News: Transformed sewage site could be home to hundreds of new jobs in Rotherham
Keyland Developments, the sister-company of Yorkshire Water, is hoping to transform a plot of unused land in Rotherham into a new industrial park, which they say would be big enough to create over 800 new jobs.
The subsidiary of the Kelda group has identified surplus land at its Sewage Treatment Works at Aldwarke and has submitted a planning application showing how it could accommodate some 330,000 sq ft of commercial buildings.
On the opposite side to the steelworks on Aldwarke Lane, the 24.4 acre site is partially developed and is currently occupied by engineered earth mounds and hard standing areas - previously used for drying sewage sludge. It sits next to the Waste Water Treatment Works and River Don, and the commercial units developed by Waddingtons.
The land was opencast until 1983, with underground workings ending in 1957 and was allocated for employment use in Rotherham's local plan. Outline proposals are for eight buildings of various sizes that can be subdivided. The use classes would be B2 General industrial and B8 Storage or distribution. An indicative proposed masterplan shows units ranging from 4,000 sq ft to 75,000 sq ft and designs show a 30% split for B2 and 70% for B8.
Plans, drawn up by Sheppard Planning and KPP Architects, state that, when fully operational, the development could generate between 402 jobs and 859 jobs.
Advertisement
One of the main issues will be access, with a new junction proposed onto Aldwarke Lane. The subject of consideration at pre-application stage, the proposal is for a new priority-controlled T-junction with ghost island right facility. This does not fully accord with all aspects of guidance - in particular the spacing of existing junctions and the length of the right turn lane, but applicants say that it is agreed to be an appropriate and safe solution.
The site is within Flood Zone 2 in planning terms and plans also include attenuation ponds and other methods to address drainage and flooding. A 15 metre buffer around existing lagoons is included for ecological reasons and the odour from the adjacent Waste Water Treatment Works was also assessed and considered to be "not significant."
Planning documents state: "The development opportunity at Aldwarke is both sustainable and deliverable. The delivery of employment on this allocated site will produce a range of employment opportunities and workforce skills. In turn the development will have a positive impact on the local services and amenities, supplementing the residential and retail uses nearby with employment, to deliver a sustainable environment.
"The application site has low ecological value, however the proximity of the site to the lagoons, and introduction of attenuation dry basins provide an excellent opportunity for biodiversity enhancement. Generous peripheral landscaping buffer and green buffers between buildings will extend wildlife corridors and habitat network throughout the site.
"To conclude the economic, social and environmental net gain for the allocated employment site in Aldwarke provides an opportunity to deliver a much needed and highly sustainable development that will complement and expand the scope of employment within the area."
Images: Keyland / KPP
The subsidiary of the Kelda group has identified surplus land at its Sewage Treatment Works at Aldwarke and has submitted a planning application showing how it could accommodate some 330,000 sq ft of commercial buildings.
On the opposite side to the steelworks on Aldwarke Lane, the 24.4 acre site is partially developed and is currently occupied by engineered earth mounds and hard standing areas - previously used for drying sewage sludge. It sits next to the Waste Water Treatment Works and River Don, and the commercial units developed by Waddingtons.
The land was opencast until 1983, with underground workings ending in 1957 and was allocated for employment use in Rotherham's local plan. Outline proposals are for eight buildings of various sizes that can be subdivided. The use classes would be B2 General industrial and B8 Storage or distribution. An indicative proposed masterplan shows units ranging from 4,000 sq ft to 75,000 sq ft and designs show a 30% split for B2 and 70% for B8.
Plans, drawn up by Sheppard Planning and KPP Architects, state that, when fully operational, the development could generate between 402 jobs and 859 jobs.
Advertisement
One of the main issues will be access, with a new junction proposed onto Aldwarke Lane. The subject of consideration at pre-application stage, the proposal is for a new priority-controlled T-junction with ghost island right facility. This does not fully accord with all aspects of guidance - in particular the spacing of existing junctions and the length of the right turn lane, but applicants say that it is agreed to be an appropriate and safe solution.
The site is within Flood Zone 2 in planning terms and plans also include attenuation ponds and other methods to address drainage and flooding. A 15 metre buffer around existing lagoons is included for ecological reasons and the odour from the adjacent Waste Water Treatment Works was also assessed and considered to be "not significant."
Planning documents state: "The development opportunity at Aldwarke is both sustainable and deliverable. The delivery of employment on this allocated site will produce a range of employment opportunities and workforce skills. In turn the development will have a positive impact on the local services and amenities, supplementing the residential and retail uses nearby with employment, to deliver a sustainable environment.
"The application site has low ecological value, however the proximity of the site to the lagoons, and introduction of attenuation dry basins provide an excellent opportunity for biodiversity enhancement. Generous peripheral landscaping buffer and green buffers between buildings will extend wildlife corridors and habitat network throughout the site.
"To conclude the economic, social and environmental net gain for the allocated employment site in Aldwarke provides an opportunity to deliver a much needed and highly sustainable development that will complement and expand the scope of employment within the area."
Images: Keyland / KPP
9 comments:
I can see the logic of developments like this. Water companies must have a lot of spare land once used for treatment purposes now that raw sewage is simply pumped into the sea and our rivers
Usual big money people making a mess.
Can flood, may smell really bad some days and once in not coming out again due to traffic congestion.
How do these companies, councils and environmental personal keep there jobs down south I don't know.
Here we go.....Aldwark is already a 'bottle neck' for traffic.....flooding too. Its all about costs and making rich get richer!? Sod the environmental impact it will create on flora and fona, wildlife, with congestion to add. Think Rotherham Town centre should be used for that since it is a 'ghost town' of its former once past. It is a no go area for many.
Be hopes they consider the many nesting and some quite rare birds (and obviously protected by law)that now frequent that area
Dream on!
Shameful
It’s a terrible bottleneck already without adding more traffic. Also the stink in summer is overpowering so it will be unpleasant for anyone working there.
On the plus side, it makes a pleasant change from the permanent fug of skunk hanging over the town centre..
Or the smell of incineration everywhere
Post a Comment