Friday, August 9, 2024

News: Another commercial to residential conversion in Rotherham town centre

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Plans have been submitted that would enable more vacant commercial space in Rotherham town centre to be converted into flats.

The Rotherham town centre masterplan of 2017 confirmed the need for more housing and leisure uses as a way to develop economic vitality, bringing more life, activity and spending back into the town centre.

On Doncaster Gate, the Royal Chambers building is the latest in line for conversion.

Known by many as part of Cooper's Toy Shop, 8 - 12 Doncaster Gate has been used for a number of years as commercial units - a tattoo studio and offices for a recruitment firm.

Now an application has been submitted that would enable a change of use of the upper floors.

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Plans from Nottinghamshire-based Current Property Ltd, involve creating five, 1-bed flats on the first and second floors.

Drawn up by Building Link Design, there are no plans to change the external appearance of the building and the ground floor would remain as two commercial units.

Commercial property agents, CPR, has been advertising the building for sale at £295,000. Their advert reads: "Royal Chambers comprises of a detached three-storey office building and benefiting from rear car parking. The property provides an attractive stone façade, offering modern offices to all three floors with the ground floor providing a mixture of open-plan offices together with private glass-wall partitioned offices to the rear.

"The building offers a useful self-contained separate access from Doncaster Gate which leads to the first and second floors. There are further offices at second floor level. The top floor has been used as a gymnasium and could easily be converted back to office accommodation."

If approved, the new flats would sit alongside The Cinema House residential development and opposite to the successful conversion of a former department store and pool hall.

Images: Google Maps / Haybrook

36 comments:

Anonymous,  August 9, 2024 at 1:27 PM  

Another step closer to making Rotherham town centre a no go area.

Anonymous,  August 9, 2024 at 3:42 PM  

Wondered how long it would take....

Anonymous,  August 9, 2024 at 4:00 PM  

Think a lot have thought that way for 20 years or more..... If Forge Island doesn't work maybe just turn everything into flats.

Anonymous,  August 9, 2024 at 4:53 PM  

This is a welcome development. Despite all the usual negativity that will no doubt follow turning unused space into residential accommodation is better than having the buildings stand empty.

Jez August 9, 2024 at 7:22 PM  

Stop talking sense, you'll get yourself banned

Anonymous,  August 11, 2024 at 8:42 AM  

One stabbed Saturday night on Bridgegate it's already a no go area.

Anonymous,  August 11, 2024 at 5:02 PM  

If you already consider the area a "no go area" then surely development and investment is the key to improvement?

Anonymous,  August 11, 2024 at 5:52 PM  

That's right don't overact, just keep getting hysterical. Should Southport be a no go area as well.

Anonymous,  August 12, 2024 at 1:57 AM  

That doesn't fit his narrative.

Anonymous,  August 12, 2024 at 9:32 AM  

This particular investment wouldn't improve anything though, it would make the situation worse.

Jez August 12, 2024 at 11:12 AM  

What type of investment would you realistically like to see?

Anonymous,  August 12, 2024 at 11:30 AM  

Worse than a "no go area"?

Anonymous,  August 12, 2024 at 2:47 PM  

I fail to see how converting an empty building into residential accommodation "would make the situation worse". Bringing empty buildings back into use and increasing the number of residents in an area improves its viability and supports ancillary businesses. This is much more preferable than allowing empty buildings to decay and attract anti social behaviour. Simple socioeconomics.

Anonymous,  August 12, 2024 at 7:51 PM  

Not simple enough for some posters regrettably.

Anonymous,  August 13, 2024 at 10:08 AM  

Let's put it this way, none of the tenants will be female.

Anonymous,  August 13, 2024 at 1:28 PM  

I wouldn't say it's a welcome development, but perhaps an inevitable one. If there is no retail demand, and no interest for commercial space, then the only logical thing is residential.

It will depend on how well the flats are managed and how diligent the landlords are in preventing anti-social behaviour

Anonymous,  August 14, 2024 at 4:42 PM  

So they've heard you're on the waiting list then?

Anonymous,  August 14, 2024 at 7:51 PM  

Are you assuming my gender?

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 11:49 AM  

Why the assumption that there will be antisocial behaviour?

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 12:43 PM  

Because that's what usually happens in these kind of flats.

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM  

Sounds a bit judgemental to me.

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 5:12 PM  

Sounds a bit like burying your head in the sand to me.

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 9:28 PM  

How many flats that have been developed in the Town Center so far suffer from antisocial behavior?

Anonymous,  August 15, 2024 at 10:38 PM  

And you sound like one of those people who make negative comments on social media without evidence.

Anonymous,  August 16, 2024 at 9:45 AM  

I don't use social media

Anonymous,  August 16, 2024 at 5:51 PM  

You are using it now!

Anonymous,  August 16, 2024 at 9:09 PM  

Indeed so, lol.

Anonymous,  August 17, 2024 at 9:40 AM  

Can't recall there being anything reported. Seem to be less bother than those out of town.

Anonymous,  August 17, 2024 at 11:22 AM  

This is a business blog, it isn’t social media. There’s nothing social about this place.

Anonymous,  August 17, 2024 at 5:35 PM  

This will meet any definition of social media you care to explore. The only unsocial aspect of it is you.

Anonymous,  August 18, 2024 at 9:26 AM  

Social Media is defined as: blogs, other types of self-published online journals, and collaborative Web-based discussion forums including, but not limited to, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

Anonymous,  August 19, 2024 at 11:00 PM  

That seems a reasonable definition.

Anonymous,  August 23, 2024 at 7:21 AM  

"How many flats that have been developed in the Town Center so far suffer from antisocial behavior?" (sic - not a big fan of Americanisms!)

Here are my starters for ten:
- Wharncliffe Flats (ok, not a new one, but well known one)
- Cathedral Court
- Mansfield Road
- Wellgate
- Market St
- Westgate

Anonymous,  August 23, 2024 at 8:13 PM  

And what anti social behavior is happening in these flats? Where can I view this information?

Anonymous,  August 26, 2024 at 7:21 AM  

As an elderly resident of one of those properties I would love to hear what antisocial behaviour I have been experiencing.

Anonymous,  August 26, 2024 at 1:15 PM  

It's all in his mind.

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