News: £60m plans for "Levelling Up" Rotherham

Rotherham Council has put together a bid of almost £60m for money from the Levelling Up Fund for projects across the borough.

The competitive fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. The Government has committed £4 billion for England over the next four years (up to 2024-25).

Rotherham is in the highest priority list and received some initial money to work on bids. The council can submit two bids - one bid for every MP whose constituency lies wholly within their boundary (Rotherham & Rother Valley). For Wentworth & Dearne, either Rotherham or Barnsley Council should take responsibility as the lead bidder. In the end, Rotherham chose to submit three bids (with the agreement of Barnsley Council) which "aim to spread the benefits of this opportunity across the whole Borough."

MPs were asked to back one bid that they see as a priority and the Government guidance stated that each bid should total a maximum of £20m and could be one project or a coherent package of up to three projects.

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If successful the money would be used to create a new Library and Community Hub in Wath with improvements to the surrounding area, make improvements to Dinnington High Street and markets, add to the continued regeneration of the town centre, and accelerate the growth of a burgeoning new leisure industry across the borough.

Details of the bids can be found here: for the town centre, for Wath and Dinnington, for the leisure economy.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: “We have put together three bids that will reach out to all areas in Rotherham and help us to continue the progress we’ve already made to regenerate our town, create jobs and build a better borough.

“If the government backs our bids it will provide much needed funding for local infrastructure as well as creating opportunities for people living and working across the borough.”

As reported by Rothbiz earlier this month, The Sheffield City Region (SCR) Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is working on a bid to secure £50m from the fund that is focused on improving the passenger journey experience on public transport in South Yorkshire.

Government guidance states that the outcome of the applications will be known in the Autumn. It is understood that should the Rotherham bids result in an unsuccessful outcome the Council have the opportunity to bid again in later rounds.

Images: RMBC

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News: "Levelling Up" with a stronger leisure economy

A £23m project to kickstart the leisure and visitor economy is seen as just the ticket to "level up" the Rotherham borough.

Rotherham Council has submitted three bids to the Government's £4 billion competitive fund that will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

One bid aims to build a new Leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being. It brings together a package in two parts which will kickstart the leisure and visitor economy, drive inclusive growth and new job creation at the heart of communities across the borough.

The projects proposed celebrate the "hidden gems" and green spaces that are unique to Rotherham’s heritage, and will help to reposition the town as a new leisure destination.

The Major Attractions package focuses on four well established attractions. To the north, Grade I Listed Wentworth Woodhouse would transform its Riding School and Stables to create new hospitality and visitor centres. £4.6m is required from the Government where the total project costs are £5.1m.

Also in the northern part of the borough, a £2.5m project would see Thrybergh Country Park benefit from a new destination waterside café and improved parking.

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Close to the town centre at Templebrough, Magna would create a suite of new exhibitions, which will focus on science, nature and natural materials. The charity would need £1.9m for the £2.1m project.

In the south of the borough, Rother Valley Country Park would see a new ‘Village Centre’ created with a café, there will be new outdoor play and an educational centre. £5.5m is required here.

A second part of the bid is a skills package that will underpin the development of the major attractions through the creation of a new Skills Village (£1m required for the £1.6m project) at Gulliver's Valley Resort focusing on training, development, and accreditation within the hospitality and leisure sector.

Bridging the gap between school and employment, Maltby Academy Trust would invest £4.5m of Government funding in the £6.3m redevelopment of the former Maltby Grammar School to create an incubator space for training, apprenticeships, and start up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey said: “Rotherham Council and local groups have pulled out the stops to prepare these bids in the short time given by the Government.

“I hope the Government will give the go ahead for this funding – we certainly need it and will make very good use of it locally.”

Images: Gulliver's Valley

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News: North / South combine in Levelling Up Fund bid

The towns of Wath in the north of Rotherham, and Dinnington, in the south, are at the heart of a bid to secure £20m from the Government's Levelling Up Fund.

Rotherham Council has submitted three bids to the Government's £4 billion competitive fund that will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

Wath and Dinnington have been designated as areas of growth in terms of new housing and employment and the bid seeks to support and develop these towns and ensure the local community benefits from this growth.

A short masterplanning and design exercise was undertaken in consultation with local stakeholders and Ward Members. From this a first phase of projects has been developed and proposed to Government.

In Wath, the council aims to secure £10.7m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £12.9m.

The authority said that Wath Library’s age and condition creates an improvement opportunity for a major new focal point and attractor, if re-oriented and set within an attractive space. If the bid is successful, the library will be demolished and replaced with a modern and attractive library with a community hub.

The opportunity to make better use of the car parking also enables full redevelopment of the area surrounding the library and community hub to bring in high-quality public realm and event space. New retail and residential units will then connect the library block to the town centre.

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In Dinnington the council aims to secure £9.2m to carry out interventions that have a total cost of £14m.

Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford has campaigned for the bid to focus on Dinnington High Street, notably the outdoor market indoor market and further retail premises nearby that are not fit for purpose, some without running water and toilet facilities and some which have been burnt out and derelict for several years.

If the bid is successful, the area will be transformed to create new residential and retail with space for an indoor market. The outdoor market will be upgraded and sited within event space and upgraded public realm.

The Council said that it will seek to engage with the private sector to deliver the new retail and residential in both towns.

Alexander Stafford said: "I welcome that RMBC have pulled together a bid for Rother Valley and that our communities have a fair chance of winning their slice of this funding.

“Having lobbied very hard for our high streets and having been a strong advocate for using this money to rejuvenate them, I am pleased that they will form a central part of our bid here in Rother Valley and I look forward to hearing the outcome."

Images: Google Maps

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News: Bid for further funding for Rotherham town centre regeneration

Rotherham Council is hoping to use the Government's Levelling Up Fund to complement and add value to the investment from the £12.6m Future High Street Fund award and the £31.6m secured via the Towns Fund.

The authority has submitted three bids to the Government's £4 billion competitive fund that will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK.

The town centre bid aims to continue the regeneration focusing on two key areas, the Riverside Residential Quarter (an £18.7m project) and the Leisure and Culture Quarter (a £19.5m project).

The Riverside masterplan focuses on the creation of a new mixed-use community, bringing footfall and activity 24 hours a day. This includes a major drive to repopulate this area and to address longstanding vacant buildings. The first phase of the residential project is being delivered bringing 171 new homes into the town centre.

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If successful, £11m from the Levelling Up Fund will provide a new pedestrian bridge across the river between the new residential development and Guest & Chrimes and New York Stadium, the route of this bridge will culminate in new public realm at the end of Water Lane close to where new housing is being built on the site of the former Sheffield Road swimming baths. A Riverside Walk will also be developed to open up the River to the new residents and people walking into the town.

A land assembly strategy would also see the Council taking ownership of further sites within the town centre to continue its regeneration.

The Town Investment Plan, which helped to secure £31.6m from the Government's Towns Fund includes a project to regenerate the Guest & Chrimes heritage site to provide attractive public spaces and leisure facilities.

In the Culture and Leisure Quarter plans for the diversification of the town centre’s offer focus around bringing in new leisure and cultural uses. Forge Island is the first phase in the delivery of this new offer and a longstanding regeneration ambition.

If successful, £8.5m from the Levelling Up Fund will contribute to this by supporting enabling works such as the completion of flood defences in the form of the Canal Barrier, and continuing the River Walk, creating a key pedestrian gateway to the development.

The developments are linked by the road and river to the east and west of the sites. Money will be used to create a Riverside Walk along the length of the river. Additionally, highway and public realm improvements will improve the quality and safety of the environment for pedestrians and cyclists along Corporation Street.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said: "The Levelling Up Fund is an opportunity to bring investment into our town and support our local communities. RMBC staff have produced a strong bid and I know that they have worked incredibly hard developing the bid at very short notice.

"I hope that the bid will be successful and that this money will be put to good use improving our communities and developing the local economy."

Images: Willmott Dixon / Bond Bryan

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News: Demolition planned at historic Rotherham pub

A fire-damaged former pub in Rotherham that is on the brink of collapse would be demolished under newly submitted plans - but its historic frontage would be saved.

Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd has recently applied for planning permission to demolish most of the Alma Tavern on Westgate.

Although the building is not listed (unlike the saved and re-opened Cutler's Arms next door), permission is required as it is located in the town centre's conservation area.

Plans state that the proposal would leave the front façade (reduced to first storey window lintel high) to be structurally supported using steelworks. The top apex stone works would be in-tombed on site for possible future use.

The Alma Tavern possesses an attractive and valuable façade, probably the last memory of Rotherham’s earliest commercial brewery, Bentleys, but in 2012 a fire in the roof space caused further damage.

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The plans add: "The structure has been subject to multiple fires and has became inhabitable ... the fire damage to the roof has caused large sections of the roof without any covering allowing rain water to enter the building ... this has caused major water damaged to rot through the joists of the first floor which has now fallen to ground level and is leaning on the front facade, this compounded by the foliage growing through the masonry which has removed large sections of mortar has put the building at the point where collapsed [sic] is inevitable."

Developer, Satnam had hoped to demolish the Alma Tavern and Cutler's Arms to make way for car parking when it applied for planning permission to build a large retail store on the riverside site. In 2005, Rotherham Council refused the plans with one reason for refusal being that the pubs "make a contribution to the streetscene and add to the character of the setting of the listed building."

For these demolition plans advice from the council included concerns that the front façade of the former Alma Tavern was "something that Rotherham planning would probably have to decline the full demolition of," so the compromise that was agreed in principle was to leave the front façade of the building intact but remove the top apex section for safety.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Wall of Women to help inspire more girls to study engineering

Women engineers from the University of Sheffield are sharing their own personal stories in order to help more girls study engineering and go on to develop a career in the industry.

The Wall of Women, launched by the University’s Faculty of Engineering, features the personal stories of some of the women who have studied, worked or graduated into successful careers in engineering from Sheffield over the past five years.

Among the engineers on the wall is Dounia Bakira, an Applications Engineer at Rotherham-based AESSEAL, who had a difficult journey to becoming a chemical engineer, but she graduated with a first class degree. Dounia has shared her story through the Wall of Women in the hope of inspiring others.

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Dounia said: “After moving to the UK from Morocco and after four years of marriage, I found myself divorced with a two year old daughter. I felt lonely, hopeless and sad. A change in circumstances meant I had to find a new way to support my daughter. I started my journey by studying GCSEs at Liverpool City College, then moved to Bradford to study A levels since it offers day time courses for mature students.

“The diversity in the university offered a welcoming atmosphere, where I felt comfortable to grow and build connections with people from diverse backgrounds. I saw opportunities for personal development and enhancing my soft skills through the many societies and activities.

“As well as achieving a first class degree, I have been a member of the Women in Engineering Student Society, acquired a scholarship and done two internships: at the University of Sheffield and at the University of Sheffield AMRC.

“Humanity is currently facing, and will continue to face, challenges in the future, so engineers will play a central key role in tackling these challenges. Therefore, there are infinite career opportunities for engineers as a whole.”

With its global headquarters at Templeborough, AESSEAL designs and manufactures mechanical seals and support systems.

Dounia added: "With AESSEAL I have all the tools I need to make a successful career. AESSEAL is one of the leading engineering companies who supports efforts in the areas of gender equality in engineering. I am pleased to be a woman still actively raising awareness of engineering and encouraging more girls to study STEM subjects in primary schools. I have been involved in activities and events held on site, which aim to show the young generation how fun engineering can be."

AESSEAL website
University of Sheffield Wall of Women website

Images: University of Sheffield

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News: Openreach adds Rotherham to Ultrafast Full Fibre Broadband plan

Parts of the Rotherham borough are all set to benefit from Openreach's national upgrade plan, with the majority of premises gaining access to the latest Ultrafast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband.

Adding 551 more towns and cities – covering some 5 million homes and businesses – the move is part of the company's £15 billion programme.

Last year Rothbiz reported that Openreach had confirmed that market towns and villages in Rotherham are in for a full fibre boost - with exchanges in Wickersley and Thurcroft set to be upgraded has part of plans to target the UK's hardest to reach "final third."

Openreach has now updated its FTTP plans for Fibre First Towns, Cities and Boroughs and Market Towns and Villages Build Programme.

Openreach’s updated build plan will be fundamental to the UK Government achieving its target of delivering ‘gigabit capable’ broadband to 85% of UK by 2025 and it follows an extended investment commitment by its parent, BT Group – which means the company will now build Full Fibre technology to a total of 25 million premises, including more than six million in the hardest-to-serve parts of the country by the end of 2026.

The maps show that some areas in the south of the borough, such as Waverley, Treeton and Swallownest, are expected to have a full fibre network built by 2024.

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Central areas including Templeborough, the town centre, Eastwood, Moorgate, Herringthorpe, Brinsworth, Catcliffe and Whiston, are expected to have a full fibre network built by 2025.

Over in the east, areas such as Wickersley, Hellaby and Thurcroft, are expected to have a full fibre network built by 2026.

Areas in Rotherham not yet included in Openreach's plans include Swinton, Rawmarsh, Greasbrough, Kimberworth, Dalton, Thrybergh, Maltby, Aston and Dinnington.

Following a competitive tender process, partners Telent Infrastructure Services and MAP Group Ltd, were chosen by Openreach to support the upgrades and will play a crucial role in building the new network to thousands of premises in these locations.

Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s regional director for the North, said: “Nobody in the UK is building full fibre faster, further or at a higher quality than Openreach. We’re reaching more communities than ever and our team of highly-skilled engineers, alongside our build partners, are working hard to deliver some of the fastest and most reliable broadband available anywhere in the world.

“Just last month we announced dozens of rural and hard to reach locations across Yorkshire and the Humber were to benefit, so it’s great that we’re able to reveal another huge broadband boost for the region with these additional locations."

Ric Welsby, Managing Director of Telent Infrastructure Services, said; “We are very pleased to be supporting Openreach in the build of this ultrafast and ultra-reliable full fibre broadband network. The long-term contracts we have been awarded allow us to recruit the people we need to provide an excellent service to Openreach. We have many exciting roles to fill, I would encourage anyone who is interested in working on this important national infrastructure project to visit our website.”

Sarb Singh, Director of Operations, Map Group (UK) Limited, said: "MAP Group (UK) is delighted to be working alongside Openreach. We share a common goal to build the best possible network with the highest quality of service and connectivity to householders and businesses.

"The upgrade will vastly improve download speeds and the quality of video calls and streaming. We are proud to be associated with what is being seen as significant step on the road back to economic recovery after the Covid lockdown."

Openreach website

Images: Openreach

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News: Putting South Yorkshire on golf’s world stage

The ‘thoroughbred, highly educated, expert approach’ of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is helping a Rotherham SME to revolutionise how PGA Tour professional golfers practise and how we all watch the game on TV with the world’s first fully adjustable, computer-controlled playing surface.

With a studio at Templeborough in Rotherham, Zen has developed the Zen Green Stage - a world-first, computer-controlled platform that enables golfers to practice an almost limitless number of breaking putts. It can also easily be converted to a full-swing platform for other types of practice and play and can be combined with golf simulators.

Controlled from their phone or tablet, and initially designed for golfers wanting to get into the swing of things at home, the 2020 Zen Green Stage has been used by the Sky Sports Golf presenting team during their studio coverage.

“Without the AMRC I don’t think we could have reached the point we are at now. It really was that decisive for us; it was a major factor in our business moving forward,” said Zen founder, Nick Middleton.

“Working with the AMRC gave us the opportunity to consider the true potential of the Green Stage,” said Nick. “We have the confidence to upscale the business now because we know our control system is resilient, more accurate, quicker to produce and future-proofed with enhanced lifecycle – all after working with the AMRC.”

The joint project between Rotherham-based Zen and the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, started in 2019 when Nick approached engineers at the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility with a problem: ‘How do we get to the next level?."

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Dr Rikki Coles, Technical Lead in Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) and Edge Computing, says Zen was stuck in a bit of a hole – or should that be bunker?

“Zen recognised their current efforts could be a potential show-stopper and were at a point where they were unable to venture forward and satisfy the demands of this emerging market. In short, they had created the stage but were stuck for action.”

Nick added: “We were getting into a deeper and darker place, it was a serious impediment to us scaling up the business, and we couldn’t see an end to it any time soon.”

Rikki rewrote the closed loop system Zen was using for the stage so they could both future proof the technology and own the full software stack to regain control of the product’s manufacturing process.

Rikki was then able to go further. He said: “Nick really wanted the stage to be self-levelling which would improve installation of the product, but the software and hardware they were previously using wouldn’t allow it to do that. They were having to calibrate the stage manually with a hand-held digital level which was not ideal for remote deployments.”

Zen’s earlier system used external ultrasonic sensors in the corner of the stage to determine its position, but they could sometimes be inaccurate and could be compromised by things like spider webs breaking the path of the ultrasonic beams. Rikki demonstrated that the actuators also had high-accuracy encoders built into them that could be used by the software, which were previously thought to be non-viable, leading to large improvements in the accuracy of the stage’s movement.

“We wouldn’t have been able to add that functionality to the old system because it was so inflexible. The encoders were already there, were no extra cost and were far more accurate; the only reason they hadn’t been used before was because the hardware and software paradigm couldn’t make full use of their potential. We demonstrated their full potential and provided much better value from the same hardware budget,” said Rikki.

“What Zen has now is a system which is both modular and physically scalable; meaning the company can consider much larger stage designs. Their initial design was limited to an actuator on each corner, but now they can plug in as many as they like and because there are no sensors requiring a direct line of sight, the whole thing is more robust. Importantly, they also have complete ownership of the hardware and software and hence the complete manufacturing process.”

Nick says the project with the AMRC, paid for in part using funds from the HVM Catapult as part of its commitment to working with small and medium-sized manufacturers, was incredibly important to the sustainability of Zen at a critical time.

“The project has given us a superior design, a more dependable way of making and delivering it, and a huge amount of confidence to scale up our business. The thoroughbred, highly educated, expert approach of AMRC engineers is undoubtedly something we couldn’t have got anywhere else.”

The Zen Green Stage is now taking the golfing world by storm, with a huge increase in orders since it was unveiled. European Ryder Cup legends Ian Poulter and Tommy Fleetwood have purchased the Stage, with a fast-growing number of Tour golfers in the World’s Top 50 now installing it in their own homes and training studios.

“Last year’s Masters tournament’s delay to November worked in our favour because it allowed us to install a specially customised model of the Zen Green Stage in Sky’s studio. Because of lockdown we had a captive audience,” said Nick. “Proving it in a broadcast setting was invaluable to us because it gave us huge confidence that we had a resilient and trusted product.”

The Zen Green Stage has been designed to integrate with other digital technologies including launch monitors, golf simulation software, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), ball-tracking systems, 3D-force plates and advanced coaching technologies.

Nick says that combination of Industry 4.0 technologies could transform the game.

“Take the example of chess - it’s because of computers and machine learning that chess players have ultimately become better,” he said. “It’s time for golf to take a quantum leap and embrace artificial intelligence to make people better players. This will be a real game changer.”

Zen Golf website
AMRC website

Images: Zen / AMRC

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News: Leading developer buys Hellaby site

Panattoni, the largest industrial real estate developer in Europe, is taking forward plans for a huge distribution centre development alongside the M18 motorway in Rotherham - its biggest-ever speculative logistics building in the UK.

Outline plans were approved for "Interchange Park" at Hellaby last year and applicants said that it could be home to over 1,000 jobs.

Those applicants, Stretton Property Group, has now sold the 40 acre site to Panattoni for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in the USA in 1986, Panattoni has grown to become the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer.

The outline plans enable a 630,000 sq ft facility to be built along with a smaller 85,000 sq ft facility by junction 1 of the M18. Panattoni said that it is aiming to submit a reserved matters planning application in the next few weeks, with a view to beginning construction in the first quarter of 2022.

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The development is part of Panattoni’s commitment to a significant speculative development programme in the UK in 2021 in response to strong demand from occupiers for immediately available space. The acquisition of Interchange Park increases the size of Panattoni’s current speculative development programme to around 4.2 million sq ft across eight locations across the North and Midlands, the largest of which are at South Normanton, Derby, Northampton and Crewe.

Dan Burn, development director for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: "Our continued appetite for speculative development reflects the strength of demand from occupiers for immediately available space. In the first quarter of this year half of all take-up in the logistics sector was of speculative developments, driven by demand from e-commerce companies. And in the last 12 months alone, we have let more than 6 million sq ft of space.

"Having let our speculative Wakefield 515 development in May, we are delighted to have acquired this strategic site and look forward to bringing this nationally significant scheme forward over the coming months."

Letting agents at Interchange Park are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank.

Panattoni website

Images: Panattoni

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News: £3m flood barrier planned for Rotherham town centre

The next key piece of flood protection for Rotherham town centre is a new multimillion pound canal barrier at Forge Island.

The Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme (RRFAS) aims to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including the central station, are more resilient to future flood events.

Rothbiz reported recently on Phase 2A that provides flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre.

Now plans are being progressed for Phase 2C - a canal barrier at Forge Island where the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

Construction of the Forge Island flood wall and associated public realm works was completed in 2021.

Rotherham Council has now awarded a tender worth £3m (with a £500,000 contingency) to Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd for a canal barrier within the navigable canal at Brown's Cut (near Rotherham Lock), located close to where the canal separates from the River Don.

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A planning application, drawn up by consultants, Pell Frischmann, states: "The proposed works described as the "Flood Wall at The Statutes and Canal Towpath works" consist of the piled flood wall and abutment for the pedestrian towpath flood gate, a pipe to provide a feed to the canal when the Canal Barrier is closed, a crane pad to enable future maintenance of the Canal Barrier, the western towpath extension for inspection and maintenance of the Canal Barrier as well as enhancing the public realm, signs on gates at the Don Street entrances to the towpath and a sign at Ickles Lock to the south."

Images submitted with the plans show a mild steel main gate with large curved structure over the canal.

The sheet piles on the abutments and new flood defences will be clad with weathering steel to match materials used around Forge Island. Other landscaping details will also tie into the completed schemes.

The construction work means that the canal will need to be closed and the desired period is between July 2021 to June 2022. This window is being pursued to maximise the likelihood of the canal barrier being delivered before construction works on Forge Island are started (i.e. hotel, cinema and leisure facilities), which is planned for Summer in 2022.

Rotherham Council has recently commissioned a video showing the work done around the Forge Island site.

Dan Needham, development director at Muse Developments, who is leading on the Forge Island leisure scheme, said: "We are excited at bringing a cinema, a hotel, much-needed food and beverage facilities, and real family and community facilities, back into a quality environment overlooking the canal and the river that will be a real asset for Rotherham for years to come."

Forge Island website

Images: Pell Frischmann / RMBC

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News: Council approves rents cut for Rotherham market traders

Traders at Rotherham's markets are to get a rent reduction for the period of Covid restrictions.

From March to July 2020 trading largely ceased as part of lockdown restrictions on non-essential retailing. Between July and October, a much-limited level of activity returned before trading was once again restricted by the application of controls and further lockdowns.

Some essential retail stalls were able to trade as the markets operated reduced opening hours. Many started to offer deliveries to support customers during the pandemic.

Rotherham Council said that demands for the payment of rent due from market traders have been put on hold over the past year reflecting the unique situation resulting from the pandemic.

Now the Council's cabinet has approved a concession consisting of a reduction of 50% of the rent due be applied for the period 4th July 2020 to 23rd October 2020. For all other periods in financial year 2020/21 it is recommended that no rent be charged. Billing is proposed to restart from June 1 2021 with only the one bill to be issued covering 2020/21 and 2021/22.

A council paper stated: "The pandemic and associated restrictions over the last year have meant at times many businesses have been unable to trade and when trading has been possible it has been with significantly reduced footfall. Without detailed data from businesses trading in the market the scale of impact cannot be precisely quantified. However, it is clear from discussions with traders’ representatives and observations on the ground that sales will have fallen significantly.

"There is concern within the market service that the recovery of backdated rent due will create serious cash pressure on many small traders leading to a spike in business closures that undermines recovery of the markets."

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Market traders in Rotherham have been supported by national and local Covid business support schemes. The support included business rates relief, statutory business support grants, local discretionary support grants and protection from eviction under rent provisions for established leaseholders.

The total amount of grant support paid to regular stall holders in 2020-21 from all sources is £961,27 but the council believes that many market traders have not been in a position to put the grants aside for fixed costs and instead have used the funding to help mitigate income loss over the last year.

In 2020, the authority approved a proposal to use its discretionary business grant scheme to increase the payment for market traders to an equivalent of 12 months' rent (the landlord, being the council).

In implementing the latest proposal, the total cost to the council is £471,210 in 2020-21 and £120,024 in 2021-22 which equates to a total of £591,234.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "We all know it has been a tough time for businesses, especially in retail. The market is at the heart of the town centre and we have plans to refurbish the markets complex as part of the masterplan.

"This proposal gives a helping hand in terms of rents to be paid and provides an opportunity to come out of Covid with as many traders still operating within the markets as possible.

"The support will be a major boost for our traders and is part of our ongoing commitment to the markets in to which the council is making significant investment in redevelopment over the next few years."

The redevelopment of the markets (including a new central library) is a key project in the partially successful bid to the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) which secured £12.6m from the Government.

Black Cat Building Consultancy has recently been awarded a £282,000 contract by the council to progress designs for the markets and library.

Images: RMBC

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News: Optibac goes with its gut and switches to glass

Optibac Probiotics, the UK’s most recommended brand of friendly bacteria supplements, has ditched the plastic and launched a brand refresh using amber glass jars manufactured by Beatson Clark in Rotherham.

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.

With its relaunch, Optibac Probiotics has reduced plastic packaging by 96%, switching from plastic containers to 30ml, 60ml and 120ml amber glass jars with aluminium lids for all its capsule products.

This allows for wider recycling without compromising the delicate nature of the all-important friendly bacteria inside, so customers can enjoy the same quality supplements with greener packaging.

Beatson Clark Account Manager Jonathan Clark said: “Beatson Clark started out making pharmaceutical glass containers almost 300 years ago and we’re delighted to still be winning new customers in the sector today.

“Amber glass jars are ideal for pharmaceutical, health and wellbeing products. Amber is seen as traditional and safe, and it offers fantastic protection for pharmaceutical products, blocking over 90% of harmful UV rays which might otherwise damage or change the product inside.

“And of course the environmental benefits of glass over plastic are extremely well known. Glass is easy to recycle and it can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any of its strength or integrity. Our amber glass also contains over 60% recycled materials.”

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Optibac Probiotics engaged branding agency 1HQ Global to reposition the brand, redefine the use of structural packaging for sustainable impact and create new front-of-pack illustrations to personify their mission to help people feel their best.

1HQ Global devised a series of elegant line-drawn figures in uplifting yoga poses while retaining the signature rainbow colour scheme to reassure consumers that the product inside has not changed.

The 15-strong Optibac Probiotics range features the world’s most researched strains of friendly bacteria. Some of the products have had a name change to help customers understand and buy the right product in a category often described by shoppers as difficult to navigate.

To minimise unnecessary waste, the new packaging will gradually be rolled out over the coming months as old stocks run out, with popular capsule products Every Day, Every Day EXTRA and For Women going first.

Soraya Janmohamed, co-founder and Marketing Director at Optibac Probiotics, said: “We truly believe that looking after our own health and that of our planet goes hand in hand and wanted to ensure our brand and packaging reflects this. Our commitment to providing exceptional quality products backed by science stays the same. Hopefully our customers will agree that the products they know and love are now more sustainable, and in stylish packaging too!”

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News: Record growth for innovative mattress retailer

When the Covid pandemic hit and impacted the way companies did business, a Rotherham-based mattress retailer was determined not to take it lying down.

Mattress Online has now announced record business growth for the last 12 months, driven by a surge in sales.

One of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, the Aldwarke retailer has seen turnover soar to £34.5m. Both turnover and profit have increased by more than 200%.

Mattress Online is now the largest online independent mattress retailer in the UK and has an excellent reputation for customer service, market-leading choice, and consistently high product reviews.

Profits have been reinvested across the business and the team has swelled from 38 to 61 over the past year.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Adams has added to an already strong leadership team, with recent key appointments including Michael Jervis as Head of Digital who was previously at Jet2, former Morphy Richards marketing manager Annaliese Curtis as Head of Marketing, and Craig Roberts as Head of Finance from Exemplar Health Care.

The foundation for the new senior team was laid just before the pandemic with the appointment of Chief Operating Officer Martin Eastwood from manufacturer Silentnight.

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Founder and CEO Steve Adams (pictured) said the entire company had risen to enormous logistical challenges posed by the pandemic.

“For a company that delivers products directly to customers’ homes, the level of safeguarding, staff training and the internal and external communication during this period has been huge. Our staff have responded in the most fantastic way and I’m incredibly proud of them.

“We are thrilled to have been able to reinvest profits to support the ongoing innovation and future growth of the business.”

Steve is now turning his sights on delivering the next phase of growth.

“As a company established in 2003, we’ve got a strong infrastructure and supply chain,” added Steve.

“This is helping us expand into bricks and mortar and we are strategically planning to open more stores when many retailers are closing down. Physical stores are not dead and I believe Mattress Online can offer the next day delivery and competitive prices you get from our online offering in a more traditional setting.”

Named Bed Retailer of the Year 2020-21 by the National Bed Federation, Mattress Online has plans to open seven stores over the next three years. It currently has a traditional showroom store in Rotherham.

“The UK bed and mattress market is worth £2.2bn,” continued Steve.

“It’s a market that’s still relatively traditional and ripe for disruption and sustainable innovation. These are exciting times for Mattress Online and our team. We’re always looking to the future and how we can add value for customers and everyone in our supply chain – particularly those in Yorkshire.”

Mattress Online website

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News: Growth Hub outlines support available

As local businesses have been particularly hard hit by the global pandemic, the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) has responded by securing a further £9m into the Additional Restrictions Grants (ARG).

The boost includes over £9m grant funding available across all sectors, with specific funding to help businesses ease out of the global pandemic.

The additional funding packages of support for South Yorkshire businesses includes:

- £4m to help growing businesses thrive
- £1m to boost existing business productivity
- £1.5m to support outdoor hospitality equipment – for venues such as pubs, restaurants, and hotels
- £0.8m towards digital innovation
- £2m Restart funding for the Culture and Visitor sector

James Muir, Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “There is a wide range of support available to South Yorkshire businesses from funding for venues to be able to serve customers outdoors through to major grants for capital equipment and to enable businesses to invest in digital innovation. It remains a hugely challenging time for South Yorkshire businesses and the grant funding plus the support that businesses can get through business support advisors based at each local authority, is very much needed.”

The ARG complements the Renewal Action Plan (RAP), developed by the Mayoral Combined Authority, which is led by Mayor Dan Jarvis and the Local Enterprise Partnership. The RAP has been developed in response to the impacts of COVID-19 and sets out a roadmap for how South Yorkshire can put itself on the path to recovering from the massive economic disruption the pandemic has caused.

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In response to demand from businesses, Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority has worked hard to secure a further financial boost to the schemes where there was most demand. As a result, South Yorkshire businesses who have continually been engaging with the authorities can now take advantage of a top up to the Capital Investment Scheme, which provides up to £100,000 with a maximum 50% intervention rate for new plant or equipment.

The call has gone out to businesses who have projects which can start immediately and be completed within six months. Large software implementation projects will also be considered but eligibility rules apply.

The Outdoor Hospitality Equipment Scheme is another new grant, which is available for this region’s business to invest in capital works and equipment to allow them to adapt to increase capacity for outdoor hospitality. This is part of meeting the Government’s roadmap to reopening and to increase outdoor hospitality options going forward. Businesses can claim up to £3K support for adaptations (for example, outdoor seating, decking, structures). Support is limited to one grant per premises.

A new Digital Innovation Grant is also available to provide support for businesses on introducing or enhancing digitisation. 100% grant funding is available up to a value of £10k.

Projects need to show clear added value, be part of a clear growth strategy and be targeted at growing the business through the adoption of digitisation.

The Business Productivity Scheme has also been reintroduced with funding from the Additional Resources Grant to meet demand from across South Yorkshire. Grants are for a maximum of £25,000 (includes 50% match funding).

The aim of this scheme is to support businesses in South Yorkshire to improve their productivity through the provision of a capital or revenue grant and to improve how they measure and report productivity gains. Whilst the project is initially looking to safeguard businesses and jobs, priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate how the investments will have a positive impact on productivity and the creation of potential new employment opportunities in South Yorkshire.

Grant awards will be 50% of eligible costs therefore the minimum size of the total project cost will be £5k, the maximum will be £24,999.

To further enhance the support available to businesses, Sheffield City Region has recently expanded its team of expert advisors by appointing a number of new Business Support Advisors who are based in each council. All these advisors have many years of industry experience; from manufacturing and service sector through to finance and international operations, and offer an independent, impartial perspective, which can make all the difference.

Businesses are advised to get in touch with the Gateway team in the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub to be guided through the range of support available to them.

Growth Hub website

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News: Local MP's warning over steel tariffs

Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has warned the Government risks putting British steel yards out of business as Ministers consider scrapping safeguards to protect the industry from foreign steel dumping.

The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) published its final recommendation recently. The body recommends axing protections for the British steel industry by removing several categories of steel from safeguard measures.

One of the products set to be removed is wire steel, produced at the Liberty plant in Rotherham. The US and EU are keeping protections in place.

John said: “This decision puts unnecessary extra pressure on Britain’s steel-makers. It takes Britain in totally the wrong direction when the UK steel industry needs a long-term plan, backed by the Government using its procurement powers to help.

“The public expect British Ministers to stand up for British industry and British jobs, not open the flood gates to unfairly cheap Chinese imports.”

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Last month John wrote to Liz Truss MP, Secretary of State for International Trade, describing the decision of the TRID as “incomprehensible.” He urged her to rethink and reject the recommendations.

He said in the letter: “It risks the British steel industry being undercut by a flood of cheap imports from countries such as China that unfairly subsidise production.

“Such deliberately hostile action from China was the reason the steel safeguards were put in place and your decision now puts at risk the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of steel workers across the country.

“UK steel makers expect their government to stand up for British industry, not do it damage by making such needlessly bad decisions.

“It creates unfair competition and puts at great risk highly skilled, well paid jobs like at Liberty Steel in South Yorkshire.”

John, who is Labour’s shadow defence secretary as well as MP for Wentworth & Dearne, said scrapping the safeguards would threaten the chances of the UK steel industry securing key defence contracts.

A number of the steel categories set to be removed are used to construct British warships that protect our country’s waters. The decision could lead to the UK losing the sovereign capability to produce the steel product needed to construct British warships – requiring imports from abroad.

John has been urging the Government to adopt a ‘British-built by default’ approach to defence equipment to protect jobs in the defence sector and boost UK manufacturing, and to back British steelworkers by guaranteeing they want to see UK steel used in all government infrastructure projects.

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News: Taylor Wimpey submits plans for new Rotherham development

Taylor Wimpey PLC has submitted a detailed application for a 135 house development in Rotherham.

The national housebuilder wants to build the dwellings on land to the north of Kilnhurst Road, Rawmarsh, opposite Rawmarsh Sandhill Primary School.

A mix of house types is proposed - 26 2-bedroom units, 92 3-bedroom units, and 17 4-bedroom units.

Currently agricultural land, the principle of residential development has been deemed acceptable as the site is a housing allocation in Rotherham's adopted Local Plan.

Consultants, DLP Planning talk of a "visually attractive street scene that is welcoming to residents" created by architects on the scheme, Sten Architecture, and proposed shared spaces and a public open space area that will encourage social interaction.

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The plans state: "The development proposal - the design and layout of which is informed by a number of factors including the existing context of the surrounding area - comprises of 135 residential dwellings that will be of high architectural quality and design, and that will be constructed from quality building materials. These factors, combined with the proposed landscaping scheme and the mixture of house types and sizes throughout the site, will create a visually interesting and attractive street scene. Also, the proposed dwellings will provide comfortable living and amenity conditions for future residents, whilst ensuring that neighbouring amenity is not unacceptably impacted."

A single vehicular access point is proposed to serve the development from Kilnhurst Road and the submitted Transport Assessment concludes that the level of traffic generated by the proposals can be accommodated and will have no material impact on the safe operation of the local highway and will not significantly add to any congestion at the peak times on the local network.

The public open space is proposed to the north of the development with footpath links to provide access to the existing Public Right of Way to the north. A drainage basin is also proposed which will provide multifunctional benefits alongside facilitating surface water drainage, including the creation of biodiversity gains through planting.

Planning poilices in Rotherham state that the Council will seek 25% affordable homes on sites of 15 dwellings or more, subject to this being consistent with the economic viability of the development. Taylor Wimpey say that it is unviable for them to provide affordable housing as part of the proposed scheme.

Last year, Taylor Wimpey raised £500m through a share placing to allow it to pursue additional near term land acquisition opportunities.

Taylor Wimpey website

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News: Plans approved for Wickersley venue

A new restaurant in Rotherham has secured planning permission to operate as a drinking establishment, despite a cumulative impact zone operating in the area.

1920s themed restaurant, The Garrison, opened in Wickersley last October and has been popular for takeaway meals during lockdown.

The latest application sought permission for the change of use of the existing restaurant into a micropub with a secondary proposal for the installation of a decking area to front of the property which includes seating pods.

The property has recently been renovated internally and externally and was last used as a restaurant (The Branded Burger Company) with a reception bar area and has had various extensions and modifications carried out to the external area. Planning permission for change of use to a restaurant was granted in 2015. Some outside seating was approved in 2016.

Rotherham Council's licensing policy, approved last year, could limit the number of new or varied licences being granted in Wickersley, dependent on the individual merit of each application.

The Bawtry Road premises already has an alcohol licence but objectors, including Wickersley Parish Council and residents, wanted to use the work done for the new policy to show why the planning application should be refused. Licencing and planning applications are determined separately..

The Parish Council said that the proposals: "would intensify the use of these premises for consumption of alcohol and lead to an unacceptable impact on residential amenity. It would also add to the existing problems of noise and disturbance, crime and anti-social behaviour already being experienced by local residents from the high concentration of uses associated with the night time economy in Wickersley."

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Elliott Vaughan of The Garrison has been in discussion with the licensing department over the issues raised and explained that the venue will only operate table service, alongside a food menu to monitor capacity and work to licencing regulations. People will have to be seated to get served.

He said: "We will still be running a food menu, and always will be. The business will still be running as a restaurant; however, we simply want the flexibility to serve alcohol without food, to have a few drinks before a meal elsewhere in the area, or vice versa.

"Regarding the outside bar, this is simply to assist the bar situated inside during busy periods e.g., summer weekends. As we are a small venue, I do not feel the inside bar could cope during these times, however ... this will still be table service."

Planning officer, Emma Ottewell concluded that: "whilst taking into account the objections received it is considered that the change of use to a bar in this location would not in itself generate new amenity issues the positioning of the outdoor terraced area faces the roadside frontage rather than the more sensitive residential areas to north and it is not considered that a refusal could be substantiated in this instance."

A condition of the planning permission limits the use of the outside area up to 9pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday. Another condition states that no external music shall be played outside the premises.

The planning board at Rotherham Council voted six to four to approve the plans.

The Garrison facebook page

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News: Gulliver's Valley moves up a gear

A new car themed area has opened at Gulliver’s Valley theme park in Rotherham and is set to be a real pull for motor lovers of all ages.

Built on land adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park, Gulliver's Valley opened last year with more than 30 rides and attractions aimed at children between the ages of two and 13-years-old, including an Apache Falls ride, full-size diggers, the Ghostly Galleon pirate ship and a Lost Jurassic World area.

The latest area, called Gulliver’s Gears houses a new roller coaster – the Grand Prix Racer, a car-fari, dodge city dodgems, a new play area and an expanded farm, with more arrivals coming soon.

Car lovers will also enjoy a special vintage car area which will feature a Hilman Imp, Rover 10 and 3500, a Ford Anglia, Singer 1500, MGA MK2 1600 and a MGB 500 Le, with a podium for children to have photos.

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Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Family Theme Park Resorts said: “We are so pleased to be opening a new area at Gulliver’s Valley less than a year since we opened our doors.

“Gulliver’s Gears is a real welcome addition to the park with something for all ages and we are so proud to be showcasing my dad’s classic cars at the site.

“He opened the first Gulliver’s park in 1978 in Matlock Bath and has loved to see the family business grow, so to have his cars on display at our fourth park is just wonderful.

“Gears is a great area with the Grand Prix Racer rollercoaster and family favourite dodgem rides and our new car-fari ride.

“Gulliver’s visitors return to our parks time and time again, so we are always looking to grow and develop what we have on offer so that our customers get a bigger and better experience.”

Visitors to Gulliver’s Valley can either spend a day in the park or make the most of the onsite accommodation with unicorn and princess suites alongside Western Cabins and Lost World Lodges.

“We’ve been thrilled by the response to Gulliver’s Valley and the warm welcome that we’ve received from across South Yorkshire. We are now looking forward to being able to welcome more people to the park in a safe and measured way as we look to the next stages of our development,” added Julie.

The park has currently opened phase one of a five-phase development spanning 12 years.

Gulliver's Valley website

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News: Council working to secure funding for next Rotherham town centre housing schemes

Rotherham Council is hoping to secure further funding via the Sheffield City Region (SCR) to back its aim to see over 1,000 new homes in the town centre.

The authority committed £50m over the next few years to build homes and 1,000s of new homes were earmarked in the town centre masterplan which places an importance on enabling more people to live in the town centre.

With construction well underway on schemes aimed at kickstarting housebuilding (like Sheffield Road, pictured top), now further sites, and pots of external funds, are being targeted.

At the SCR Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), work is ongoing to update the South Yorkshire Housing Fund (Brownfield) programme which secured £40.3m of capital funding from the Government in 2020.

£20m of the money has to be spent by the end of March 2022 and Rotherham Council is close to securing £433,950 to help build 32 new homes on small sites under its ownership.

A £1.74m project for 46 new homes at Eastwood is being put forward for the next round. This should tie in to the recent £31.6m Town Deal award.

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And in the final round, the council's focus turns to brownfield sites in Rotherham town centre, where it envisages that funding via the SCR could help build over 300 new homes.

Sites include Snail Hill, near to where Rotherham Council acquired and demolished the former Primark store with plans for a temporary pocket park. 24 units could be created on land here.

At Forge Island, the fund could be used to create 70 units. With a cinema and hotel at the heart of the scheme, developers also secured approval for outline plans for later phases, including 70 residential units on the site of the former courts buildings, which the council acquired for £1.

Further riverside sites are earmarked for new housing.

Recommended reading: Why Rotherham Is Becoming a Great Place to Buy a Family Home

A report to the MCA explained: "Many of the key locations in the Sheffield City Region are brownfield sites, with associated costs of land remediation and essential infrastructure requirements, which impact on scheme viability and prevent schemes from moving into delivery.

"The MHCLG [The Government] agreement stipulates the Brownfield Housing Fund allocated to the MCA should "unlock" delivery of 2,500 to 3,500 homes by March 2025."

Rotherham Council is also hoping to secure cash via the city region for its upcoming town centre projects. A business case is being developed for £3m from the MCA's gainshare pot that would enable the council to acquire strategic units in Rotherham town centre. These would complement the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) focusing on the regeneration of the retail core, creating public realm and active travel routes.

Rotherham was awarded £12.6m of Government funding through the FHSF includes things like the redevelopment of Markets (including a new central library), the creation of high-quality Riverside Gardens linking the Forge Island redevelopment with the town centre, further public realm works, and the Grimm & Co redevelopment at Talbot Lane.

In setting out is budget, council officers included an extra £4.1m pot for the FHSF programme to help make up a shortfall. It also set aside £1m in its capital budget for strategic acquisitions.

Images: RMBC

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News: New specialists taking Wentworth Woodhouse forward after pandemic

Rotherham stately home Wentworth Woodhouse has re-opened to visitors with four new specialists at the helm.

“We were closed for many months during the pandemic, but Wentworth Woodhouse has bounced back better than ever,” said Sarah McLeod, CEO of the Preservation Trust which bought the Grade I listed mansion and grounds for £7m in 2017.

“We are proud that not a single redundancy has been made and in addition, more jobs have been created.

“The expertise of our new staff will further our 20-year masterplan for the site and ensure a bright future for a house that had slipped into decline.”

Three of the new posts have now been filled, a fourth is to be recruited for and Lydia Tickner has arrived as the new events manager.

Chief Operating Officer Paula Kaye is an accomplished hospitality and retail director who made her mark with world-class food brands Betty’s Tea Rooms and Taylor’s of Harrogate at both strategic and operational levels.

She joined Betty’s at 16 as a part-time waitress and rose to Catering and Retail Director across all its branches and retail divisions.

After nearly three years as Food and Beverage Director at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire, in lockdown she set up her own business, Boost Consultancy, working with hospitality and food businesses.

Said Paula, 52, of York: “I am excited to join the Trust and build on the great work already done. I will be leading on a three-year business strategy, to support the next phase of accelerated growth for Wentworth Woodhouse. Our aim is to create a world-class visitor experience.”

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Head of Hospitality Darren Procter joins Wentworth from Sheffield Hallam University, where as Executive Chef he developed the campus food offer and oversaw all catering operations.

Darren previously ran his own restaurant in Cornwall and brings a passion for sustainability and supporting local producers to the menus at Wentworth.

“Harnessing my experience of driving a profitable business to support the Trust is a very exciting opportunity,” said Darren, 43, who lives in Hillsborough, Sheffield, with his wife, a Barnsley social worker, and their five children.

Gabriel Morrison, formerly Head of Web at The SEO Works at Evoluted, arrives as Head of Marketing and Digital.

He will develop the Trust’s quest for digital engagement with supporters and visitors, plans which became ever-more relevant in the pandemic.

The house now has its own film production equipment and a video production team of trained volunteers. Informative films about life behind the scenes are being shown on TV screens in the mansion’s cafe and reception and on Wentworth’s own YouTube channel, which launches soon.

Interactive digital experiences for family visitors are planned for summer in the house and gardens.

Lydia Tickner (33) brings experience gained at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and English Heritage sites Dover Castle and Osborne House to the WWPT events programme.

“Creating special memories for visitors in historic and outdoor settings is what I love. I jumped at the chance to join the team moving this once-in-a- lifetime regeneration project to its next phase of life,” said Lydia, who lives in Conisbrough.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

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News: New 150-bed Rotherham hotel planned

A 150 bedroom hotel operated by a leading name is being proposed at a regeneration scheme in Rotherham.

Essex-based developer, Stapleford Ventures Ltd, has submitted a planning application for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way where the Waverley development meets the Morrisons roundabout at Catcliffe.

The hotel operator would be Courtyard by Marriott.

Waverley is Yorkshire’s largest brownfield redevelopment, where Harworth Group plc secured outline planning consent for 3,890 homes and 2 million sq ft of commercial space.

With a pub on site, and plans due this summer for a new mixed-use scheme, the latest plans state that the proposal "represents an exciting opportunity to bring forward a hotel development to support the neighbouring mixed-use proposals at Waverley to provide much needed facilities to the growing business community and the surrounding area."

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The application, drawn up by Barton Willmore, adds: "The hotel operator will be Courtyard by Marriott who provide 4* business orientated hotels. The proposals has been developed closely with the hotel chain and the locality has been chosen to complement the AMP, Sheffield Business Park and surrounding residential uses and business operators. This includes the provision of a high-quality food and beverage offer whilst providing comfortable accommodation for occupants. This flagship name will provide a raft of social and economic benefits for the area as well as Rotherham as a whole."

Developers see the large restaurant / bar offer to be one of the key attractions of building a hotel in the area. Business facilities and a Fitness Centre are also proposed.

A 147 space car park is also in the plans, along with landscaped space between to hotel building and the roundabout.

The plot is considered a "landmark corner" and the design takes into account a sloping site. Architects, S R Davis, have been keen to ensure that the hotel would not imitate a commercial block, nor a block of apartments, and have designed a high quality landmark building.

The site, which is next to the Poplars Business Park and Whitbys Fish and Chip restaurant, forms part of Mixed Use Area 21 "Highfield Commercial" which includes hotels as being acceptable in principle. This means that, although hotels are typically town centre uses, a sequential test and retail impact assessment are unlikely to be required.

If approved, the development would support the creation of a permanent mix of jobs at the hotel (over 34 full time equivalent positions) and the creation of significant number of construction jobs.

To date at Waverley, over 1,000 homes have been built by Barratt Homes, Harron, Taylor Wimpey, Avant and Skyhouse, alongside 1.5 million sq. ft of commercial space predominantly for advanced manufacturing. Other local facilities have also been developed on-site, including a new primary school that opened in September 2020.

Images: S R Davis

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News: AMRC gives legs to ambitious exercise concept

Design and prototyping expertise from the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) helped a former GP to prove out an ambitious idea for a new way of exercising that maintains leg and hip mobility, turning it into a feasible design concept.

For many years, Bill Morrison worked as a GP and in that time became aware of a mobility threshold that he, and many of his patients, encountered when reaching a certain age. This spurred Bill on to explore new ways of exercising and led to him developing an idea for a device that could help prevent immobility.

“The impact on the body of sitting down for long periods of time throughout our lives is huge; it’s not something we’re biomechanically meant to do,” said Bill. “When we lose our mobility, it impacts on everything in our lives and I had an idea for how to reverse this problem, a way of exercising which would prevent people becoming immobile.

“My work with the AMRC was about exploring whether it was possible to turn this idea into a reality. They’ve shown me what is physically possible to achieve and brought the idea to the point that I now know the engineering works. I am a one-man business and could not have achieved progress like this without the support from the AMRC.”

The AMRC is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult and the project was paid for using funds from the HVM Catapult as part of a commitment to working with small and medium-sized enterprises.

On the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, a dedicated medical workshop is housed within the AMRC Design Prototyping and Testing Centre.

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Marcus Crossley, Senior Project Manager in the AMRC’s Design and Prototyping Group, said: “Bill is an entrepreneur with ambitions to develop a new way of exercising the legs and hips, for everything from rehabilitation to supporting elite level performance.

“He worked first with our colleagues at AMRC North West, looking at a proof of concept for an innovative mechanism that enables an alternative body motion during exercising than what is currently available using equipment in gyms or hospitals. This work proved the concept was feasible, and Bill then came to work with us here at the AMRC in Sheffield to take the design forward.

“We worked with him to produce a CAD model and prototype of the mechanism which enabled us to prove out the principles and understand how it behaved. An important part of the work we did here was to simplify the original complex ideas behind the mechanism.

“This was a design which for a long time only existed in one person’s head. We were able to make it real and along the way suggest alternative ideas for how the same outcomes could be achieved using a more straightforward method. We also explored the potential for integrating digital technology into the device.

“The next stage was to produce a functioning 3D printed and laser cut plastic version of the mechanism so we could prove, as quickly and cheaply as possible, that it worked as intended. We were also able to recommend modifications which mean the device will be easier to manufacture and assemble. The next stage will be to design and prototype the device in its entirety and conduct trials with people using it to test its performance.

“We have worked with Bill through several stages of this process. Ultimately, this project has been about taking an ambitious and creative idea in one person’s head and working through the different stages needed to turn this into a practical, working version. At the AMRC we are able, relatively quickly and cost effectively, to work with a small business like this to explore such an idea and make it a reality.”

Bill added: “The next step for me is to try out the mechanism with people and see if it performs in the way I expect it to. I would recommend working with the AMRC to any small business with big ambitions to explore what might be possible.”

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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