News: Council acquires more sites for new housing in Rotherham town centre
Rotherham Council has purchased further properties and plots of land as it continues to spearhead a drive for more housing in Rotherham town centre.
A key part of the town centre masterplan places the focus on more leisure and residential uses and a diversifying of the high street from being retail focused.
Three Rotherham Council housing projects have completed recently as part of the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise.
Now the authority is pressing ahead for more housing on sites in the Sheffield Road and Westgate area of town.
As part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter. Masterplanning has been undertaken for up to 279 high quality residential units, to include a mix of apartments and houses. Consultants at Turner and Townsend are working on the project.
Money was set aside for the acquisition of land owned by the private sector, the creation of a new Riverside Walk, bridge and general infrastructure around the Sheffield Road and Westgate area providing better access to enjoy the waterfront.
The authority has confirmed that it has purchased six properties and two plots of land on Westgate. An update adds: "In the long term it is the intention of the Council to redevelop the area for housing, however, in the short term some of the properties will generate income from leasing."
The purchases have not been detailed but Rotherham Council is now operating the large 200 space surface Westgate car park next to the Cutler's Arms.
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Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd has been a significant landowner in the area but has been unable to realise development including a proposed food store on the Royal Mail site that was turned down in 2009.
Regarding the prominent sorting office site, Royal Mail has previously asked that the re-provision / relocation of its operations would be required prior to redevelopment.
Levelling Up Funding is also being added to the regeneration of the area with a new bridge over to the New York Stadium and Guest & Chrimes site.
Tim O'Connell, Head of RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, updated councillors at the end of 2022. He said: "The next big project is around riverside residential. Some of that is already happening. You'll have seen the developments that are taking place at Westgate Riverside and Millfold Rise, and also there's been investment from a private developer at Westgate Chambers - some really high quality apartments on the corner there.
"We are looking to build out the remainder of that site with more residential, a bigger community and connect that through pedestrian connections along a riverside walk that brings those developments, and new developments still to come that we need to work through with developers and others to bring those forward.
"We are looking to acquire large landownings on that site so they'll be in the council's ownership and the council's control in order to be able to bring that forward."
A scheme to connect the cycle route created through Templeborough to the town centre along Sheffield Road and Westgate is under review.
Phase three of the scheme went out for consultation last year and included new traffic management measures to deter people driving through the town centre.
Images: RMBC
A key part of the town centre masterplan places the focus on more leisure and residential uses and a diversifying of the high street from being retail focused.
Three Rotherham Council housing projects have completed recently as part of the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise.
Now the authority is pressing ahead for more housing on sites in the Sheffield Road and Westgate area of town.
As part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter. Masterplanning has been undertaken for up to 279 high quality residential units, to include a mix of apartments and houses. Consultants at Turner and Townsend are working on the project.
Money was set aside for the acquisition of land owned by the private sector, the creation of a new Riverside Walk, bridge and general infrastructure around the Sheffield Road and Westgate area providing better access to enjoy the waterfront.
The authority has confirmed that it has purchased six properties and two plots of land on Westgate. An update adds: "In the long term it is the intention of the Council to redevelop the area for housing, however, in the short term some of the properties will generate income from leasing."
The purchases have not been detailed but Rotherham Council is now operating the large 200 space surface Westgate car park next to the Cutler's Arms.
Advertisement
Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd has been a significant landowner in the area but has been unable to realise development including a proposed food store on the Royal Mail site that was turned down in 2009.
Regarding the prominent sorting office site, Royal Mail has previously asked that the re-provision / relocation of its operations would be required prior to redevelopment.
Levelling Up Funding is also being added to the regeneration of the area with a new bridge over to the New York Stadium and Guest & Chrimes site.
Tim O'Connell, Head of RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, updated councillors at the end of 2022. He said: "The next big project is around riverside residential. Some of that is already happening. You'll have seen the developments that are taking place at Westgate Riverside and Millfold Rise, and also there's been investment from a private developer at Westgate Chambers - some really high quality apartments on the corner there.
"We are looking to build out the remainder of that site with more residential, a bigger community and connect that through pedestrian connections along a riverside walk that brings those developments, and new developments still to come that we need to work through with developers and others to bring those forward.
"We are looking to acquire large landownings on that site so they'll be in the council's ownership and the council's control in order to be able to bring that forward."
Phase three of the scheme went out for consultation last year and included new traffic management measures to deter people driving through the town centre.
Images: RMBC
16 comments:
I work all over country,and usually a area lucky enough to have a riverside,will have quality apparent blocks running along the water way , Rotherham is as usual doing it different 'and wrong', shouldn't be wasting land with houses,should all be apartments, quality ones,how much better would area look with several blocks ,the same type as the glass wharf design what's already built on main Street,along riverside?
Great news,all good.
The glass building you’re taking about looks a scruffy dump, the building hasn’t been cared for at all, it’s filthy. Much rather see buildings built of brick or stone.
It looks like a palace compared to the monstrosities they've built on Westgate, Sheffield road and wellgate,give me the quality designs anytime..I suppose on the other hand people currently on beaches in northern France waiting for there transport aren't really bothered about design of there free homes,cos they're people who are moving into Rotherham town centre!
Shows how people have different tastes, give me the new buildings any day. Palace? Haha
No matter what article is posted on here the same person responds with some comment about immigration. Please seek professional help as you clearly have a problem.
The vision, as always, is to create something bold. The reality will be very different.
Once again, Rotherham Council is buying up huge swathes of the town, which will no doubt end up being gifted to their friends in high places on little more than a nod and a wink.
Why does one poster on here (I am assuming it is only one), feel the need to use every topic as an opportunity to talk about refugees in such a disparaging way? Surely there are more appropriate places for you to spout your jaundiced rhetoric?
Rotherham Council has friends in High places?
I really hope that plonking a load more flats next to the Cutlers doesn't impact on them. Similar schemes in other towns and cities seem to cause problems for long established pubs.
Lol,think you pretty deluded to believe it's one person,ost people I know think the same!
Probably true though,last time I walked around Rotherham,I thought I was holiday somewhere,no locals in site.
Good point. There will be loads of opposition to the Cutlet's music licence from new residents.
But you are not building affordable houses your are selling amd rent to buy no ones going to live next door to a pub
Really?
I live quite close to the Golden Ball and I don't have a problem.
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