Wednesday, January 22, 2025

News: Two year delay expected as council issues CPO for Rotherham regeneration scheme

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A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) has been officially published for a £12m Rotherham development project - the last resort for the local council in its attempts to secure the property required so that it can go ahead with its plans.

The documents show which properties Rotherham Council has been unable to acquire so far, an issue that has caused long delays to the much-needed improvements around the markets in Dinnington.

Documents also show that the authority is talking to the Government about extending the spending on the project from 2026 to 2028.

£11m in funding for the project was allocated by the Government in March 2023 and the funding agreement was received in June 2023 when Rotherham Council's cabinet approved the start of the scheme. A further £1m in council funding was allocated to the project in July 2024.

The scheme involves replacing old buildings and market stalls with six new commercial units and a large building, which could be used by the community and for commerce, plus a fully landscaped area of public realm to create a new market square. Planning permission was secured in September 2024.

However, the authority continued to warn that "protracted negotiations" with the private landowners has slowed the scheme down and officers have been preparing to use a CPO at the site.

The Government grants powers to enable acquiring authorities to compulsorily purchase land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest.

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A council report explains: "The development site identified is partly within private sector ownership and while considerable progress has been made in acquiring the land required, the Council has yet to reach agreement on a number of plots.

"Gateley Hamer, the Council’s appointed surveyors have been in negotiation with landowners since funding was approved in August 2023 and on the Council’s behalf made offers to secure the land within the site boundary. Such negotiations will continue throughout the procedural stages of the CPO.

"Construction of the scheme is dependent on the acquisition of the remaining land."

In the 2023 Budget, the Government announced that Rotherham would receive £20m for regeneration for Wath and Dinnington. It came after earlier bids for funding for the schemes were turned down twice.

The council report adds: "The funding deadline of March 2026 remains a risk to delivery. The Council has been invited to profile spend to March 2028 in the December 2024 return to Cabinet. All endeavours to progress the scheme at pace are being taken, including this CPO which will expediate the acquisition of property where private sector owners are unwilling to sell.

"In addition to appointment of a contractor and continued design and where appropriate works on site. Dialogue with MHCLG colleagues and where required Ministers will continue around the potential March 2028 deadline."

The order includes the details of the owners or reputed owners of the seven properties required. The outstanding interests the Council is actively seeking to acquire include 56 Laughton Road where Frinton-on-Sea's Shelby Investments Limited are the owners, the derelict retail premises at 32A Laughton Road where the Mugglestone family are listed as owners, and the band hall which is in the ownership of a group of trustees.

Images: RMBC / AHR

12 comments:

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM  

I can't think of a single regeneration project delivered by RMBC that hasn't either run massively over budget, or successfully completed on time. Perhaps this should hardly come as a surprise!

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM  

Not fair to single out Rotherham. The same thing happens everywhere all the time

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM  

This is the fault of the owners of the brunt out and derelict buildings refusing to sell.
Nothing to do with the council,the council are doing the right thing getting a CPO.

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM  

Original post is another AI generated response. Would be great if the facts could be considered beforehand

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM  

I'm unsure why the stock response is always to blame the council. If the land owners won't sell the council is doing everything it can by persuing a CPO.

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 8:23 PM  

This is a website about Rotherham. In what way is it not fair to single out RMBC? Are you suggesting we shouldn't criticise RMBC because there are other terrible local authorities out there?

Anonymous,  January 22, 2025 at 9:21 PM  

I'd suggest you don't blame the council for issues they can't control.

Anonymous,  January 23, 2025 at 9:48 AM  

Do you genuinely believe that response was Ai generated? I suggest you take off your tin foil hat.

Anonymous,  January 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM  

It did take over 20 years to sort out a CPO in the town centre!

Anonymous,  January 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM  

There was a lot of sick leave.

Anonymous,  January 26, 2025 at 9:34 AM  

Very glad that Rhino's is now demolished and work has started on the multi million pound development.

Jez January 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM  

That's good news. I haven't been in town for a while. Will pop down next week and take a look.

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