase in demand for sites of this nature by occupiers seeking to develop out their own facilities."

The sinking of Dinnington Colliery began in 1902 and coal started to be raised in 1905. By 1911 the colliery was providing employment for 2,000 people. It closed in 1992 resulting in 1,000 job losses. The HCA estimated that a regenerated site could create 2,400 new jobs.

St Paul's website

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News: SCR devolution set to proceed pragmatically

Secretary of State James Brokenshire has indicated that the Government is prepared for the Sheffield city region (SCR) devolution deal to move forward, four years after it was signed.

Rothbiz reported in March that Dan Jarvis and the four leaders of South Yorkshire's local authorities had reached a consensus on the way forward for devolution. The pragmatic solution allows for each authority to move to other devolution arrangements, should they wish to do so, in 2022 – the end of Mayor Jarvis' current term of office.

A lack of consensus from the leaders of South Yorkshire's four councils had denied the SCR the chance to conclude a devolution deal with the Government.

The 2015 deal included a mayor with responsibility over the region's transport budget, strategic planning and skills funding. It also promised £30m a year for 30 years to invest in local strategic priorities.

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Responding to the latest correspondence, the Secretary of State welcomed the commitment to the 2015 deal and the solution to its implementation that will see investment in the city region.

In a letter to the local councils, James Brokenshire MP said: "In principle, if you and your councils now consent, we are prepared to implement the deal with an understanding that after 2022 those councils that do not see there future in the city region should be free to join an alternative wider Yorkshire devolution group, leaving the SCR with a commensurately reduced devolution deal, and with such provisos as for example there remains an integrated transport system."

Work between the city region and the Government will now take place to ensure that the deal can be implemented.

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council said that he was pleased the Government was willing to move forward with the two stage process, adding: "I hope we can now move quickly to implement it."

An estimated £75m a year of Government funding earmarked for much-needed economic development projects is yet to make it to the SCR due to the stalled devolution deal.

SCR website

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News: Early planning victories in Pitches battle

Campaigners opposed to development on a site in Rotherham that was previously used for a range of sports have scored a brace of early victories.

Rothbiz reported last month that Newett Homes is proposing a high-quality residential development comprising 124 dwellings on land known as The Pitches at Stag and that there was already opposition to the plans.

Friends of The Pitches have now successfully secured the site as an Asset of Community Value.

The register of assets of community value enables town and parish councils, local voluntary and community organisations the opportunity to nominate local land or buildings if they consider them to be of community value.

The tool is often used to give groups the opportunity to step in to save an asset if it comes up for sale. Successful applications to Rotherham's register include pubs, youth centres, greenspace and former council buildings.

In planning terms, it will now be up to Rotherham Council to decide how much weight to give to the land entering the register. The authority will decide whether being an asset of community value is a material consideration in the determination of the planning application for housing.

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Also on the site, applicants Hotel Van Dyk Ltd, were recently refused retrospective planning application by the council's planning board to use the land temporarily for office and storage containers.

Opposition to the plans came from local residents and planning board members who claim that the containers already on the playing fields are being used as site offices for the housing proposals and added that work felling trees has already taken place. The applicants, who did not attend the meeting, state that they are moving from a site at Chesterfield to Hellaby but need to use The Pitches site as a stop gap.

The board went against officer's recommendation and refused the plans.

Cllr. Jennifer Whysall told the meeting: "I'd got a feeling that it was April the first reading this. I just feel that someone is having a laugh here, and that is accepting that this is about the siting of those things [the office and containers] and not about any future housing development which is obviously going to be another matter.

"I'm lost for words in a way. It is so inappropriate. It's against our own policy, it's retrospective, no consideration for anybody by the look of it and it just seems totally unnecessarily."

Fellow board member Cllr. Bob Walsh stated that it might actually be quicker to approve the plans than to go through a potential appeals process and enforcement action.

The plans were refused based on the opinion that the "offices and storage containers result in a loss of Green Space and the land is not suitable, even on a temporary basis, for such a development."

The applicants will be able to appeal the decision but enforcement action has been authorised by the council requiring the removal of the offices and storage containers, with a compliance period of 28 days.

Newett homes website

Images: Google Maps / RMBC

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