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
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.
Advertisement
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."
Images: Google Maps / Haybrook
Another step closer to making Rotherham town centre a no go area.
ReplyDeleteThink a lot have thought that way for 20 years or more..... If Forge Island doesn't work maybe just turn everything into flats.
DeleteWondered how long it would take....
ReplyDeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteStop talking sense, you'll get yourself banned
DeleteOne stabbed Saturday night on Bridgegate it's already a no go area.
ReplyDeleteIf you already consider the area a "no go area" then surely development and investment is the key to improvement?
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't fit his narrative.
DeleteThis particular investment wouldn't improve anything though, it would make the situation worse.
DeleteWhat type of investment would you realistically like to see?
DeleteWorse than a "no go area"?
DeleteThat's right don't overact, just keep getting hysterical. Should Southport be a no go area as well.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteLet's put it this way, none of the tenants will be female.
DeleteSo they've heard you're on the waiting list then?
DeleteAre you assuming my gender?
DeleteNot simple enough for some posters regrettably.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteIt will depend on how well the flats are managed and how diligent the landlords are in preventing anti-social behaviour
Why the assumption that there will be antisocial behaviour?
ReplyDeleteBecause that's what usually happens in these kind of flats.
DeleteSounds a bit judgemental to me.
DeleteSounds a bit like burying your head in the sand to me.
DeleteAnd you sound like one of those people who make negative comments on social media without evidence.
DeleteI don't use social media
DeleteYou are using it now!
DeleteIndeed so, lol.
DeleteThis is a business blog, it isn’t social media. There’s nothing social about this place.
DeleteThis will meet any definition of social media you care to explore. The only unsocial aspect of it is you.
DeleteSocial 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.
DeleteThat seems a reasonable definition.
DeleteHow many flats that have been developed in the Town Center so far suffer from antisocial behavior?
ReplyDeleteCan't recall there being anything reported. Seem to be less bother than those out of town.
ReplyDelete"How many flats that have been developed in the Town Center so far suffer from antisocial behavior?" (sic - not a big fan of Americanisms!)
ReplyDeleteHere are my starters for ten:
- Wharncliffe Flats (ok, not a new one, but well known one)
- Cathedral Court
- Mansfield Road
- Wellgate
- Market St
- Westgate
As an elderly resident of one of those properties I would love to hear what antisocial behaviour I have been experiencing.
DeleteAnd what anti social behavior is happening in these flats? Where can I view this information?
ReplyDeleteIt's all in his mind.
ReplyDelete