News: Shortlist revealed for 2023 Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards

Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the eagerly anticipated shortlist for the 2023 Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards.

This prestigious event, a cornerstone of the local business calendar, returns to the iconic Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on the evening of November 3.

The evening will see 38 remarkable businesses from South Yorkshire find themselves in contention for these coveted awards. The awards are a testament to the Chamber’s commitment to celebrating the outstanding contributions of local businesses in Barnsley and Rotherham, showcasing the entrepreneurship and innovation of the business community.

Carrie Sudbury, CEO of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said: “I extend my congratulations to each and every business that has earned a place on this year’s shortlist. The level of excellence displayed in all applications received, across all categories, was truly exceptional, presenting our judges with the challenging task of making their selections. I eagerly anticipate the pleasure of welcoming you all to our celebration evening this coming November.

“Our Business Awards provides an occasion to shine a spotlight on those companies and individuals who have demonstrated a dedication to their businesses and our communities, over the past year. The awards are an opportunity for our business community to come together and celebrate the achievements of our very best.”

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Sponsored by RNN Group, the awards evening promises to be an unforgettable experience, with nine distinct awards to be presented. These awards will commend those who have demonstrated excellence in areas such as Sustainability, Commitment to People Development, Business Growth, and Business Community Impact. Furthermore, five local charities have been shortlisted for the highly sought Charity of the Year award, which includes a valuable cash prize and ongoing support in 2023/24 as Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber’s “Charity of the Year”.

The 2023 awards will also shine a spotlight on individual achievements, with the highly anticipated Apprentice of the Year and Business Person of the Year awards. These accolades recognise the dedication of individuals who have made significant contributions to their organisations and the wider business landscape.

The awards, which will be hosted by Amy Garcia from BBC Look North, will also pay tribute to longstanding businesses in the region, celebrating their milestone anniversaries in 2023.

Apprentice of the Year Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Bartosz Pilarzcyk – Fresh-Pak Chilled Foods Ltd
Harry Walker – Total Training Provision
Jasmine Harrison – Equans
Kamran Hussain – Equans
Tom Goodall – SS Systems Ltd

Business Community Impact Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Enviro Electronics
Equans
FareShare Yorkshire
Make Your Mark UK
Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust

Business Growth Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Grassroots Sports Academy Ltd
LensGo Visual Media
New Design Windows
SMH Group
Warwick Ward (Machinery) Limited

Business Person of the Year Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Hayley Koseoglu – iekos
Jason Mace – Gala Technology
Nicky Thomas – The Growth Community
Rob Shaw – Glu Recruit
Stuart Turner – LensGo Visual Media

Charity of the Year Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Barnsley FC Community Trust
BIADS
FareShare Yorkshire
Rotherham United Community Trust
YWCA Yorkshire

Commitment to People Development Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Equans
Hine Labels Ltd
IT Desk (UK) Ltd
Taattoo Ltd
Total Training Provision

Excellence in Customer Service Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Enhance Skin Health Ltd
IT Desk (UK) Ltd
MCi 4 Service Ltd
Osborne Technologies
Raspberry Flamingo Copywriting & Content Marketing

Most Promising New Business Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Coven Barnsley
Gala Education & Marketing
Jiggle
NAM – Tiny Rockets
Trust Education Limited

Sustainability Award Shortlist (Alphabetical order)
Andel Ltd
Cranswick Convenience Foods
KCM Waste Management
Professional Energy Purchasing Ltd
Wentworth Woodhouse

Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards website

Images: BR Chamber / Fortay Media

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News: AESSEAL launches key Chilean partnership

The Rotherham-based AES Engineering Group Ltd has established a strategic partnership in Chile, joining forces with ALTE Industrial S.A. as part of the group’s ongoing global growth strategy.

The multi award winning Templeborough company designs and makes mechanical seals and support systems for a wide range of global industries including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals.

Under the terms of the deal, ALTE Industrial S.A., which formed in Santiago, Chile in 1991, has acquired a minority stake in AESSEAL CHILE operations to serve the country wide major industrial customers and especially their important mining and minerals sector in which AESSEAL commands a leading global position.

The UK-based Group, which owns AESSEAL, the world’s largest homogeneous designer and manufacturer of mechanical seals will make the entire product and service portfolio of both AESSEAL and AES Sealing products available to serve the Chilean sealing market to the highest global standards.

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This move means key employees from AESSEAL, and ALTE Industrial S.A. will come together to create a new strengthened local AESSEAL organisation uniquely placed to provide a country-wide product and service support network for all industrial segments.

The new General Manager, Gabriel Trivelli said that AESSEAL’s product technology and dedication to customer service and reliability made the decision to invest and join forces an easy one.

Trivelli said: "This coming together will immediately improve AESSEAL Chile’s market coverage, will open up new opportunities in other markets and meets the request of AESSEAL’s global mining customers to increase their presence in Chile."

Chris Rea, Managing Director of AES Engineering Ltd, added: "This strategic partnership in Chile demonstrates the commitment of the AES Engineering Group Ltd to strengthening our already well-established position as a leading sealing technology provider in the global market. We listen to our customers, and we invest and act to support them."

AES website

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News: Cartonplast expands into Rotherham

Cartonplast UK Ltd, the market leading reusable transport packaging company for the food and drink industry, has expanded into a brand new, speculatively built warehouse in Rotherham.

CBRE’s Industrial team in Leeds acted for Cartonplast to secure the 31,090 sq ft Grade A Industrial unit on Centurion Business Park at Templeborough.

The expansion will create 20 new jobs.

Cartonplast UK Ltd is a subsidiary of the Cartonplast Group which was founded in 1967 in Italy. Already operating in Doncaster, the new warehouse has been acquired to provide a new cleaning facility for can pads used in the palletisation of cans in the beverage industry. Cartonplast Group manages more than 300 million reusable pads ever year, and also includes plastic pallets, top caps and can pads in its portfolio. The company employees more than 750 people across 12 countries.

The 31,090 sq ft last mile distribution unit, which has an EPC A rating, was completed in May this year and includes ground floor office space, 8.87m eaves height, as well as 39 parking spaces, with 2 EV charging points.

Built at the rear of Vector X-Cel, the new site is strategically located with access via Bessemer Way, linking to Sheffield Road and J34 of the M1 motorway.

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James Perryer, managing director at Cartonplast UK Ltd, said: “As we continue to expand our business, we are delighted to secure this new warehouse in such a strategic location in Rotherham. It’s ideally placed to support our growing orderbook alongside our Doncaster facility. We are pleased to create more employment for the South Yorkshire region as part of our growth strategy.”

Dani Raunjak, Associate Director, CBRE’s Industrial team, added: “We are delighted to secure this deal for Cartonplast UK Ltd, which is the ideal space for their expansion plans. Despite wider economic headwinds, occupier demand for industrial/warehouse mid-box units within South Yorkshire remains buoyant. This unit is typically one of the most sought-after types, given its quality and specification, and demonstrates the demand for well located, Grade A speculative development across the region.”

Ed Norris, CPP who acted for the landlord, added: “The property offers a high quality, speculatively built unit close to Junction 34 of the M1 on the Sheffield/Rotherham border. The unit offers a dedicated yard in a popular and established location and isn’t a surprise the unit was snapped up quickly once completed. The industrial market continues to perform well and we wish Cartonplast every success in the new building.”

Carltonplast website

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News: Logistics firm in administration

A Belfast-based third party logistics operator that only expanded into Rotherham last year has gone into administration.

Headquartered in Belfast and with facilities in Warwickshire, Rotherham and County Antrim, Selazar is a third party logistics (3pl) operator providing e-commerce fulfilment services, primarily for medium-sized and bespoke retailers throughout the UK.

Stuart Irwin and David Pike from Interpath Advisory were appointed joint administrators to Selazar Limited on 21 September 2023.

Admomistrators said that, in common with a number of other companies across the e-fulfilment sector, in recent times Selazar had seen significant inflation across its fixed cost base. This, coupled with the highly competitive nature of the market, had led to liquidity challenges.

In response to mounting cashflow pressures, the directors sought to explore their options including marketing the business for sale on an accelerated business. However, with no solvent outcome available, the directors took the difficult decision to seek the appointment of administrators.

Immediately following their appointment, the administrators sold the company’s assets, including its Intellectual Property and the Selazar trading platform, to Petra Financial Technologies LLC and MPN Technologies Ltd, entities within the Petra Group associated with the incumbent lender.

The business ceased to trade on the appointment of the joint administrators and the majority of the company’s 54 staff have been made redundant. Customers’ stock is currently held in warehouses formerly used by the company.

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Stuart Irwin, managing director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “The logistics and e-fulfilment sector is currently experiencing a number of headwinds including rising costs and softening demand in the wake of fragile consumer confidence.

“Due to the cessation of trade and the sale of the assets, no further orders can or will be fulfilled by the Company, its warehouse partners or the purchaser. Customers are therefore advised to contact our team as a matter of urgency to make arrangements for the collection of stock.”

Irwin added: “As a matter of priority, we will also be providing support to those members of staff impacted by redundancy, including providing them with the information required to submit claims to the Redundancy Payments Office.”

Selazar opened a new 26,000 sq ft warehouse operation at Hellaby in Rotherham in October 2022. Operated in partnership with business processing outsourcing firm, Parseq, the aim was to increase its reach across the north of the UK. Selazar said at the time that up to 50 local jobs could be created as a result of the warehouse opening.

The business was founded in Belfast in 2018 and secured £20m from a large global investment group in 2021 to help the company to fast track its global expansion.

Selazar website

Images: Selazar

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News: New banking hub for Wath

Wath is set to get a new banking hub, the town's MP has confirmed.

In the north of the Rotherham borough, Wath was left without a High Street bank after two leading banks announced in 2017 that they were turning their backs on the town as part of closure programmes.

Following the previous closure of the Santander branch, CYBG PLC, the parent company of Yorkshire Bank (now Virgin Money), and HSBC, both announced that their Wath-upon-Dearne branches would close.

Branches have closed across the borough, and the UK, as the number of users fall as customers increasingly use other forms of banking such as online or via apps.

Now face-to-face banking is set to return to Wath with a Banking Hub. The hubs are dedicated places where communities can access everyday personal and business banking services, such as withdrawing and depositing cash easily, or paying in cheques, over the counter.

Representatives form the major banks, inlcuding Santandar, Virgin Money and HSBC, are available on different days but availability will vary for each Banking Hub based on local demand.

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Owned by Cash Access UK, funded by the banks, and run by the Post Office, they're a way of bringing back banking to the people and areas that need it.

Banking hubs are established by LINK who have identified need for access to cash and banking services to meet local demand, following bank branch closures in the community. The Post Office is then contracted to operate the Banking Hubs site and provide vital cash services to the local community.

John Healey, MP for Wentworth & Dearne, said: "There’s been a great strength of public support for my campaign to restore services over the past six years since we were left without any bank branches in the town.

"I’ve been working hard to make the case for a Banking Hub in Wath, including getting assessors out to see the need for themselves.

"The announcement will be welcomed by many residents who only bank in branch and can’t go online as well as our local businesses who need somewhere to go to access funding and deposit cash.

"The banking hub will now be delivered by Cash Access UK. Over the next few weeks, it will begin to engage with the local community and to start looking for potential sites."

Post Office website
Cash Access UK website

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News: Contractor confirmed for country park café

I&G has been appointed to develop a new, purpose built, environmentally friendly visitor centre and café at Thrybergh Country Park in Rotherham.

Securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund, £19.9m was awarded for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being.

However, refinement of the proposals has been necessary due to "cost constraints, inflation and market challenges."

As reported by Rothbiz last month, Illingworth and Gregory Ltd (I&G) have been awarded the second stage of a two-stage design and build contract for the delivery of works at Thrybergh.

The new £2.5m facility will be built using modern methods of construction, with structurally insulated panels (SIPs) being manufactured offsite and erected in position, allowing a quicker, more efficient and more environmentally friendly process than a traditional build. The building will be in keeping with the natural environment of the country park, using timber from sustainable sources and natural materials which will blend into the greenery and water of its surroundings.

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The development, being delivered on behalf of Rotherham Council, will include a new café, visitor centre and educational facility for the local community to enjoy, alongside a new external teaching space and amphitheatre with stunning views across the reservoir.

Christopher Carline, I&G Managing Director, said: “Creating the building in this way using modern methods of construction will have a positive impact on the long term performance of the building in terms of its energy efficiency and carbon impact.

“Thrybergh Country Park is a beautiful spot, which attracts many visitors throughout the year, and we hope the new café and visitor centre will allow more people to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, as well as creating more opportunities for ecological education.”

Detailed design work is currently being developed, with work likely to begin on site early next year, and the buildings are expected to be completed by early autumn 2024.

I&G is a West Yorkshire-based construction company that has been operating across the North of England since 1972. The family company became part of the Sewell group in 2017 and is known for being experts at complex construction works in difficult environments, such as hospital wards, food production facilities and educational laboratories.

I&G website

Images: RMBC / I&G

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News: Automotive giant, Toyoda Gosei, to dissolve UK subsidiary hit by Brexit and COVID

Japanese-owned auto parts manufacturer, Toyoda Gosei has made the decision to dissolve its subsidiary in the UK, Toyoda Gosei UK Ltd. (TGUK), as a part of its restructure of the company’s European business.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 on the company's decision to close the business in the UK with both plants at Rotherham and Swansea affected. The decision was due to changes in the global automotive sector and reduced demand in the UK and 458 jobs have been lost.

Having already moved som European manufacturing to the Czech Republic, bosses said it would now aim to grow its business in Europe centered on Toyoda Gosei Czech (TGCZ).

A statement from the company said: "As the automotive industry undergoes dramatic changes, Toyoda Gosei is restructuring its business globally as one part of efforts to grow sustainably into the future. The decision to close TGUK was made against the background of the changing business environment as automakers decrease or end production in the UK, leaving little expectation for growth in the business of TGUK.

"Manufacturing operations had been transferred to TGCZ and other companies, and production at TGUK ended in July 2023. Liquidation of TGUK is scheduled to be completed by around the end of 2024."

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd, which is based in Kiyosu, Japan and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2019, opened in the UK in 1999, manufacturing weatherstrips for a range of car makers. The Rotherham site at Templeborough was its first in Europe.

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2019 accounts for TGUK reported that: "The potential impact of Brexit, further associated customer shutdowns and the new challenges of COVID will impact sales and profitability." Production turnover in 2020 was 23% down on the previous year and this dropped another 10% for 2021.

The company reported that Brexit impacted "turnover, profitability and appropriation of lead-times of goods and services," adding that leaving the EU had increased administration, cost, and pressure on on-time deliveries which led to post-production delays at customers.

In the 2022 accounts, TGUK reported that turnover was down from £42m in 2021 to £35.4m in 2022. Losses before tax increased year on year by £26.1m from £5.2m to £31.3m. This was due to a combination of the closure costs of £24m, reduced impairment (£0.4m) and increased staff costs (£1m) along with the reduction in turnover.

The company had been kept trading by loans from the parent company - £8m came through group loans in 2022. As at 31 March 2022, the company had net current liabilities of £34m and net liabilities of £172m. At the time, Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd said that it remained committed to continue to support Toyoda Gosei UK Ltd and it would provide adequate funding to enable the company to meet its obligations as they fall due.

Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd website

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News: AMRC in the race to inspire next generation of engineers

Make UK and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are teaming up to inspire the next generation of talented engineers as the two organisations host an event for National Manufacturing Day – with two McLaren show cars joining the starting line up.

Make UK, which champions engineering and manufacturing in the UK, is working closely with the AMRC to celebrate National Manufacturing Day on September 28, which looks to inspire a new generation of engineers by showcasing the range of diverse, highly-skilled and well-paid jobs on offer in the industry. The special day will see the AMRC open its doors in South Yorkshire to welcome 180 young people who are looking to take the next steps in their education journey.

The groups of young people will see the AMRC’s cutting-edge technology in action at its flagship Factory 2050 site in Sheffield, and have the opportunity to get involved with a range of interactive activities including virtual welding, 3D printing and robotics. It’s also a chance for them to chat with engineers about their experiences in industry and hear from businesses about the career opportunities on offer in manufacturing.

McLaren, which as a state-of-the-art production facility on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, is just one of the businesses that work with the AMRC to promote manufacturing amongst young people, and those in attendance will be able to get up close and personal with a McLaren F1 show car and McLaren Automotive 765LT road car. They will also have the opportunity to speak to McLaren employees about their career in manufacturing, as well as the important role that composite parts play in the manufacture of McLaren’s race and road cars.

National Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration of industry and events such as these are more important than ever as increasing numbers of today’s engineers near retirement and businesses need to build-up an increasingly diverse workforce that’s ready to tackle future challenges – with vacancies at a 20-year high, according to the Make UK 2030 Skills: Closing the gap report.

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Steve Foxley, chief executive officer for the AMRC, highlights the need to encourage and inspire the minds of this next generation, who will play a vital role in closing the skills gap and help to improve digital manufacturing, sustainability and net zero.

“We’re really proud to support National Manufacturing Day,” Steve said. “Young people are our future and it is right that we invest in them to secure that pipeline of talent for industry.

“That is why it is so important for us to be working with Make UK to celebrate National Manufacturing Day, so we can play a part in capturing imaginations by showing them what it is like to work at the very cutting-edge of technology, how what we do here makes an impact, not only regionally, but nationally. I want them to see how we can transform lives through innovation.

“Skills and training matter to us. We really want to see more people getting into apprenticeships because it’s extremely important to ensure that traditional skills continue to be developed, alongside developing new skills that help manufacturers keep pace with changing technologies and overcome industrial challenges.”

Dawn Huntrod, Region Director North, Make UK said: “This is a really exciting day where the whole manufacturing sector is coming together to celebrate all the amazing things that Britain designs and makes.

“Our companies are at the forefront of some of the most innovative engineering and technological developments seen anywhere around the world. This is a sector with a host of wonderful opportunities for people of all ages and we hope this second National Manufacturing Day will inspire people to take a look inside their local manufacturing businesses to see for themselves the high-skilled and well-paid careers available to them.”

The day will provide a valuable insight into the impact that innovative research and advanced manufacturing has, both regionally and nationally, showing young people how they can begin a journey in this amazing industry.

The AMRC, in partnership with a number of businesses, including McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive, Razor, Siemens, FourJaw and Boeing, as well as the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre and the University of Sheffield, will act as a manufacturing hub to showcase the engineering excellence, innovation and skills – all under one roof – at the state-of-the-art Factory 2050 facility.

McLaren Automotive website
AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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News: New parking scheme proposed for Rother Valley Country Park

Sheffield City Council has updated proposals to introduce a parking scheme near Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham.

The proposal aims to improve access in the area and will look to address the types of parking that occurs near junctions and on footways predominantly because of visitors to the country park.

Operated by Rotherham Council, the park opened in 1983 following the restoration of an opencast mining site. It attracts 650,000 to 750,000 visitors per annum and hosts a number of popular sporting events.

With the park's western boundary bordering Sheffield, the city's local authority is looking to introduce a scheme on Rother Valley Way and Meadow Gate Avenue but has been in receipt of objections during its consultation.

The latest scheme will make changes to the road network, introduce a series of double yellow lines to prevent parking in unsuitable places and provide some improvements for pedestrian and cyclists.

Improvements to Rother Valley Way car park surfacing and visibility are intended to be included to make this more attractive to use and some on-street parking opportunities will be available as alternatives for busy times.

Plans include removing the roundabout junction at Rother Valley Way / Meadowgate Avenue from the network and repurposing this area to provide additional parking close to the park entrance. Other measures include extensive waiting restrictions at locations where parking should be prevented, traffic calming, new signage, and improvements to the visibility and access of the car park.

The cost would be an estimated £357,477.

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The report makes clear that parking on street "will not be time limited or charged as part of this proposal. This is to minimise the risk of any displaced parking moving into residential streets and was highlighted in early stages of public consultation."

The 58 space car park is currently free and the report adds that "the management of car parks maintained by the council's Parks and Countryside service are presently under review so this may be subject to change in the future." Any changes would require further consultation.

A report to Sheffield City Council states: "The scheme will formalise the areas where safe on street parking can be accommodated and improve access to the Rother Valley Country Park. This will encourage use of the country park for outdoor activities such as walking and cycling which will improve health and wellbeing.

"The parking scheme will result in a safer more pleasant environment for residents and pedestrians. The proposals have been designed to restrict parking in locations that can cause obstruction or hazards but keep space free in suitable locations for residents or their visitors. It will also improve parking and access to Rother Valley Park for visitors."

Rother Valley Country Park introduced a new parking system inside the park in 2021. Using vehicle registration number plate recognition means that visitors pay for the time in the park at the pay machines or by card at the exit barrier. Fees are £1.00 per hour up to £6.00 for the day.

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News: Closure date for remaining Rotherham Wilko store

The administrators of discount retailer, wilko, have confirmed when its remaining store in Rotherham will close.

The British high-street retail chain was founded in 1930 sells homeware and household goods. The group, with headquarters in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, had 400 stores across the UK and approximately 12,500 employees.

Jane Steer, Zelf Hussain and Edward Williams of PwC were appointed as Joint Administrators of Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd, wilko Ltd and wilko.com Ltd after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

With administrators investigating a potential sale, an offer being explored for the sale of hundreds of stores as a going concern fell through, leading to their closure being confirmed.

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The 20,000 sq ft wilko store at Parkgate Shopping is set to have its last day of trade on October 8.

It follows on from the store at Cortonwood Shopping Park, which is in the Rotherham borough, which closed on September 14.

Rival retailer B&M is reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises and Poundland owner Pepco is set to take on the leases of up to 71 stores. The Rotherham stores are not on the list of those taken on by Poundland, and the B&M deal has not yet been detailed further.

The Range agreed a deal to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property.

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said: “Wilko should have thrived in a bargain retail sector that is otherwise strong, but it was run into the ground by the business owners.

“Money was siphoned out of the business for dividends, warnings about what needed to be done to save the business were not heeded and advice around what the business to do to thrive was not listened to.

“No worker caused the downfall of Wilko. But they will be the ones who will suffer – all as the owners get off scot-free. GMB will not stop campaigning for the owners of this debacle to be held to account.”

Rothbiz revealed in 2014 that wilko was set to take a large unit that was vacated by electrical retailer, Comet at Parkgate Shopping. At the time, an agreement was reached with Rotherham Council and the retailer that would see the town centre store staying open for at least five years if plans for Parkgate were approved.

In 2022, even before giong into administration, the wilko on Corporation Street closed down. To aid town centre regeneration, Rotherham Council acquired the empty unit and the area has been earmarked as the potential location for a new theatre.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Wheels in motion for council to buy up land for new Rotherham mainline station

Rotherham Council's cabinet has given the green light for the authority to start negotiations to acquire land needed for a new mainline station in the borough.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and Rotherham Council have been developing a scheme to return mainline train services to the borough for the first time since the 1980s.

Rothbiz revealed last year that the total project cost was £107.6m. £99.5m for the station and £7.1m for the tram-train stop when it went before SYMCA.

If successful, the proposals would see new direct services into York and Birmingham, with faster services to Leeds, Sheffield, and Doncaster than currently offered.

A site at Parkgate is the frontrunner and the council is aiming to snap up five sites.

£1m has been secured to develop the Outline Business Case and £10m in funding has been secured for land assembly.

In March 2022 Cabinet gave authority to acquire the land necessary to facilitate delivery of the Integrated Mainline and Tram Train Station and negotiations to acquire this property are ongoing with the landowner.

The masterplan has now been developed further, identifying connections between the mainline and tram-train, a preferred location for the station building and a layout for supporting facilities including car parking, a pick-up/drop off area and space to accommodate rail replacement bus services.

This week, cabinet has approved the acquisition of four further sites - "additional land and property that is essential to accommodate the station, its facilities and supporting infrastructure including a secondary means of egress from the northern platform."

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The council is also investigating the potential use of powers for a Compulsory Purchase or Transport and Works Act orders to acquire the necessary land, although negotiation remains the preferred option.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy Cllr Denise Lelliott told members: "Connectivity is the key for unlocking employment opportunities and inward investment, getting people from A to B. Without a really good rail network, as well as buses and active travel, it is going to stifle economic regeneration and development.

"We need to get that mainline station here."

At the meeting, Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "Arguably this is the most significant project for the Rotherham economy that we are able to undertake at the current time.

"If we are able to get agreement off government, and the necessary funding in place, then I think that would have a dramatic impact on Rotherham’s connectivity and the opportunities for jobs and leisure for Rotherham residents.

"It is worth saying that we are some way off being able to deliver that scheme in the way we would hope. There is funding that was secured through the Towns Deal to start pulling that site together. It is national infrastructure so the cards are not in our hands, if you like, to be able to deliver the whole scheme, but this is something that we want to take forward and continue to develop and to press government, whichever government it is, to be able to ensure that we get the benefit of those opportunities."

SYMCA had wanted to use the full £8m requested from its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the project. Instead, the government is only allowing SYMCA to spend up to £1m from the pot between now and 2027 to develop the business case. Rotherham Council is hopeful of securing the follow-on funding.

With the development of the project and acquisitions set to take some time, construction is not due to start until 2026, with an opening for the new station pencilled in for Spring 2028.

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News: Avant submits plans for Rotherham garden centre site

Avant Homes has submitted a planning application for the residential redevelopment of a Rotherham garden centre that closed three years ago.

Rothbiz reported in 2020 that Fosters Garden Centre would close and with the site remaining vacant, Avant Homes recently began consultation on proposals that would include up to 40 dwellings, including the conversion of the existing buildings to produce up to seven dwellings at Doncaster Road, Thrybergh.

The application shows proposals for the erection of 25 dwellings and the conversion of the existing listed building to provide a further seven dwellings.

The new properties will be a mix of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom dwellings. The properties will include short terraces, semi-detached and detached houses of 2 and 2.5-storeys in height. The plans add that: "The dwellings will have a mix of appearances to create interesting diversity and visual interest whilst tying in with the local character of Thrybergh."

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The garden centre was based around the cartshed, granary and stable of Chestnut Tree Farm which dates from 1816. These Grade II Listed buildings would be retained and sympathetically converted. Other buildings, including the petrol station would be demolished.

The plans include the retention and enhancement of views and vistas of the listed building and applicants say that overall, the development "would have a negligible impact on all Designated Heritage Assets within the site."

Being a brownfield site with plans to demolish buildings, applicants say that the additional associated costs that are encountered during the development reduce the requirement in affordable housing under the Vacant building credit (VBC) national policy. Three affordable properties are proposed.

Also included in the plans is a large area of green open space and the new vehicular access will create a new priority T-junction, with a right turn ghost island to the west of Doncaster Road.

The access and internal roads have been designed to accommodate future access to the adjacent site - a large field to the north of St Gerard's Catholic Primary School that was designated for residential use in the borough's local plan. Known as site H26, the 41 acre site has the capicity for 351 dwellings.

Avant Homes website

Images: Google Maps / Avant

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News: The Reytons promoter planning massive outdoor gigs at Rotherham's Clifton Park next year

One of the world’s top ten leading concert promoters is planning two massive outdoor concerts at Clifton Park in Rotherham next summer, and they just so happen to promote hometown heroes, The Reytons.

FKP Scorpio is a Hamburg-based event company responsible for some Europe's biggest festivals such as Hurricane and Southside. Launching in the UK in 2020, the firm is a tour partner of music giants such as The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran.

The UK office has recently applied to Rotherham Council for a licence that would enable two events at Clifton Park in Rotherham town centre on July 6 and 7 2024.

The licence covers the performance of live music, any playing of recorded music and the sale by retail of alcohol. "Opening hours" would be from 3pm until 11:30pm, although activity, including soundchecks, could take place from the Friday afternoon.

Documents submitted as part of the application show that the site would have a capacity of 20,000.

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The stage would be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelsheild"

The perimeter is shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the musuem, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans, drawn up by SC Productions Ltd, show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

Consultants at SC Productions Ltd have worked on high profile events such as concerts at Knebworth and Cardiff Castle, Creamfields and Ed Sheeran's stadium tour.

With a potential for 40,000 in attendance over the two days, the proposed event would certainly be the biggest in recent memory for the town. Fake Festivals, Oktoberfest events and Proms in the Park haven't matched the scale of T-Rex over 50 years ago in 1971, or The Specials at nearby Herringthorpe Playing Fields in 1981.

Of course, Clifton Park is no stranger to large crowds. Almost 90,000 headed there over two days for the recent Rotherham Show, the largest free cultural festival to take place in the North of England.

The Rotherham licence application does not reveal who the July 2024 event at Clifton Park will be for.

But FKP Scorpio UK is currently promoting South Yorkshire-formed indie group, The Reytons, on their UK tour. A tour which culminates in massive "hometown show" at Sheffield Arena at the end of this month.

Releasing 100% independently, with no label backing, The Reytons secured their first-ever Number 1 album with "What’s Rock And Roll?" at the start of 2023.

The journey began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena.

After a summer of festivals and their biggest UK tour, could Clifton Park 2024 be the biggest and best yet? A true homecoming for the lads who sang that "Clifton Park was Disneyland" on their debut album, "Kids Off The Estate" (and where the video was filmed).

Images: The Reytons / FKP Scorpio / SC Productions Ltd

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News: New drive-thru for Dinnington

Plans are being prepared for a new McDonald’s Drive-Thru in the Rotherham town of Dinnington.

The fast food giant is working on emerging proposals on the site of the former colliery which has been reclaimed and transformed as part of a successful regeneration scheme.

The proposed site at Campbell Way and Nobel Way is surrounded by commercial and industrial units and is close to the Monk's Bridge Farm that is operated by Greene King under its Farmhouse Inns brand.

A planning application is being put together and consultation is underway online.

The proposed development on the vacant plot comprises a modern freestanding single storey restaurant with drive-thru, car parking, landscaping and associated works.

With indoor and outdoor seating for customers, the proposals also include 60 on-site car parking spaces for customers, including 2 disabled spaces and 3 cycle spaces.

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The consultation states: "The proposed site is located to the west of Dinnington town centre on Campbell Way, within an established employment area. A new McDonald’s here would cater for employees of the nearby businesses as well as residents of Dinnington for whom the nearest McDonald’s is currently a significant distance away.

"The site is an ideal location for a new Drive-Thru restaurant, and benefits from safe, easy access from the local highway network.

"Subject to planning approval, our emerging proposals would regenerate what is currently an under-utilised, site with an attractive and sustainable McDonald’s Drive-Thru restaurant, helping to enhance affordable food choices locally.

"The creation of a new Drive-Thru in this location would also deliver a range of local benefits, including significant investment in the local economy and the creation of approximately 120 new jobs, in a range of full and part-time positions."

Best known for its burgers and fries, McDonald's is the world's largest chain of quick service restaurants, serving tens of millions of customers daily worldwide. Working with franchisees, it is looking to open 300 new restaurants in the UK over the next ten years.

The sinking of Dinnington Colliery began in 1902 and coal started to be raised in 1905. By 1911 the colliery was providing employment for 2,000 people. It closed in 1992 resulting in 1,000 job losses. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which played a key role in bringing the area back into use, estimated that a regenerated site could create 2,400 new jobs.

The area is home to firms such as United Caps, Macalloy and the state-of-the-art printing press operated by dmg media, the owner of The Daily Mail, the Metro and i newspapers.

St Paul's Developments plc and The HCA (now Homes England) completed a development agreement in 2014 to bring the second phase of the former colliery site forward for development after the success of Phase 1 which was developed and sold off in the mid to late 2000's by the then regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward.

McDonald's consultation website

Images: McDonald's / Google Maps

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News: Rotherham sites included in South Yorkshire Investment Zone

Huge areas of Rotherham are set to benefit from Investment Zone status, and the support and financial incentives that come with it.

Local leaders have however secured agreement with the government NOT to use tax incentives as a means of attracting new firms and jobs.

Rothbiz revealed in July that the new Investment Zone will use the region’s success in advanced manufacturing and will help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

Primarily focused on connecting Sheffield to Rotherham (where the research assets such as The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

An £80m fund (over five years for the Investment Zone) will be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions to start, scale up and relocate their businesses.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has recently published a prospectus for the South Yorkshire Inzestment Zone setting out the "next stage in the journey" in expanding the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) to include town and city centres in Rotherham and Sheffield - "reflecting the growing presence of urban start-ups and scale ups, and to provide space to grow for our booming digital and data service companies."

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The designation comes with a flexible funding offer of £80m over five years beginning in 2024/25, which is deployable across a range of interventions (R&D, skills, infrastructure, business support, planning and development) will drive innovation-led growth that will lead to more employment, higher pay and higher living standards in South Yorkshire.

Key Rotherham sites have been included in a proposed spatial core. These include the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley, parts of Brinsworth and Canklow, the remaining regeneration sites at Templeborough, the Meadowbank Road area along with Holmes and Masbrough, the whole of Rotherham town centre, the Greasbrough Road area, Eastwood, Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, areas of Parkgate (but not the existing retail parks or adjacent land), and land at Aldwarke (but not the existing Liberty Steel works).

The area in the spatial core around Rotherham town centre is described in the prospectus as "a corridor of realised and future growth potential, traditionally geared toward industry and manufacturing that is now unlocking an enhanced and accelerated opportunity to invest and scale a business in an established advanced manufacturing technology hub.

"Adjacent to the economic assets clustered around the AMP, the zone offers openings for co-location in a rich industry ecosystem of national significance, comprising innovative, successful businesses who are world leaders in their field. A new integrated mainline station will provide strategic rail connections and support the development of a new business district adjacent to the station.

"This location includes key advanced manufacturing businesses (such as AESSEAL, AMG Superalloys, MLT advanced [MTL Advanced], Vector X-Cel Ltd, Trelleborg and Liberty Speciality Steels). Supported through both the Future High Streets Fund, Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund, over a £100m of new investment will revitalise the town. Through this the traditional retail offer is diversifying into complementary leisure and residential uses. A new market, cinema, hotel and restaurants alongside new homes and outstanding public realm will contribute to this vibrant new community."

Key interventions for the zone are being explored but they will not include tax incentives.

A SYMCA paper explains: "The main decision taken on interventions to date is not to pursue tax sites. This position is drawn from evidence that suggests geographically concentrated tax incentives can lead to displacement of activity rather than new activity. SYMCA had to push Government on this. A strong case, based on robust economic evidence, was successful in securing more flexible interventions.

"The risks of displacement ... were considered too large, as were the complications of administering tax sites. The flexibility of £80m funding was considered more valuable."

Interventions are likely to include investment in capital infrastructure (land remediation, new lab space); skills support (training, graduate schemes); dedicated support on planning applications; funding to develop supply chains; and funding to develop the business ecosystem through networking and accelerator programmes.

In the foreward to the prospectus, Oliver Coppard, mayor of South Yorkshire, said: "South Yorkshire has been a leader before: we were the centre of the steel and coal industries and a crucible of the Industrial Revolution; we’re the birthplace of football and the host of world snooker. South Yorkshire is the place countless world leading musicians, artists and thinkers call home, with breathtaking landscapes and warm, welcoming, connected communities.

"But it’s fair to say that for too long our history, our economic assets, our relatively low costs of capital, land and labour, and our high quality of lIfe have not been enough to attract sustained, meaningful investment.

"And while our strengths have sometimes been overlooked by those from outside, what’s perhaps worse is that all too often we have forgotten them ourselves.

"Which is why I’m now determined we will finally make change happen. Our time is now."

SYMCA website

Images: SYMCA

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News: MTL Advanced secures £40m defence contracts

Rotherham-based MTL Advanced has been awarded additional multi-million, multi-year defence contracts from KNDS for the UK’s Boxer programme.

The leading contract manufacturing and fabrication specialist, which operates a 300,000 sq ft facility at Brinsworth, was chosen last year to supply armoured steel for the production of the MoD Boxer Armoured Vehicle Programme under a £-multi-million, multi-year contract.

MTL Advanced is adding to its current contract to supply armoured steel kits of parts for over 450 Drive Modules to KNDS’s fabrication line in Stockport.

In addition to this existing contract, MTL has now also been awarded a further contract to undertake the full fabrication and assembly of Mission Modules - the kits that can be interchanged on the vehicle depednding on the mission.

These contracts, which have a combined value in excess of £40m over the next eight years, mark another significant milestone for MTL Advanced and demonstrate customers confidence in MTL’s abilities and reputation as the leading supplier of complex armoured fabrications to the defence industry.

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Karl Stewart, general manager of MTL Advanced, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these prestigious contracts. This achievement not only reinforces our position as a trusted partner in the defence industry, but also reflects the exceptional capabilities of our factory and our team. We are proud to be contributing to the production of the UK’s Boxer vehicles, which will play a vital role in enhancing the operational capabilities of the British armed forces.

“Contracts of this type allow the business to grow its workforce in both skilled labour and invest in the future through our award-winning apprenticeship scheme. Based on this and other contracts which MTL has won over the last six months, the company is expecting to hire over 50 additional staff during 2024 and create opportunities for a further 15 apprenticeship positions per year.”

On the back of these recent contract awards, MTL Advanced has invested over £2.5m during 2023 in new equipment and during 2024 will be making further significant investments in new equipment and the manufacturing footprint.

Ian Anderton, managing director of WFEL Ltd (a company of KNDS) said: “KNDS demands the highest quality components and service levels from its sub-contractors and as MTL meets these rigorous requirements, we are pleased to welcome them to our UK supply chain. Partnerships like this highlight our commitment to a long-term collaborative approach supporting co-investment in delivery, innovation and manufacturing in the UK.”

MTL Advanced website

Images: WFEL

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News: Rotherham Wilko store to close this week

After a purchase of discount retailer, wilko, fell through, the administrators have confirmed when stores will close, including one in the Rotherham borough.

The British high-street retail chain was founded in 1930 sells homeware and household goods. The group, with headquarters in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, has 400 stores across the UK and approximately 12,500 employees.

Jane Steer, Zelf Hussain and Edward Williams of PwC were appointed as Joint Administrators of Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd, wilko Ltd and wilko.com Ltd after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

With administrators investigating a potential sale, unions were informed by PWC this week that a previous offer being explored for the sale of hundreds of stores as a going concern had fallen through.

It means that all wilko stores are expected to close by early October.

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The wilko store at Cortonwood Shopping Park, which is in the Rotherham borough, has been given the last day of trading as Thursday September 14.

The store was one of a number of national retailers to open in 2017 where a vacant warehouse was demolished and replaced by 11 new retail units and a restaurant totalling 79,750 sq ft. The £36m retail development saw over 200 jobs created.

Since the development was completed, the units formerly occupied by Outfit New Look have been combined to create a new home store and garden centre for B&M - a retailer reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises.

Despite another update today, the wilko store at Parkgate Shopping has not yet been given a closure date.

Andy Prendergast, national secretary of GMB Union, said: “GMB Union will continue to support our members through this process and will fight to ensure they are consulted as per the law and receive every penny they are entitled to.

“We will fight to ensure people are held accountable for this situation for the simple reason our members deserve so much better.

“GMB will not forget the incompetence that has led to this collapse and will we not forget the dividends paid to the millionaires who gambled workers jobs on their whims.“

Images: Google Maps

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News: Harworth sees sustained demand

Commercial projects close to its Rotherham base are giving bosses at Harworth Group plc confidence in its strategy.

The leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment has posted its latest financial results and says that it is on track to become a £1bn business by 2027 despite some difficult trading conditions.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Harworth is based close to its flagship Waverley development and is a specialist in brownfield regeneration, owning and managing approximately 15,000 acres on around 100 sites in the North of England and the Midlands.

For the six months ended 30 June 2023 Harworth reported an underlying operating profit of £8m, down from the £99.9m reported in the same period of 2022. Shareholder value, known as EPRA NDV, was slightly down £631.2m. The company has an ambitious strategy goal to reach £1bn of EPRA NDV over five to seven years.

Lynda Shillaw, chief executive of Harworth Group, said: “Harworth’s first half performance reflected good progress against strategic objectives, coupled with a strong operational delivery, which highlights the resilience of our through-the-cycle model, and sustained demand for our serviced residential land and industrial & logistics assets.

“In particular, the combination of sales of more mature industrial & logistics sites and our development of new high-specification space has accelerated the transition of our Investment Portfolio towards our goal of 100% Grade A.

“The industrial & logistics market has stabilised over the period, albeit transactions are taking longer to complete, and the residential Build-to-Rent market is experiencing sustained demand.

“However, interest rate rises, cost inflation and planning delays are all impacting the housebuilders. House prices have remained reasonably resilient supported by reduced volumes of new build.”

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The Adcanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley is a key project helping Harworth reach that 100% Grade A target. The former UK Coal Orgreave site has consent for 2.1m sq ft of industrial & logistics space with 1.6m sq ft built or sold.

Current progress sees Harworth on-site with 166,000 sq ft of space, which is 44% pre-let. The speculative development has "received significant occupier interest."

The update also stated: "Our focus for 2023 will be on built-to-suit and pre-let direct development opportunities, as well as land sales to potential occupiers. In line with this strategy, we have pre-let a 73,000 sq. ft unit at the AMP to a technology occupier and are in advanced discussions on build-to-suit opportunities with other potential occupiers at the site."



Rothbiz has reported recently on new potential deals to enable Vulcan Engineering, Danieli and Insight to expand onto the AMP. On the residential part of the Waverley site, where consent has been secured for 3,038 residential units, Harworth has sold land for 2,442 units.

However, the report adds that valuation losses were "driven by the impact of selling costs and higher levels of estimated future site-wide infrastructure costs allocated to prior period sales, in particular at our Waverley site where increased costs were driven by a change in the site masterplan."

As housebuilding continues, plans were recently submitted for a reduced mixed use scheme at Olive Lane.

Harworth Group website

Images: Harworth Group

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News: AESSEAL powers up Rotherham Factory for the Future with £9.7m investment

As construction nears completetion at its new Factory for the Future in Rotherham, leading manufacturer, AESSEAL, has placed orders with a total value of £9.7m for 32 robots that will help the company to increase productivity by automating mundane processes and free up people for highly skilled work.

The multi award winning Templeborough company, which designs and makes mechanical seals and support systems for a wide range of global industries including oil and gas, food, water, mining and pharmaceuticals, has grown from a small distribution business based on Attercliffe Road, Sheffield to a near £200m turnover business employing more than 1,800 people across the world.

AESSEAL is currently undergoing a project which includes the refurbishment and “greening” of existing plant as well as a state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft extension that will almost double the site capacity. It brings the firm’s total investment in Rotherham to over £61m.

Most of the investment announced this week will be spent on six robotic machine tool cells valued at £1.25m each. These robots will be able to produce parts that are in tolerance without the need for human inspection. The remainder is being spent on 26 auto-store robots to automate the process of storage and retrieval of the company’s engineering products and will be commissioned in 2023.

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Stephen Shaw, Engineering Director at AES, said: “This business has always invested extremely heavily in technology. The surprising thing is that the more we have invested in productivity, the more people the company has employed. It is just that the jobs that people do become less repetitive and therefore less boring, so that human beings can do more of the things that no robot will ever be able to do. Our CNC machinists are becoming manufacturing engineers.”

Chris Rea, Group Managing Director at AES (pictured), added: “We have always invested in the future, but we have also always been prudent about only spending what we can afford. As we were unable to obtain meaningful financial support from regional agencies, the directors prudently decided to extend the project timeframe by five years.

“Although we would have preferred to do it faster, with this extended investment timeframe we know that we will continue to employ more people in higher quality positions. It will take a lot longer than we had originally planned, but our priority is to provide safe, secure and sustainable positions for all our current and future colleagues.”

AESSEAL's Factory for the Future is largely complete and is already part occupied. It is hoped that the expansion will lead to an additional £20m of investment in the Rotherham area over the next five to ten years.

David Montero, who has managed the project, said: “When complete the factory is intended to be an architectural and mechanical and electrical masterpiece. It will be a window to the world of modern manufacturing with light flooding a building full of advanced technology and great people and surrounded by a one-kilometre long TreeWalk that incorporates a mini-wetlands. It is being built to the highest environmental standards and is intended to be the future home for the next generation of local school leavers.”

AESSEAL website

Images: AESSEAL

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News: Plans to enable more Rotherham riverside housing

Plans have been submitted for a range of enabling works to support further riverside residential development 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.

Rotherham Council is looking ahead having completed housing projects as part of the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise.

At Westgate and Sheffield Road, plans have been developed to address the river wall and carry out work to Water Lane that will enable future phases of housing where, as part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter.

Esh Group, one of the North of England’s largest privately-owned construction businesses, has secured the conctract for the public realm improvement works which include "remedial works to sections of an existing river wall, earthworks, cut and fill, retaining walls, drainage works and public realm improvements."

Esh secured a stage 1 award worth £483,842, with the option to progress to stage 2 works, with an estimated 10 months programme in the region of £5.2m.

However, a recent update from the council confirmed that the project has been delayed after it was "rescoped" in order to remove the proposed new bridge that would have joined to the Guest & Chrimes site.

The application includes a new riverside footpath, new sheet pile to the existing river wall, the repair of the existing river wall, new retaining walls and an upgrade of Water Lane to include the construction of new highway and footpaths.

One issue is how the riverside path will link to Main Street and talks have been underway for a land swap deal for a parcel of land between the Royal Mail sorting office and the river.

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The plans, drawn up by ELG Planning Consultants, state: "The current application proposals relate to a range of enabling works that will support the delivery of the future residential development of the site, which will deliver high quality housing that embraces the riverside setting within a highly accessible location relative to the wider town centre.

"The proposals will build upon the recent housing led regeneration that has taken place within this part of the town thereby helping to support the LPA’s [Rotherham Council's] overarching objectives in relation to the delivery of new housing and supporting the vitality and viability of the town centre."

The new riverside walk is expected to improve connectivity and "enhance the role of the River Don as a key asset within the town centre by re-opening this part of the riverside to pedestrians."

Masterplanning in the area has been undertaken by AHR Architects showing up to 200 high quality residential units, to include a mix of apartments and houses. The site to the west of Westgate has an indicative capacity of 143 dwellings.

Rotherham Council has already purchased further properties and plots of land for housing in the area. The authority has acquired all land and properties owned by Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd which includes the 200 space Westgate Car Park and the two pubs including the derelict Alma Tavern, which has been under the threat of demolition.

Council documents show that £4.1m was set aside to purchase the land and properties.

Rotherham Council is also now responsible for the business rates for other properties in the area which is a hint at ownership. This includes commercial properties closer to Ickles Roundabout such as the former car showroom on Marsh Street.

Images: Google Maps / AHR

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News: Rotherham town centre pocket park plans submitted again

Rotherham Council has submitted another planning application for a pocket park in the town centre, nearly three years after it bought the site.

Rothbiz reported in February that delays and rising costs saw the authority cut ties with the appointed contractor for Snail Yard and instead, bring the work in-house to get it completed.

Rotherham Council purchased the former Primark building on High Street in November 2020, using funding from the Towns Fund Accelerator programme after the Government awarded a £1m grant to kick start regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre.

Demolition work took place and the authority had set out to complete a pocket park by September 2021 before targeting the Women's Euros in July 2022. The site has been left unfinished.

Previously approved plans were for the temporary use of the site for public space including the siting of three food & beverage pods and associated landscaping. Amended plans were submitted in February, including space for pods as and when required, but taking out the scaffolding wall design element that would have created a central focal point on the adjacent building.

The latest set of plans show a steel staircase reinstated at the back of the park. This is opposite to the February plans which brought forward the boundary and removed the stairs from the design, adding that they were "no longer required; site has been made smaller to ensure funding can cover the cost of the development."

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Tim O'Connell, Head of RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, told councillors at the end of 2022 about delays at Snail Yard, concluding that it was bringing the project back in house. He said at the time: "We are looking to bring that forward as quick as we possibly can but we recognise that it has taken far longer than we wanted that scheme to happen."

Galliford Try Infrastructure was appointed as contractor for the £400,000 landscaping works in February 2022 and funding was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Longer term plans for the site include a residential led redevelopment that may incorporate the landscape scheme or part of it.

Across the town centre, another new area of proposed public realm has hit delays.

Planning permission was approved in June for a riverside park alongside the Forge Island development.

Using a mixture of soft and hard landscaping, Riverside Gardens will be a gateway to the heart of the town centre. It will offer residents a place to socialise and relax close to new amenities such as the Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed hotel, and a range of restaurants and bars on Forge Island, which is being delivered in partnership with nationwide placemaker, Muse.

The latest update from the council on Riverside Gardens states: "Following the outcome of the procurement exercise the project is undergoing a value engineering exercise and a subsequent procurement for the revised scheme. This will result in an expected delay of approximately six months."

The council's contractors, Tetra Tech (formerly WYG), have been leading on the scheme.

Images: RMBC

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News: CityFibre gets to work in Wath

Work to upgrade the digital foundations in parts of North Rotherham with fast, reliable and future-proof full fibre network connectivity is now underway after CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, started construction works in the Swinton area.

CityFibre is investing £31.2m in bringing this new technology to local homes and businesses, providing them with access to a network that has been designed to serve their growing data needs for decades to come.

Locally, the rollout is being completed by Heneghan & Sons who will work closely with CityFibre and Rotherham Council to ensure any disruption is managed safely and efficiently. Typically, teams will only remain in each area for a few days at a time, and residents will be contacted ahead of any work starting.

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Charles Kitchin, CityFibre’s Partnership Manager for Wath upon Dearne, said: “I’m immensely excited and proud to see work getting underway in Wath upon Dearne as it gets ready to thrive in the digital age. It’s important to remember that any short-term disruption will pay off tremendously in the long-term - once the network’s built, it will serve the community’s connectivity needs for years to come.”

Full fibre networks use 100% fibre optics to carry data at light speed all the way from the home to the point of connection. This gives users speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for upload and download, near limitless bandwidth and reliable connectivity.   

A full fibre connection also goes far beyond simply enabling access to the latest entertainment at lightning speed. Full fibre boosts households and businesses, with experts saying it will drive a range of economic benefits, such as making us more productive and innovative. 

Recommended reading: How do UK residents spend their time online?

When the new network goes live in Wath upon Dearne, customers will be able to access full fibre enabled services via a choice of providers, including CityFibre’s UK launch partner, Vodafone, on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, TalkTalk, Zen, and Giganet with other providers expected to join the network soon.  

CityFibre began work in the borough back in 2020 after Rotherham was included in the second phase of rollouts extending CityFibre's Gigabit City programme.

CityFibre website

Images: CityFibre

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