News: Agreement reached over burnt out buildings
It has been a long time coming but it now appears that Rotherham Council has reached an agreement with the owners of the eyesore buildings in Rotherham town centre that have remained burnt out and empty for well over a decade.
Located on a key gateway into the town centre, the burnt-out buildings that make up 3-7 Corporation Street have been a long-standing eyesore in Rotherham. Khyber Pass Indian Restaurant (no.7) suffered fire damage in December 2005 with the ‘Envy’ night club above (no.7) suffering a similar fate in April 2007 (affecting the retail units below). The Muskaan Indian Restaurant (no. 3-5) was also fire damaged in July 2011.
Attempting to acquire the site, the authority served a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in April after negotiations with the owners failed. But it now appears that the order, which could take more than 12 months to resolve if objections are received and an inquiry is required, won't be neccessary.
The CPO is running alongside the authority's attempt to acquire the property by private treaty, but this was complicated with the recent death of the landowner and the property going into probate.
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However, an update from the council this week states that: "an agreement to acquire the property at 3-5 & 7 Corporation Street has now been reached resulting in the removal of the freeholder’s objection to the Compulsory Purchase Order."
Officers will now work to agree Heads of Terms and complete the land transaction.
A CPO uses powers provided by the government to enable acquiring authorities to compulsorily purchase land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest. The council already has planning permission for a £6m mixed-use scheme, and external funds, to support the regeneration.
Rothbiz understands that three objections to the CPO were received - one from the landowner and others around rear access to properties on Bridgegate.
The plan is that when acquired, the buildings would be demolished and a private sector developer would be brought in to build a £6m residential-led, mixed-use development, comprising of apartments with commercial space on the ground floor. Plans were approved in May.
The council is now engaging with the private sector to establish the level of interest in the redevelopment of the site.
£3.2m has already been secured through the Town Deal and Levelling Up funds which is intended to be used to acquire the land, clear the site and address the viability gap that exists in the development scheme.
To support the CPO, Rotherham Council has also said that, if it can't secure a partner, then it will secure the necessary resources to deliver the scheme itself using its Town Centre Investment Fund (TCIF).
Images: Google Maps / AHR
Located on a key gateway into the town centre, the burnt-out buildings that make up 3-7 Corporation Street have been a long-standing eyesore in Rotherham. Khyber Pass Indian Restaurant (no.7) suffered fire damage in December 2005 with the ‘Envy’ night club above (no.7) suffering a similar fate in April 2007 (affecting the retail units below). The Muskaan Indian Restaurant (no. 3-5) was also fire damaged in July 2011.
Attempting to acquire the site, the authority served a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in April after negotiations with the owners failed. But it now appears that the order, which could take more than 12 months to resolve if objections are received and an inquiry is required, won't be neccessary.
The CPO is running alongside the authority's attempt to acquire the property by private treaty, but this was complicated with the recent death of the landowner and the property going into probate.
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However, an update from the council this week states that: "an agreement to acquire the property at 3-5 & 7 Corporation Street has now been reached resulting in the removal of the freeholder’s objection to the Compulsory Purchase Order."
Officers will now work to agree Heads of Terms and complete the land transaction.
A CPO uses powers provided by the government to enable acquiring authorities to compulsorily purchase land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest. The council already has planning permission for a £6m mixed-use scheme, and external funds, to support the regeneration.
Rothbiz understands that three objections to the CPO were received - one from the landowner and others around rear access to properties on Bridgegate.
The council is now engaging with the private sector to establish the level of interest in the redevelopment of the site.
£3.2m has already been secured through the Town Deal and Levelling Up funds which is intended to be used to acquire the land, clear the site and address the viability gap that exists in the development scheme.
To support the CPO, Rotherham Council has also said that, if it can't secure a partner, then it will secure the necessary resources to deliver the scheme itself using its Town Centre Investment Fund (TCIF).
Images: Google Maps / AHR
23 comments:
And to think that it has only taken a quarter of a century! Now that's what you call negotiating prowess!
Great to see that something is finally happening with this site, it's long overdue.
Hopefully the start of getting something done....with any luck they'll deal with the eyesores on Westgate as well.
Wonderful news.
Let's get this sorted now.
Well done to the present labour council for sorting it.
That praise would be more deserving if half of them hadn't been on the council since before the buildings accidentally burned to the ground. They could well be still around by the time something is done about the accidentally burned to the ground Rhinoceros. Most of us however will probably be dead.
Completely agree with Jez.
No praise should be given to Labour for doing something that should have been sorted out years ago.
I am pleased that something is happening here, but I fail to see the connection between a labour party which has been in power since the formation of RMBC and their ability to act on this.
Remember, it has been in their power to do something about this since they first caught fire all those years ago, through enforcement powers, etc. only they chose not to.
'Accidentally'
I'm not sure "chose not to" is what actually happened . Rather Incompetence, inertia and indecision both by elected members and officers over several decades has contributed to everything that has gone wrong in this town. Failure to speak truth to power contributed to the cloud of shame that we will never shake off. Promotion from within led to insularity and a dearth of new ideas. Politically, challenges from minority members were weak and ineffective. Selection and scrutiny of candidates across the political spectrum has been poor to say the least. The result is that we have been led by uninspired and uninspiring people. Anyone who has challenged the status quo has been sidelined or moved on. And so it goes on.
Do something about it then, you seem to have the time
Almost certainly took me less time to write than it took you to read it.
Ultra childish
Implying someone is simple because they've hit a nerve is pretty poor.
The trouble with anonymous posters is that you never know how many times they are posting messages.
I don't think it is fair to tell someone who has highlighted a problem to do something about it themselves.
Or that more than one person doesn't agree with you. You've got some ego!
The site host can quickly sort that. The problem with you 'Jez' is you're a know it all, but not prepared to do anything about it.
That's labour for you... unfortunately we gunna find just how bad they are when they actually win general election next year..then we'll see how good they are!😩
If you can make any sensible suggestions about how one person can legally affect meaningful change other than the channels open to everyone via the ballot box, I will be happy to follow your example
Jez Jez Jez Jez Jez Jez Jez Jez - bore off & get a life!
Thought not
Silly point really,cos you could have multiple accounts anyhow,there could be a Jez 1 ,2,3,ect..Maybe there is ,and Jez answers himself under anonymous guises?
No i dont.
You may have something there. I would certainly get more sense answering myself.
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