News: AMRC Training Centre wins Enginuity award

The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre was recognised as ‘the centre of excellence for engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships’ as it was named training partner of the year by industry leaders at the Enginuity Skills Awards.

The awards honour those who are making a difference in engineering and are organised by Enginuity, an employer-led organisation dedicated to improving the skills and productivity of people in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

The AMRC Training Centre, that has state-of-the-art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, won the Training Partner of the Year category at the national ceremony, beating off tough competition from Skillnet and JTL.

Judges were looking for a training partner that shows passion and has made a big contribution to developing engineering skills. Enginuity heaped praise on the AMRC Training Centre, calling it ‘the centre of excellence for engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships in the Sheffield City Region and beyond’.

Anne Griggs, the AMRC Training Centre’s head of business development and contracts, attended the virtual ceremony. She said the recognition was made ‘even more special’ because the awards are sponsored and selected by industry leaders in engineering.

“Our entry for this award was only possible because of the hard work of every member of the team along with our amazing apprentices and supportive employers,” said Anne. “To be recognised by others in our sector, for the work we do to support the workforce development needs in advanced manufacturing and train the engineers of the future, is a huge honour.

“This past year has been extremely challenging for everyone so to have been shortlisted amongst such great organisations and to be selected to receive this award has lifted everyone's spirits and gives us renewed energy for the year ahead.”

The ceremony, postponed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place last week and was hosted by TV journalist Steph McGovern - herself an award-winning engineering apprentice - and broadcast live from the studio of her Channel 4 show, Packed Lunch.

It brought together industry leaders across 13 categories to recognise brilliant apprentices, champions of skills development and innovative engineers tackling society’s biggest challenges. Nominated alongside the training centre was Matt Booth, workshop manager at AMRC Cymru, who was among the finalists in the Large Employer Apprentice of the Year category.

In the Training Partner of the Year category, judges were looking for organisations that demonstrate how they make a significant or innovative contribution to developing manufacturing and engineering skills; they particularly wanted to see a passion for developing engineering skills that ‘change lives, the sector or the world’.

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Director of the AMRC Training Centre, Nikki Jones, is thrilled with the win. She said: “It is fantastic recognition of the work we do and the impact we have on individuals, families, industries and our region.

“We pride ourselves on giving our apprentices the best possible opportunity to learn and we are committed to offering them a curriculum that fits the requirements of employers as well.

"So much has changed since we were shortlisted for this award in March last year, but what has not changed during the past 12 months is the continuous hard work of all our team. From teachers and trainers, to assessors and the apprentices themselves, they are a credit to us.”

The AMRC Training Centre’s nomination highlighted the state-of-the-art facilities available to apprentices and trainers’ innovative approach to the delivery of advanced manufacturing apprenticeships, with a curriculum designed with employers in mind.

In 2019, the first cohort of apprentices graduated with degrees from the University of Sheffield and there was a renewed focus on attracting underrepresented groups into engineering with the expansion of the Primary Engineer programme, appointment of new STEM ambassadors and creation of the #AMRCtribe campaign.

AMRC Training Centre website

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News: Rotherham proprietor admits food hygiene standards breaches

A takeaway business proprietor has been hit with fines and legal costs totalling more than £3,000 after evidence of a rat infestation was found at his premises by Environmental Health Officers from Rotherham Council.

Faisal Syed appeared at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on this week and pleaded guilty to three offences dating from January 2020. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £861 which reflect the costs of the investigation and prosecution. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181. The total amount payable is £3,042.

The charges followed a routine food hygiene inspection at Planet Pizza, 18 Main Street, Rotherham, on 29 January 2020 by Environmental Health Officers. The officers found the premises to be in poor structural condition and requiring pest proofing. They also discovered evidence of the presence of rats, which presented an imminent risk to health.

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A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served on Syed, requiring him to immediately close the premises due to unacceptable hygiene standards. A subsequent hearing at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 6 February 2020 confirmed the Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and agreed with the actions of the Environmental Health Officers to immediately close the premises following the inspection, due to the presence of rats resulting in an imminent risk to health.

Rotherham Council’s Assistant Director of Community Safety & Street Scene, Tom Smith, said: “The hygiene standards at Planet Pizza fell well below what the public should expect.

“Food business operators have a legal duty to keep their premises to a high standard of cleanliness – and as in this case, we will not hesitate to take swift and decisive action against any failure to do so.”

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News: Plans for Wentworth’s Camellia House

Memories and images of the derelict Camellia House in the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham are being sought by specialists now steering plans for its restoration.

Redeveloping the Grade II* listed Camellia House into a daytime cafe and evening events venue is Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust’s first major project to bring a derelict building back into use.

The Trust, which bought the house in 2017, is taking the building back to its original use - in 1738 it was an orangery with a tea room created for Lady Rockingham, wife of the 1st Marquess, to entertain her guests.

It became home to camellias when the 2nd Marquess became one of the earliest English collectors of the rare blooms being brought from China and Japan in Georgian times.

Though now a shell, the building still houses some of the oldest and rarest camellias in the Western world. They will have pride of place in the new cafe and will be carefully protected during building work, which it is hoped will begin next year.

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The project can now move on a-pace thanks to the recent appointment of architects, a project organiser and a quantity surveyor.

After a competitive tendering process, UK-wide architects Donald Insall Associates will be developing designs and applying to Rotherham Council for planning permission.

The award-winning practice recently worked on two phases of restoration work and emergency repairs at the mansion alongside quantity surveyors Rex Procter and Partners, of Leeds, and Project Organiser David Trevis-Smith, of Warwickshire-based DTS Solutions. Both firms have also successfully tendered for the Camellia House project.

Commented Mr Trevis-Smith: “We would love the public to share with us old photos and any memories they have of the Camellia House.

“As heritage specialists we constantly learn about the buildings as we work on them, but there are things we will never find out from examining bricks and mortar.

“Having more pieces of the jigsaw will help us greatly in the planning process. Local people whose ancestors worked in the house and gardens, or who visited decades ago could hold fascinating nuggets of information,” he added.

A National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £1.5m received in late 2019, is funding the three consultancy firms to develop plans for the Camellia House and also for three other beautiful and redundant 18th and 19th century buildings on the site.

Match funding is being provided by Historic England, Garfield Weston Foundation, Architectural Heritage Fund, Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust, Pilgrim Trust and Ian Addison Charitable Trust.

As revealed in the Trust’s 20-year Masterplan, the Riding School is earmarked as a major conference and events space, the South Range of the Stables for retail, events and cafe spaces and the Ostler’s House as overnight guest accommodation.

The Camellia House will have its own kitchens and will operate as a daytime cafe and a dining and events venue in the evenings.

Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust CEO Sarah McLeod said: “Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we now have trusted and expert consultants onboard for this crucial first stage in our plans for the Camellia House.

“We hope to be able to tender for the construction work by the end of this year but first, substantial fundraising will need to be done. This will include a public appeal to raise around £500,000 towards this multi-million-pound scheme.”

Donald Insall Associates is known for conservation work at some of Britain’s most significant stately homes. “It has been an honour and privilege to work with a highly skilled team of conservation specialists at Wentworth Woodhouse and we are looking forward to working on the Camellia House,” said Dorian Proudfoot, Associate Director. “Its redevelopment is the next stage in securing a sustainable future for the magnificent stately home.”

Ian Tomlinson, a director of Rex Procter and Partners, commented: Our professional relationship with the property and its custodians started in 2009. We are excited by the vision for the Camellia House and Stable Block range, which will bring many new visitors, and look forward to working on what we are sure will be a challenging and ultimately rewarding series of projects.”

Wentworth Woodhouse website

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News: AMRC engineers keep knifemaker at cutting edge

Engineers from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) helped the "Aston Martin of the knife world" explore new cutting technologies and develop process efficiencies for its handcrafted bespoke blades.

Savernake Knives approached the AMRC for assistance in developing the manufacturing strategy of its custom knife blades, which are machined directly from Sandvik knife steel billet in the soft state, then hardened, ground and polished. The company wanted to simplify the process to harden the billet before machining, followed by grinding and polishing steps.

The AMRC, which has multimillion pound facilities in Rotherham and is a member of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres, successfully demonstrated a proposed process on a representative machine tool, developing better cutting strategies for machining, exploring cutting technologies and reducing the overall time of the knifemaking process.

Laurie Timpson, founder of Savernake Knives, describes its products as the ‘Aston Martin of the knife world’ - every part is made by hand and designed with technology also used in the construction of parts in Formula One racing cars.

He said: “For a small business like ours, when we want to develop the way we manufacture our knives, we’re usually facing a huge amount of trial and error. There are so many variables involved in these processes, we’re talking thousands of options for tools which often means disappearing down a lot of rabbit holes.

“We work with hardened steel, which is primarily used in defence and Formula One, where information is tightly protected. It’s exhausting to always work from first principles. This is exactly why the work of the AMRC is so helpful. It has access to a lot of programmes, simulations, tool options and expertise which means it was able to save us about six months of time and avoid rabbit holes altogether.”

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Project Engineer at the AMRC Machining Group, Emma Parkin, worked with Savernake on the project, which was funded through the HVM Catapult as part of its commitment to supporting SMEs.

Emma said: “This is a business making beautiful handmade, top-end knives, and there are a lot of processes each product must go through before it’s complete. At the moment, Savernake is cutting knives from soft steel and the process of hardening this, and eliminating the twists, takes days. They wanted to explore how to cut the knife from hard steel.

“I worked with them to look at ways to reduce the stress on the part as it is being cut and was even able to produce a knife for them in this way. I also looked at their polishing process and was able to suggest brushes that would work well. Finally, I suggested suppliers they might want to consider.

“Savernake is a busy business, and this project was all about bringing in that additional resource and expertise to help them consider which of their processes could be approached differently to result in greater efficiencies overall.”

Savernake is now taking forward a slightly modified version of the recommendations for tools and manufacturing processes that came from the AMRC.

Laurie said: “We’ve done a little refinement, but nothing compared to the task it would’ve been without their help. I would recommend this five-day support scheme to any SME that needs this kind of boost. It’s free and it’s good - what more could you want?”

The AMRC website

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News: Further expansion for X-Cel Superturn

An ambitious South Yorkshire manufacturing company that specialises in producing precision machined components for the renewables, defence and oil and gas industries, has acquired the freehold of a second site in Rotherham to accommodate growing demand from clients.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 that Newburgh Precision Engineering Ltd had been acquired having entered into administration. The assets and goodwill were purchased by a new company, Vector X-Cel Ltd, which is 51% owned by X-Cel Superturn Ltd and 49% owned by the Newburgh management team.

X-Cel Superturn is a global manufacturer of machined components. In June 2012, the firm moved its Gasket and Seal division to the prestigious Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Now a £7.15m deal facilitated by leading law firm Banner Jones, has seen X-Cel Superturn acquire the freehold of Newburgh House, now known as Vector House, the 90,000 sq ft facility previously leased by Newburgh at Templeborough.

The deal includes over an acre of development land which Vector X-Cel said it will use to expand their facilities and support new and existing clients.

Over the past two years the company has also invested more than £750k in new equipment to support the growth of the business.

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X-Cel Group Chairman, Andrew Taylor, said: "In 2019 we completed the expansion of our 70,000 sq ft facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park which is home to some of the World's biggest manufacturers, and which is an excellent base and headquarters for the X-Cel Superturn Group.

"We have also relocated our valve design and manufacturing company Colson X-Cel from West Yorkshire into this facility. We now own two of the best engineering facilities in the South Yorkshire area and we will continue to invest heavily in new plant, equipment and training. Our company is very committed to the South Yorkshire area as it provides an excellent technically skilled and loyal workforce and good transport links.

"I'd to take this opportunity to thank the team at Banner Jones who have supported us on our growth journey over the last few years, and most recently in the acquisition of our new site."

Stephen Gordon, Head of the Business Legal Services team at Banner Jones, added: "This is another exciting development for X-Cel Superturn, which has expanded at pace in recent years to accommodate new work and projects that are further adding to the credibility of the region as a centre of excellence for manufacturing and engineering across Europe.

"We wish them well with their plans for the future, and their ambitions to create further job opportunities in the area which will undoubtedly be a boost to the local economy."

X-Cel Superturn website

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News: More new open spaces in Rotherham town centre

Work is due to start to improve the look and feel of more of Rotherham town centre's open spaces next week.

The public realm works on College Street will see the introduction of new on-street pay and display parking bays, as well as new landscaping and seating, with feature lighting already installed.

This follows on from the Phase One works on Bridgegate which are expected to be completed as the works on College Street begin.

The scheme provides new paving and lighting, aimed at improving the look and feel to the area. The existing brick planters will also be removed to allow for additional parking, providing easier access to the town centre and supporting local businesses.

The conservation of the trees which sit at the junction of College Street and Effingham Street is a key priority. The works have been designed to ensure their preservation, whilst also creating a revamped seating area.

North Midland Construction was contracted via direct award from the YORcivil2 Framework for a £124,000 design and build works contract for public realm works on College Street.

Works are set to be funded from the £17m pot that the Council set aside to support capital investments in the town centre. Further public realm projects are included in the projects backed by the Future High Streets Fund and Transforming Cities Fund.

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Rotherham Council’s Strategic Director for Regeneration & Environment, Paul Woodcock, said: “The improvements to the public spaces which form part of the Town Centre Masterplan are really taking shape and complement the new housing developments and leisure scheme at Forge Island.

“The plans for College Street show our commitment to creating an attractive, modern space that continues to support the regeneration of the town centre.”

Future phases of the public realm improvements across the town centre, which will include Frederick Street, Howard Street and Effingham Street, are under development.

The regeneration of Forge Island is continuing with the completion of phase one of the flood defence and enabling works. This will help deliver the full leisure scheme which includes a cinema, food and drink outlets, a hotel and car park.

Meanwhile the demolition of the former Primark building on High Street is now underway to create a pocket park and high-quality public space in the short term and, with longer term plans in development to deliver more quality town centre living opportunities.

Rotherham Town Centre website

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News: Rotherham facility welcomed into United Caps family

The multimillion pound new production facility has come online in Rotherham for United Caps, an international manufacturer of caps and closures.

Rothbiz reported in 2018 that the Luxembourg-based multinational had selected a site at Dinnington for its first UK location with plans for a phased development on a 4.1 hectare site on the former Dinnington Colliery.

The initial facility was planned to be 54,000 sq ft, with an option to expand to 215,000 sq ft, and production began at the end of 2020. COVID-19 resrtictions meant that an official opening will have to wait.

Instead, the firm used a recent virtual event to highlight is progress against strategic growth initiatives.

The Dinnington facility was to initially focus on beverage and dairy closures, with options to add additional segments as needed. The project represents an estimated €20m (£18m) investment including the first phase of machinery and is expected to increase group turnover by 15% and create 20 jobs initially.

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Benoit Henckes, CEO of United Caps, said: "We opened two new state-of-the-art European plants during 2020, Dinnington in the UK and Valframbert in France. These actions were critical to both our ongoing "CLOSE TO YOU" strategy and to our ability to meet our strategic growth objectives.”

The Dinnington and Valframbert locations were carefully selected in line with the strategy to enhance service to customers in the respective regions. Henckes welcomed the UK team to the United Caps family in December via Zoom as the Dinnington lines came online, due to COVID-19 restrictions. "We have special plans for an official in-person launch day as soon as the pandemic situation allows," he said.

Formerly known as Procap, the company is a leader in the development, production and sale of plastic caps and closures. It serves its customers from ten production plants and 16 sales locations globally. At the end of 2020, the company reported turnover of over €156m (£135m) and employed almost 750 people around the globe.

A preferred partner to the world's leading companies, United Caps produces custom designed speciality closures for the likes of Arla, Danone, Unilever, L'Oréal and Pfizer.

Henckes added: "We continue to enhance our infrastructure to support some of the world’s biggest brands, who look to United Caps and closures to help create new markets, safeguard product integrity, assure safety and consumer health, and ultimately protect brand reputation."

United Caps website

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News: Government pressed on support for steel

The Government is monitoring the issues at Liberty Steel "extremely closely" but is unable to say what support it may offer as the steelmaker attempts to refinance.

Rothbiz reported earlier this month on meetings between Liberty and steel unions. The company, part of the GFG Alliance, employs hundreds of staff in South Yorkshire, including in Rotherham.

Reports have linked GFG Alliance to Greensill, a specialist in invoice financing that operates with less regulation than the traditional banks and that is now in administration.

Unions said that Liberty "intends to secure a refinancing of the debt to provide the business with the necessary liquidity going forward."

Some staff in the region have now gone back on furlough.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, stood up for steel in the commons this week, addressing Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Champion said: "More than 5,000 workers at Liberty Steel, including 900 in Rotherham, are facing an uncertain future following the collapse of Greensill Capital. Will the Secretary of State now commit, as other Governments in Europe have done, to step in, if necessary, to safeguard this vital strategic industry?"

Kwarteng replied: "In my meetings with management and relevant union leaders, I have always stressed that the management plans need to be worked through. We are monitoring the situation extremely closely. The hon. Lady will know that I have a direct interest in the future of Liberty Steel."

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Shadow business secretary, Ed Miliband, also questioned the minister on the issue. He said: "No ideology or dogma must stand in the way of protecting the jobs of 5,000 people and many more in the supply chain. This is a critical part of our national infrastructure and it is critical to those communities. Will he now do what he has failed to do so far and say that he will do whatever it takes, including public ownership if it is the best value for money choice, to save those jobs if it is necessary?"

Kwarteng replied: "The right hon. Gentleman will be absolutely aware that this is an ongoing commercial matter. He will know that I have seen local management, representatives of the unions and a number of people who are very, very keenly involved in the steel sector, and it would not be appropriate for me to enter into what is a commercially sensitive situation. My heart goes out to the workers. They are an excellent workforce, and Liberty Steel has a fine tradition in this space, but it would be inappropriate for me to enter into what are live, commercially sensitive issues."

When British Steel entered liquidation in 2019, the government provided the Official Receiver with an indemnity to cover the costs which enabled the company to continue to trade until it was bought by Jingye Group, a leading Chinese steelmaker, in 2020. The indemnity is reported to have cost in the region £800m.

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News: Jobs support programme helps 3,500 people in work

The Sheffield City Region (SCR's) trail blazing Working Win scheme, which has helped thousands of people find and stay in work, has helped 511 more people to stay in work.

This takes the total number of residents supported up to 3,570, helping the region’s fightback against the Coronavirus pandemic. The scheme has supported people in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw with physical and mental health issues to find or stay in training and work.

Working Win ran as a trial from May 2018 to October 2020, followed by the extension which runs until March 2021. It was one of only two national pilots of its kind funded by and delivered in partnership with Central Government and NHS England.

Anji Keegan, an Advisory teacher supported by Working Win, said: "When your body won’t do what you want it to do it really knocks your confidence and self-esteem. One of the things that my work coach Paul taught me to do was not to be afraid to ask for reasonable adjustments.

"It was about Paul empowering me to advocate for myself - I’ve got the confidence to do that now and didn’t have that before Working Win.

"I was really clear with my line managers about what I need for my health condition, and that this was about me staying in work – and my managers were amazing about it.

"I’m still in a job that I love, and I am a much calmer person about my health – I’m not as frustrated with it as I was. I’m beginning to look for the things that I can do, rather than the things I can’t do."

Niall O’Reilly, Head of Work and Wellbeing at South Yorkshire Housing Association, the organisation which runs the project, said: "Working Win is a fantastic example of partnership working between national, regional and local government and health partners. 3,570 people with health conditions have been supported to find jobs or stay in employment thanks to Working Win.

"As well as specialist employment, debt and wellbeing support for individuals, we’ve helped local employers with free training and advice. It’s a ground-breaking scheme that has made a huge difference at a difficult time."

Working Win is a crucial part of the Mayoral Combined Authority’s Renewal Action Plan to support jobs and businesses in South Yorkshire and deliver a jobs-led recovery from the pandemic.

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Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Education, Skills and Employability Board, said: “Staying in work is huge challenge for people with health issues. This has increased during the pandemic.

“Working Win supports people with health conditions who are at risk of redundancy, helping to stay in work. It’s helping businesses to retain great people and allowing residents with health issues to enhance their careers. I encourage all affected individuals and employers to come forward for support.”

Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson, added: "As we build back better, it’s vital that we respond to the different needs in communities. Some people with health conditions will need more support than others to say in work or find new jobs.

“Working Win has shown just how effective support like this can be and as a result of their efforts, there are hundreds of stories of personal renewal across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. That’s what our Plan for Jobs is all about – practical support that helps people back on their feet.”

The results of the full trial will be evaluated and released in 2022.

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News: Julie Kenny made Honorary Freewoman of Rotherham

Dame Julie Kenny DBE has been made a Honorary Freewoman of the Borough of Rotherham.

Whilst a virtual ceremony may not have the pomp and circumstance of a usual official ceremony at the Town Hall, it is nonetheless, the ultimate accolade that the Rotherham Borough can bestow on one of its citizens.

In 2019 the self-made Rotherham businesswoman becomes a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the second-highest honour in the land, for her crucial role in securing the future of the Wentworth Woodhouse.

The Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Jenny Andrews, said: "Awards are not just for a job well done, they are awarded because an individual has "gone the extra mile" in the contribution they have made or stand out head and shoulders above others in what they achieved.

"Dame Julie has throughout her career achieved benefits for our town in a way that has brought distinction to borough life and helped improve the lives of those less able to help themselves, whilst demonstrating inspirational innovation and entrepreneurship."

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Sarah McLeod, CEO of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), discussed Julie's work to secure the mansion for the area.

Sarah said: "Yes, she thought Wentworth Woodhouse was a wonderful piece of architecture and a fantastic building, but really, the real reason Julie did that was because she understood absolutely what an important asset it would be for Rotherham, in terms of creating jobs and training and providing opportunities for people that lived in the area. That is what Julie is all about really. She is absolutely passionate about Rotherham and she's incredibly proud of Rotherham and its people and I know that is what motivates her to really make Wentworth a success."

Leaving her Sheffield home at 18, Julie travelled to the opposite end of the country and found a job as a junior secretary in a Cornish law firm. Ten years of part time study led to the second career as a lawyer.

Returning to South Yorkshire with a belief in a new security system, Julie set up Pyronix with her husband in 1986. Becoming a single mother of three on the break-up of her marriage, she grew Pyronix, which is still based at Hellaby, into an award-winning organisation supplying 65 countries. When she sold the company in 2016 its turnover was £25m. She was awarded a CBE in 2002 for her services to industry in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Other roles include being the chair of the first academy school in Rotherham at Maltby, taking a commisioner role at Rotherham Council and being a High Sherriff for South Yorkshire.

Previous recipients given the freedom of the borough include local businessman and chairman of Rotherham United, Tony Stewart and World Cup referee, Howard Webb.

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News: Pitches plans turned down

The planning board at Rotherham Council has voted to refuse plans to build over 100 new houses on greenspace - going against a recommendation by its officers.

Rothbiz reported earlier this month that the application for a site known as "The Pitches" at Stag was being recommended for approval, so long as developers provided over £1m as part of a legal deal.

In 2019 Newett Homes proposed a high-quality residential development of 124 homes. After consultation, the proposed development has been reduced in scale, resulting in a proposal for 116 dwellings.

The nine acre site on Wickersley Road has previously been used for football, cricket, hockey, tennis and bowls but it has been vacant for over five years, during which it has not been available for public or private use. The site also includes a club house.

A number of objectors spoke at the planning board before councillors discussed aspects of the proposals such as the site being allocated as greenspace in the local plan, traffic concerns and wildlife. Some accuse the applicant of deliberately preventing the use of the site for sporting purposes and of showing disregard for planning regulations.

The issue of a 1914 covenent on the land was also discussed but this is not a planning consideration and is a private legal matter. And even if approval was granted, it would not override any legal covenent that may restrict the use of the land.

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Board members heard that the appplication had met national planning policy relating to mitigating the loss of sports pitches. Having turned down figures of £300,000 and £560,000, a figure of £912,000 has been accepted by Sport England.

The applicant has advised that there is no intention to reopen the site for sports use and the money would go towards a replacement cricket pitch and field, replacement football facilities, a new bowling facility, tennis provision and to enable the Council to commission a new Playing Pitch Strategy.

In addition, the Section 106 Agreement (legal agreements between the councils and developers linked to planning permissions) included £237,604 for schools provision. 25% of the houses would need to be affordable housing.

However, the planning board voted seven against and six in favour.

Reasons for refusal were that the plans were contrary to Rotherham's Local Plan Policy SP38 "Protecting Green Space" which indicates that such sites will be protected from future development.

The second reason was based on the absence of an up to date Playing Pitch Strategy so there is "insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the proposed mitigation is sufficient to provide replacement sporting facilities of an equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality" in accordance with national planning policy.

One planning board member who voted against the plans was cllr. John Williams, who gave his reasons at the meeting. He said: "It's not a decision I take lightly but I think it is the loss of the greenspace. The mitigation for that loss is dependent on a lot of work on a strategy that isn't in place. So I wasn't satisfied or reassured on the loss of the greenspace."

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News: Consultation starts on Parkgate link road

Consultation has begun on proposals to ease congestion and improve transport, walking and cycling infrastructure at Parkgate in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported earlier this month that multimillion pound plans were being outlined, including a £7m new access route into Parkgate Shopping from Aldwarke Lane.

Also in the proposals are a 300 space Park and Ride site at the tram-train stop and road widening to the southern entry and exit arms of the Taylors Lane roundabout on the A633.

The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) is now getting ready to submit a planning application for the works in the summer.

£11.52m is required from the Sheffield City Region's (SCR's) Transforming Cities Fund towards project costs of £12.86m.

Consultation documents show that the proposed new 800 metre Parkgate Link Road between Aldwarke Lane and both Stonerow Way and Stadium Way will provide a second access route to Parkgate Shopping, via a roundabout between the two railway bridges. It is designed to relieve existing congestion on the A633 around Parkgate Shopping and improve traffic flow and bus journey times on the corridor and wider road network.

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The proposed new link road will also provide a safer and more attractive environment for walking and cycling via a shared footway / cycleway. It will also unlock the brownfield land between Aldwarke Lane and Parkgate Shopping for development.

The road provides the opportunity to access a proposed new 300 space Park & Ride facility for the tram-train (a £3.4m project) to be located on brownfield land close to the existing Matalan store.

The innovative tram-train service began operation in 2018, connecting Parkgate with Rotherham town centre, Meadowhall and Sheffield city centre. Scheme proponents say that by "capturing Sheffield, Meadowhall and Rotherham bound vehicular traffic at this location it would alleviate congestion on the wider network and improve air quality."

Proposed work to the Taylors Lane roundabout (a £1.7m project), which also provides the entrance to another retail park at Great Eastern Way, includes the widening of entry and exit points and extension of two 150m lane sections at the southern arm. This is designed to provide additional capacity at the roundabout, further relieve existing congestion on the A633 and improve traffic flow and bus journey times on the corridor and wider road network.

SYPTE Director of Customer Services, Tim Taylor, said: “Our proposals for Parkgate aim to bring benefits to everyone living in, working at and visiting the area. By easing congestion and improving traffic flow these changes will offer greener journey options for a cleaner environment.

“The proposed new link road and highway improvements will improve bus reliability and journey times in the area, as well as access to the Tram Train network and a proposed new, larger capacity Park & Ride. New public realm proposals also aim to encourage more active travel, by making it easier to walk and cycle around Parkgate.

“This important consultation will shape how we progress to the next stage of our proposals for the area’s highway, walking and cycling infrastructure. We’re seeking views to develop our plans and we are encouraging everyone that lives, shops or works at Parkgate, or uses the local transport network, to have their say on the proposals.”

Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, Cllr Denise Lelliot said: “These plans for investment in better cycling, walking and public transport options offer huge benefits for people’s health and wellbeing and the environment, as well as for the local economy. I urge everyone who uses this area to examine these proposals and ensure Rotherham gets the very best from this scheme.”

Online Q&A sessions are planned and feedback can be submitted until April 16.

Rotherham Council documents have the schemes expected completiion dates of March 2023.

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News: AMRC at forefront of innovative recycling technology and circular economy development

Engineers at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) used their simulation capabilities to support a metal processing business in developing an automated scrap sorting technology that can contribute to a circular economy and help preserve the planet.

Advanced Alloys, based in Dinnington in Rotherham, processes significant quantities of aerospace scrap, which is currently sorted manually. It is difficult to determine the grade and composition of the different materials, and currently rare elements found in aerospace alloys, which are hard to identify, are not sorted. This results in high-value elements being amalgamated in lower value materials, such as stainless variants.

Advanced Alloys worked with the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult network of research centres, to explore the improvement and automation of the process of identifying and sorting rare earth metals for reuse. The project was paid for using funds from HVM Catapult as part of a commitment to support smaller and medium-sized businesses.

A team of engineers from the AMRC's Factory 2050 facility worked with Advanced Alloys to suggest technologies that could be used within the automated process. These included the use of cameras, robotics, conveyors, inscribing technology and high-speed X-ray fluorescence. The AMRC also provided support with understanding the costs and benefits associated with each specific technology.

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Stephen Hall, Managing Director of Advanced Alloys, said while events of 2020 have meant temporarily pushing the pause button on the project, the company hopes to restart in 2021.

“In a way, the pause might not have been a bad thing,” said Stephen. “The suggestions we had from the AMRC took us to the edge of what is currently possible, and further refinement of image analysis software, in particular, would help us get to where we want to be. Robotics is great at identifying pieces and components of a regular size and shape, but we're often looking at irregular shapes, sharp edges, and an array of different sizes.

The suggestions we had from the AMRC took us to the edge of what is currently possible.

“We're pushing at the limits of technology here. The strength of the AMRC is in adapting developments at the cutting edge of new technology into the workplace, and it is inspirational to see.”

Dr Phil Yates of the AMRC said the work undertaken for Advanced Alloys was ‘fascinating’ and the type of project ‘where you realise you're working on something important’.

Dr Yates added: “There is already a lot of automation across the industry in manufacturing and assembly. Where there's much less automation is in recycling. It's more challenging to find ways to automate the identification and sorting of scrap materials. So, this was a great project for the AMRC. We like doing the awkward stuff; the stuff that taxes our brains and uses our skills.

“We put together simulations of a number of methods for identifying and cleaning different scrap metals, some of which are very expensive and can also be dangerous, so these elements could be separated out from the rest of the scrap and recycled for use again.

"This is about supporting a fantastic local business, but ultimately, when it comes to keeping these rare earth elements in use, it's also about developing technology that can contribute to a circular economy, to design out waste and keep materials in use, and help preserve the planet."

Stephen added: "Working with the AMRC opened our eyes to what is possible. I'd say to any business considering working with the AMRC, this is a way you can access new technology, understand what's available and how it might apply practically to your work. We often expect innovative technology to be cost-prohibitive and out of our reach, but the AMRC bridges that divide between normal manufacturing businesses and advanced engineering developments."

Advanced Alloys website
AMRC website

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News: CityFibre extends reach

CityFibre has identified 216 additional towns and villages that are to benefit from a Full Fibre rollout, completing the list of locations in its £4 billion nationwide investment programme.

CityFibre's Gigabit City programme has already reached Rotherham.

The leading designer, builder, owner, and operator of fibre optic infrastructure in UK towns and cities provides an alternative to BT Openreach.

CityFibre confirmed last year that a £29m investment in the borough would start in the Kimberworth area.

The latest build plans show the majority of Rotherham in CityFibre's phase 1, with Aston, Catcliffe, Dinnington, Kilnhurst, Kiveton Park, Maltby, Swinton, Thorpe Hesley, Treeton, Wales and Wath in phase 2.

The scale of CityFibre’s rollout has been made possible by the favourable regulatory environment established by Ofcom to encourage infrastructure competition, making it quicker and easier to deploy Full Fibre networks. It is expected that Ofcom’s imminent market review will support competition in the sector as the key to investment as industry accelerates to meet Government’s 2025 target.

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The nationwide build programme is expected to be substantially completed by 2025 and will address approximately a third of the UK market including up to 8 million homes, 800,000 businesses, 400,000 public sector sites and 250,000 5G access points. This will make it the largest independent Full Fibre platform in the country.

CityFibre’s strategic partners Vodafone, TalkTalk and Zen are already targeting the rapidly expanding footprint and a growing number of regional and local ISPs are offering affordable, reliable and symmetrical gigabit-speed Full Fibre broadband.

Recommended reading: Breaking Down 5 Industries in the UK to Watch in 2025

Greg Mesch, CEO at CityFibre said: "We’re delighted to welcome so many new towns, villages and communities to our Full Fibre rollout programme. By 2025, our world-class digital infrastructure will be within reach of nearly a third of the UK market, connecting homes, businesses, schools and hospitals, and supporting 5G mobile networks. This is clear proof of the benefits of digital infrastructure competition.

“We have seen huge enthusiasm and early success from our ISP partners, both large and small. Together we’re maximising the potential of a new infrastructure build programme to stimulate demand and drive take-up. Building the network is the first step. It’s only through the use of this world-class Full Fibre infrastructure that we can derive the maximum benefit for our economic recovery and future success.”

CityFibre website

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News: Rotherham United's latest financial results

Rotherham United has posted its latest financial results that covered the team's promotion season back to The Championship - a season cut short by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Accounts filed with Companies House show that turnover was £9.6m for the year ending June 30 2020, down from the £14m for 18/19, and lower than the £10m in the previous season in League One.

Profit before tax was £2.74m for 2019 but for 2020, this had turned into a £1.2m loss before tax.

Chairman Tony Stewart OBE (pictured), founder of successful Rotherham firm, ASD Lighting, saved the Millers in 2008 when he brought the then League Two club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA). Rotherham United Football Club (RUFC) Ltd is wholly owned by ASD Lightings Holdings Ltd, which is owned by the Stewart family.

In March 2020, ASD Lighting Holdings Ltd took up a £2m share issue in the football club which helped to cover a reduction in match day revenue and reduced funding from the League.

With nine matches to go and the Millers sitting in the second automatic promotion spot, the club earned promotion on a points per game basis.

Income in the year was reduced in most areas. Match income and season tickets was £1.7m for 2020 compared to £2.5m for 2019. Central distributions via the Football League reduced from £7.4m for being in The Championship to £2.7m when in League One.

However the books were boosted by over £2m from player sales. The club sold key first team players Will Vaulks and Semi Ajayi during the period.

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The accounts show that the club had to withhold from launching its season ticket campaign and not invoice corporate attendees for the season where a potential return of fans was unknown. The club launched an alternative to ticket refunds called "United Rotherham" and provided the opportunity for ticket holders to "rollover" funds for when fans can return.

Legal costs and costs associated with COVID-safe working also affected the balance sheet.

Rotherham United utilised the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for £405,000 during the financial year and staff and players went on furlough when the season was halted in March.

The accounts also show that the club took advantage of a bridging loan from the EFL for £128,800.

The accounts conclude that even though net liabilities have been significantly reduced, "the impact of COVID-19 continues to have an impact on income, particularly in respect of match receipts. The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the next thtree years that show that the company will have to continue to rely on upon the support of sponsors, in particular its fellow subsidiary company ASD Lighting plc, to enable it to trade as a going concern."

ASD Lighting plc's sponsorship saw £970,000 going into the football club for the year. The club continued to pay £1m during the year to RU Estates, the company established by the Stewart family to construct the £20m New York Stadium.

2020 accounts for ASD Lighting Holdings Ltd are not yet published on Companies House.

RUFC website

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News: Making sure Rotherham businesses are COVID-secure

Rotherham Council is working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to contact businesses in Rotherham to check they have COVID-secure measures in place and to help tackle COVID-19 in the local area as part of a national campaign.

The Council and HSE will also work alongside local public health authorities to highlight any patterns in confirmed coronavirus cases in the borough.

The checks are part of the additional resource from central government for local authorities to make sure that businesses are as COVID-safe as possible. During the checks, businesses will be given advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers, customers, and visitors from COVID-19.

Businesses who do not engage with the HSE inspections or require additional measures putting in place will get further support from the Council. This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to enforcement.

Being COVID-secure means that businesses need to put adjustments in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others from coronavirus.

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Denise Fedyszyn, COVID-19 Service Manager at Rotherham Council, said: “Council Officers are talking to local businesses, and visiting sites in and around Rotherham to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity.

“Being COVID-secure is a priority for all businesses, it is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus. This means making business adjustments to become COVID-secure. We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community.”

MGB Plastics is one Rotherham business that has received an unannounced visit from the HSE to carry out a spot check. After the visit the inspector said: "In all respects, your business is following the appropriate guidance. I could see that a great deal of effort has been made by the management team and by all the workers to ensure that your business is a safe place to work, and that everything is being done to minimise the risk of infection from COVID at the business.”

HSE and local authority inspectors are finding some common practices that need continued vigour to prevent transmission including arrangements for monitoring, supervising and maintaining social distancing, and robust cleaning regime particularly at busy times of the day.

Sharon Kemp, Chief Executive at Rotherham Council, said: “It is critical that all businesses continue to be extremely in their COVID Secure ways of working. Businesses can be spot checked which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced check to ensure they are COVID-secure. By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the local community as well as support the local and national UK economy.”

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News: Confident Harworth Group make progress through the pandemic

Rotherham-based real estate company, Harworth Group, has posted its latest financial results which highlight the "strength and resilience" of the business.

Based close to its flagship Waverley development, the listed firm is a specialist in brownfield regeneration and has a £250m income-producing portfolio across the UK.

For its unaudited figures for the year ending December 31 2020, Harworth, which was created through the complex restructure of what was UK Coal, reported an operating profit of £27.8m, up from £24.3m in the previous year.

Having passed on the opportunity in 2019, a dividend to shareholders is proposed this year.

Harworth's focus has been on the "beds and sheds" sectors where demand remains strong. Whilst income from property sales reduced from £79.9m to £75.8m, rental income increased from £15m to £19.8m. Value gains were made in business space as uncertainty remained in some parts of the residential markets.

Harworth has seen good progress on development sites despite COVID-19 restrictions and its pipeline is the largest in its history as a listed company.

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Lynda Shillaw, chief executive at Harworth Group, said: "Our results for 2020 give us great confidence in the strength and resilience of our underlying business and our ability to grow and prosper, despite the disruption caused by COVID-19.

"The global pandemic has dominated 2020 for most businesses, and Harworth has been no exception: that said, our performance in 2020 was very robust and we successfully navigated the resulting changes to working practices, maintaining focus on delivery throughout the year.

"I was delighted to join Harworth as Chief Executive in November (Owen Michaelson retired after ten years in the role in October) and I am excited to be leading the business through its next phase of growth. During 2020 we again benefitted from the expertise of our specialist and highly experienced teams, a long track-record of building and developing a high quality strategic landbank, and an unrivalled focus on creating places where people want to live and work.

"Demand for our serviced land has remained strong and we continue to see this in the first few months of 2021 as we also make progress across the portfolio and explore potential acquisitions. Together with our strong balance sheet and opportunities in our core residential and logistics sectors, we are very well-placed to trade successfully through the pandemic and play a key role in delivering the infrastructure the country needs for regional economic recovery and long-term growth."

Regarding its flagship project at Waverley, further housing plots have been sold. With consent for 3,890 homes at Yorkshire’s largest ever brownfield mixed-use development, Harworth has already sold land with the potential to build over 1,500 homes. The next phase will open up the riverside.

Also at Waverley, a new school and a Costa Coffee unit opened during the period and plans were recently outlined for a new mixed-use scheme called Olive Lane.

The Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) is on track to deliver 4,000 high value jobs versus 900 when it was a working mine. The developers completed the building of the pre-let UKAEA building during the year and has recently submitted plans for the "last piece of AMP expansion land."

Harworth Group website

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News: Rotherham to push ahead with Clean Air Zone projects

Schemes designed to reduce pollution in Rotherham are being fast-tracked.

Rothbiz reported in 2017 that Rotherham (alongside Sheffield and Doncaster) was one of 38 English local authorities with one or more roads forecast persistently to exceed NO2 legal limits based on initial modelling. The local authorities were charged with coming up with local plans for reducing air pollution or risk the Government imposing schemes to charge users of congested roads like the Parkway.

Rotherham and Sheffield Council have been working together on coming up with measures to deliver air quality improvements as quickly as possible. The Sheffield authority said last year that further reviews of its proposed measures were required as the coronavirus pandemic has created a current situation that is "dramatically different" to the one in which the proposals were originally developed.

Rotherham is progressing its schemes after a letter of assurance was sought from the Joint Air Quality Unit, and is seeking to progress on schemes approved by Rotherham in the Outline Business Case submitted in December 2018 and consulted on in 2019. The Full Business Case is tied to a broader Clean Air Plan, which includes projects held jointly with Sheffield City Council.

Previous proposals showed that Sheffield would need to introduce a Category C (CAZ C) charging zone in order to achieve legal compliance by 2021.

Rotherham's proposed measures include a reduction in the speed limit on the Rotherham Gateway section of the Parkway, a one-way restriction of Heavy Goods traffic on Wortley Road, from Bradgate Park to Junction 35 of the M1, and improvements to the Bellows Road junction to enable the diversion of some buses from Rawmarsh Hill to Barbers Avenue.

The combined value for delivery is estimated at £2.885m with money coming via government grant funding.

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The Sheffield Parkway 50mph speed limit is to be delivered as part of Parkway Widening work that recently got underway. The speed limit will be in place for the duration of these improvements and remain after they are completed.

The £42m scheme, expected to finish in 2022, will create three lanes in each direction from the Catcliffe Junction to the junction with the M1 with modifications to the M1 J33 roundabout. Both the northbound and southbound slip roads from the M1 to junction 33 will be expanded to four lanes in consultation with Highways England.

The reduced speed limit is also required as a road safety measure, in light of the narrower lanes.

The Wortley Road restriction aims to redirect traffic to Junction 34 of the M1, removing traffic travelling uphill, where large good vehicles tend to produce more pollution. This also moves this traffic away from the area near people’s homes.

The improvements to Bellows Road will be made ahead of any proposed route change, which will be progressed following research and consultation on which services could be moved to benefit residents in the area.

Councillor Emma Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety said: “There is no need for us to wait around to tackle air pollution. By agreeing these schemes now, we can improve the quality of the air you breathe as soon as possible."

Councillor Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy said: “These schemes not only remove pollution, but also seek to improve public transport. They go hand-in-hand with the cycling strategy consultation we are also seeking to approve in this Cabinet.”

The proposals will be discussed at a Council meeting on March 22.

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News: £860m "new deal" for South Yorkshire regeneration

The fate of future of economic development and regeneration projects in Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire could no longer be decided by a formula and London-based government staff and ministers, under ambitious plans set to be approved by the region's Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).

Through devolution, the MCA in South Yorkshire has been granted some borrowing powers and is set to use them to create a ground-breaking stimulus, worth up to £860m, to revitalise South Yorkshire’s economy and transform the region.

The Mayor said he and local leaders were "rewriting the rule book" to meet the seismic economic challenge posed by COVID.

The investment heralds a "New Deal for South Yorkshire", which will unleash South Yorkshire’s potential, and deliver recovery and renewal for the region after the pandemic.

It will invest hundreds of millions into schemes to protect, create and attract thousands of jobs, train workers and apprentices, back businesses to locate and grow in the region, and transform infrastructure – building South Yorkshire’s transport network and revitalising its high streets and towns.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Despite the challenges COVID throws at us, our plan sends a crystal-clear message of ambition and confidence: that South Yorkshire is open for business and ready to prosper. The Government may not be willing to back our region, but local leaders and I will not stand by and let our potential be squandered.

“That’s why we’re rewriting the rule book, using powers and resources secured from Westminster, to invest in our people, our businesses and our towns and high streets. This is the power of devolution: it means we can deliver on the priorities of our people: jobs, apprenticeships, better buses, new flood defences, stronger transport links and revitalised high streets and town centres.

“We’re working to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire for all – delivering not just recovery, but renewal. Not just a bigger economy, but a better one. We know South Yorkshire’s people and industry rightly have enormous pride in our story so far. We’re reinforcing our reputation as the heartland of British industry and innovation, and we’re making our region an even better place to live, work and invest.

“We’ve started to transform South Yorkshire and we believe that our best days lie ahead of us. That’s why we’re creating the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund – a comprehensive plan to unlock the potential of our people, businesses and places, so everyone can have a stake in our future prosperity. We will deliver a New Deal for South Yorkshire.”

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The South Yorkshire Renewal Fund will be considered for approval by the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority at its meeting on Monday 22 March.

The £860m investment is made up of £358m MCA funding for South Yorkshire’s recovery in 2021/2022. This includes the MCA’s first year’s use of its £30m a year "gainshare." From 2022, and following agreement with HM Treasury, the MCA will borrow against its gainshare to create the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund, worth up to £500m. This will roughly be split between: £300m of investment in our places, including infrastructure and transport; and £200m of funding for jobs and skills in South Yorkshire.

Direct support is expected for; jobs and apprenticeships, and helping people find them; helping businesses to survive and thrive; revitalising high streets and building homes; getting people moving with better transport, by foot, bike, bus, tram and train; protecting the planet – retrofitting homes and improving flood defences.

Investment is also expected in infrastructure, flood defences, buses and active travel.

Rotherham schemes already in line for funding include investment in town centre housing and money for strategic acquisitions, funding for the extension at Century Business Centre, the Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme, and active travel around Broom and the town centre.

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News: Rink on the brink

A popular leisure venue in Rotherham that also hosts a number of sports clubs and competitions is set to close.

Players, parents and other groups have begun a fundraising campaign to be first in line for the rink facility.

Simply Skate Arena at Eastwood has hosted thousands of kid's parties, hockey games, skating lessons and other events over the last 20 years but the operators confirmed last week that it will close after the lease with the building's owner isn't being extended.

An update from the operators said: "After such an unprecedented year for everyone including ourselves, we are heartbroken to have to inform you all that Simply Skate Arena will not be reopening in May 2021.

"Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in securing a new lease for the building we occupy and after twenty years of trading our doors will be closing permanently.

"We are absolutely devastated that we cannot continue our business and that we will become just another sad statistic of this awful pandemic.

"In what would have been our 20th Anniversary celebrations this year, we have instead seen our business remain unused and empty for the most of it.

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"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued custom, loyalty and support over the years. We’ve had many happy times at the rink and we will be ever grateful for these memories."

The Eastwood venue regularly hosts tournaments and leagues for inline and ball hockey, both fast growing sports.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up, backed by the British Inline Puck Hockey Association, Ball Hockey UK and Young Guns Hockey, in a bid to secure sufficient funds to purchase the rinks from the current tenant of Simply Skate Arena. With the lease of the Eastwood building up, the aim would be to relocate them.

Sarah Finney, chair of the British Inline Puck Hockey Association, said: "The loss of this facility is a huge blow to the inline hockey community which has had a home in Rotherham for over 20 years. Over the years, thousands of youngsters and adults have come through the doors to participate in their sport, the venue is currently host to over 17 clubs. I have received so many messages of support since the news of the venues closure broke, so now I ask you all to contribute if you feel you can."

Simply Skate Arena website

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News: SBD Apparel confirms massive Rotherham expansion

The local economy is set for a big lift after SBD Apparel, a world-renowned brand for premium supports for strength sports, confirmed plans for a brand new 100,000 sq ft premises on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

The manufacturer has been awarded a £1.5m Business Investment Fund grant from the Sheffield City Region (SCR).

Rothbiz revealed that an application had been made for the funding last year and highlighted that 200 jobs could be created when the planning application was submitted for the new facility.

Queen's Award-winning SBD Apparel has already grown its staffing tenfold and doubled turnover after relocating to Rotherham. The company manufactures premium performance clothing worn by elite strength and fitness athletes across the world and moved its offices and warehouses closer to its main factory in Rotherham. In the two years since relocating, SBD has increased turnover by 160%, growing its workforce from four members of staff to 41.

The new facility is expected to create 237 new jobs within three years of its completion. It will enable the company to bring its five existing buildings together in South Yorkshire to operate from one single site, whilst quadrupling its floor space. The increased production capacity will mean SBD Apparel can take advantage of the immediate growth opportunities for the brand by bringing to market new products and expanding into new countries and other sports.

The proposed development will include 52,500 sq ft of production floor space and 30,000 sq ft of offices over three floors, plus warehousing, car parking and land for expansion. In total, SBD Apparel is investing £9.38m in land acquisition, development and final fit out costs. The company would combine its two sites (one building on the AMP and four at Thurcroft) in Rotherham on to one larger site at the AMP.

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Benjamin Banks, Managing Director of SBD Apparel, said: “South Yorkshire is the ideal location for our new premises, and we are very excited to be growing our business here and creating a high number of new jobs in the area in the next 2-3 years. We chose Sheffield City Region as it is a fantastic central location with a great manufacturing infrastructure, affordable housing and a skilled local workforce.”

SBD’s plans also include purchase of additional space at the new premises to pave the way for the business to expand in a second phase, allowing extension to the rear of the building to add a further 70,000 sq ft unit, which would double its capacity.

Benjamin adds: “The new premises are needed so we can expand our production output and take advantage of the market demand which will see our company grow significantly in the future. With the new premises, we will be able to extend our product range and to launch our brand in new countries, where we plan to increase our local distributors from 42 to 70 countries. It will also give us the production capacity to progress with developing creative new prototypes and bring exciting new products to market.”

“Another great benefit of these premises is that we will be able to expand to meet our future growth aspirations, so we won’t have to move again.”

SBD Apparel had intended to fund the project with cash reserves and 2020 profits, but the impact of COVID-lockdown created a barrier to the company’s planned growth.

James Muir, Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Chairman, said: “The new premises will give a massive boost not only to the company but also to the local economy. Without the BIF funding the project would have been unable to proceed, so it is fantastic news for SBD Apparel and for job creation in this region.”

Benjamin Banks explains: “Our trading in 2020 was impacted by the cancellation of events and the closures of gyms throughout the world, however we remain very optimistic about the future. It will be fantastic to have all our business divisions located in one place and we expect there will be local collaboration opportunities at the Advanced Manufacturing Park as this area is really developing its health and well-being specialism with centres like the AMID.”

SBD Apparel website

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News: Developers set to stump up £1m

Developers wanting to build over 100 new houses on greenspace in Rotherham will need to provide over £1m as part of the legal deal connected to the proposed planning permission. Cash would go towards new cricket and football facilities.

The application for a site known as "The Pitches" at Stag is set to be discussed at the Rotherham Council planning board next week where it is being recomended for approval by council planners.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 that Newett Homes was proposing a high-quality residential development of 124 homes.

The nine acre site on Wickersley Road has previously been used for football, cricket, hockey, tennis and bowls but it has been vacant for over five years, during which it has not been avaible for public or private use. The site also includes a club house.

1997 plans for residential development on the site were refused.

The 2019 plans have met with opposition due to the site being allocated as greenspace in the local plan.

Sport England raised objections and campaign group, Friends of The Pitches, successfully secured the site as an Asset of Community Value but following an internal review at the request of the site owners, council officers overturned the original successful listing decision.

Planning documents state: "The facility has been closed for a number of years and the applicant has advised that there is no intention to reopen it for sports use as it has fallen into disrepair."

Now the plans, which also include the demolition of two current houses, have been updated and the proposed development has been reduced in scale, resulting in a proposal for 116 dwellings.

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Sport England consider the development "a finely balanced application" and has been consultated throughout on what mitigation can be put in place for the loss of greenspace. Having turned down figures of £300,000 and £560,000, a figure of £912,000 has been accepted.

The money will go towards a replacement cricket pitch and field, replacement football facilities, a new bowling facility, tennis provision and to enable the Council to commission a new Playing Pitch Strategy.

In addition, the Section 106 Agreement (legal agreements between the councils and developers linked to planning permissions) includes £237,604 for schools provision.

A number of the 150 objectors are due to speak at the meeting. Many accuse the applicant of deliberately preventing the use of the site for sporting purposes and of showing disregard for planning regulations by keeping portable cabins on the site before securing planning permission.

In the board documents, planners conclude: "The site [is] allocated as Greenspace in the Local Plan. However, following many years of vacancy, it is acknowledged that the land is unlikely to be used for future playing pitch sports. This is compounded by the site being within private ownership with no mechanism to open the site up for public access.

"The site is not allocated for residential use, but the proposal would represent a windfall site for new housing. The development plan position is that the site should be retained as Green Space unless it is surplus to requirements or in the event that equivalent or better provision of Greenspace is provided as replacement facilities. In this regard a mitigation package has been offered of £912,000 towards the provision of a Playing Pitch Strategy and subsequent alternative sports provision, it is considered that this would represent adequate mitigation in order to offset the permanent loss of the private sports facility."

If approved, further conditions would be attached to the permission including 25% of the houses to be affordable housing.

Members of the planning board will meet to dicuss the plans on March 18.

Newett Homes website

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