News: Council paying for fit outs at Forge Island

Rotherham Council has confirmed that it is paying a contribution towards the fit out of the units at its flagship Forge Island development.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination being delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as food outlets which are yet to open.

Work began on site in November 2022 after the council agreed to fund the regeneration scheme itself when the funding available to its delivery partner, Muse, "significantly reduced" due to the volatility of the financial markets. The authority said it would save nearly £50m compared to an externally funded deal drafted in 2018.

Questions have been raised in the council chamber after Rothbiz reported first last year that operators had not been able to bring forward outlets that had originally signed up as construction progressed. There have been concerns over the financial cost to the council due to the empty units.

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Cllr. Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, explained that: "The Council’s approved Budget and the MTFS [Medium Term Financial Strategy], assumed a budget plan that deals with a period where the scheme isn’t fully let, as did the financial model for Forge Island. Such a model doesn’t anticipate prospective business rates or rents so we can’t consider them as lost."

In approving the budget, the council expected that the repayment of capital costs will be met wholly or largely over the long term by revenue generated from commercial activity in the Forge Island development. At the time, the cabinet heard that the longer-term financial risks that the project presents related to the Council’s ability to maintain the incomes levels from the lettings, car parking and business rates.

Last year, the authority said that it had agreed the Forge Island development for the purposes of regeneration of the town centre, not as a commercial venture.

Cabinet approved an increase in the Council’s Capital Programme in 2022 to cover the £46.8m costs which were expected to be covered by the authority's own borrowing and capital resources.

Forge Island is funded by a loan that will not be charged until April 2026, a year after scheme completion. The Council doesn’t take specific loans out on a scheme by scheme basis, but borrows in accordance with need and cashflow combined with investments, as part of its treasury management activity.

Cllr. Taylor added: "The actual final cost of the project is not yet known, whilst the structures are largely completed, part of the project budget was a contribution towards the fit out of the units. As only some of the units are currently tenanted and open, the contribution to the fit out of the remaining ones is still to be paid. As such, the final project costs are not yet complete. However, it is still expected that the project will be completed within the £47.4m budget agreed by Cabinet in October 2022."

Vetro Lounge, a new neighbourhood bar, has recently been confirmed as the first food and drink venue to open at Forge Island.

Fit out relates to building an interior space, making it suitable for occupation.

Capital contributions from landlords are common in the leisure sector. It has been reported that Barnsley Council paid £2m to Cineworld and £1m to TGI Fridays as part of its town centre development, Glass Works.

Rotherham Council had £8m in its budget for Forge Island in 2024/25 but nothing for 25/26. It has regularly paid parnter, Muse Developments, with records showing payments such as £1,043,288 in September 2024, £1,187,143 and £1,814,858 in July 2024 and £1,691,564 in April 2024.

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / Google Maps

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News: Rotherham IT provider secures prestigious double accolade

A Rotherham-based IT provider has been named as one of Yorkshire’s most exciting and promising businesses of 2025.

Balliante, which is headquartered in Rotherham town centre, was singled out in recognition of the company’s growth and expansion plans, both in the UK and US markets.

Compiled by influential regional business publication, Yorkshire Business Insider, the most exciting companies list highlights 50 businesses that deliver “something special” and features businesses predicted to make their mark on the regional economy during the next 12 months. Balliante is one of just two Rotherham-based businesses to make the list.

Craig Boddy, Balliante’s managing director, was also named by the publication as one of Yorkshire’s top 42 entrepreneurs aged under 42, in recognition of the growth and success the specialist IT provider has enjoyed during the past year, as well as recognising Craig’s commitment towards breaking down barriers and creating collaborative business opportunities, designed to support businesses operating in Rotherham and South Yorkshire.

The success topped off a remarkable 12 months for Balliante, which saw the business celebrate its fifth anniversary and create two new full-time jobs as well as establishing a presence in the US, through the opening of a new office in New York.

Co-founded by Craig and business partner Louis Marcus in 2020, Balliante delivers 24/7 IT support, network infrastructure management, cybersecurity, custom software development, CRM systems, as well as bespoke web design and app development.

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In November 2023, the company relocated to Rotherham town centre, transforming Furness House, a historic property built during the American War of Independence, into a state-of-the-art IT Hub.

Under Craig’s leadership, Balliante has also actively sought to foster stronger connections with Rotherham’s local business community, where the company has pioneered a number of innovative initiatives designed to break down barriers and encourage greater collaboration between businesses.

With his sights firmly set on future growth in 2025, Craig believes that as more companies adopt emerging technologies, such as AI and automation, Balliante is well-placed to help businesses, not-for-profit and public sector organisations.

Craig Boddy, Managing Director, Balliante, said: “The IT sector is incredibly competitive and to see our work recognised in this way is something I feel incredibly proud to have achieved. It’s a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone who has played a part in our growth journey to date.

"Over the past five years, our business has grown from an idea on the kitchen table to one that is creating new jobs, targeting growth and perhaps most importantly of all, helping our clients to respond to the opportunities offered through cutting edge technology.

"At the same time, we wanted to create opportunities to collaborate with and support like-minded businesses in Rotherham and South Yorkshire. We’re proud to work with organisations of all sizes, from sole traders and SMEs to blue chip companies, not-for-profits and the public sector, and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported our business so far – I’m very much looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months will bring. We’ve got exciting plans to grow our business, not just in South Yorkshire, but also to develop our presence in America."

Balliante website

Images: Balliante

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News: Which services could stop at Rotherham Gateway Station?

Discussions continue with train operators over which services could stop at the potential new mainline station in Rotherham that is aiming to open in 2030.

The Rotherham Gateway Station project, featured by Rothbiz earlier this month, involves a new integrated station on the mainline and a tram-train stop on land at Forge Way, Parkgate.

Discussing the project at a recent council meeting, Simon Moss, Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport at Rotherham Council, said: "Everyday we have got mainline train services that travel through the borough on the way to Leeds, York, Birmingham, London, Cleethorpes, and none of those trains stop in Rotherham.

"Obviously we have got Rotherham Central, which is a real asset, on a branch line with local trains that stop twice an hour. Despite the rail infrastructure that we've got, rail connectivity is really quite poor. So Rotherham Gateway will be a big step change in the connectivity to regional and national destinations. That wider connectivity will come together with local access with a new tram train stop, bus services and other options that need to integrate into a proposal such as this.

"We have been in touch with the various rail operators, they've got a range of different approaches, and different positions, and different considerations."

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The aim is to increase the range of direct destinations and for a 30 minute journey time reduction to Leeds, York and Birmingham.

Lucy Mitchell, Major Project Officer at Rotherham Council, added: "We've invited a number of operators to join the steering group with Northern being the main target as it is likely that they would be the station facility owner. They are fundamental to any conversations that we have about what that station building might look like and how they want to operate it.

"We've also had some dialogue with TransPennine Express as a target operator for a service that we would like to see stopping at the station and similarly with CrossCountry, we've had dialogue with them. Northern have been quite heavily involved - coming to the steering group - and we've asked them to sit on the board as well.

"Operators are quite straightforward about what they would accept and wouldn't accept, which we would rather try and understand at this stage, and plan for."

Northern operates the most services in the area with potential new direct links to the nearby cities of Sheffield, Doncaster, Wakefield and Leeds. TransPennine Express operate between Liverpool and Cleethorpes on the mainline that goes through the Rotherham site with a service that also stops at Manchester and Sheffield. CrossCountry's Plymouth – Edinburgh Waverley and Reading – Newcastle services, that take in cities such as Birmingham and York, are also in the conversation.

Mitchell added: "At the moment there are two services that we can confidently accommodate so we could get better journey times to Leeds and better journey times to Doncaster. Journey times to Sheffield would marginally improve, because they are so close on the rail network.

"We are working with DfT [Department for Transport] and Network Rail to look at other services that offer up wider connectivity. So the conversations with TransPennine Express, that's about trying to get that service to potentially stop at this station so that you could get directly through to Manchester.

"Similarly, conversations about CrossCountry services, if we can get a stop at the station here you are on a direct connection to Birmingham, to York, wherever, that is the thing that significantly enhances the opportunity for Rotherham people and Rotherham businesses.

"It's a lot of work to go to secure those services and get them stopping here but that is the journey that we are on and where we'd like to get to."

Images: Northern

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News: Magtec secures funding for submarine propulsion project

Rotherham-based Magtec, the UK’s leading innovator in electric driveline technology, has secured funding through the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) to deliver a world-first in nuclear submarine propulsion. This game-changing project will push the boundaries of stealth, power efficiency, and operational capability, cementing Magtec’s role in the future of defence engineering.

Through this collaboration with MacTaggart Scott, Magtec will develop Permanent Magnet Motors (PMM) for 26 advanced submarines, drastically reducing engine noise, heat emissions, and overall size. This breakthrough will transform the Royal Navy’s fleet into silent warriors beneath the waves, making detection by adversaries exponentially harder.

Magtec will receive a government grant worth 50% of the project value with the aim of developing innovative new solutions that meet UK defence challenges and increase capability in the UK defence supply chain.

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Magtec is a leading UK designer, manufacturer and integrator of electric and hybrid drive systems for customers in the defence, rail and commercial sectors. The company is a member of the British Army’s programme to develop technologies for battlefield electrification and holds an Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Award in the Employer Recognition Scheme. Founded in 1992, Magtec is privately owned and headquartered at a bespoke design and manufacturing facility in Templeborough.

A submarine’s ability to remain undetected determines its effectiveness in surveillance, deterrence, and combat. Traditional propulsion systems generate noise and heat signatures that can be tracked by enemy forces. Magtec’s next-generation Permanent Magnet Motor technology will virtually eliminate these vulnerabilities, giving UK submarines an unrivaled tactical advantage.

Marcus Jenkins, Chief Technical Officer at Magtec, said: “This isn’t just an improvement—it’s a complete shift in how submarines will operate. Our Permanent Magnet Motors will deliver unmatched power and efficiency while slashing weight, noise, and maintenance needs. This is a monumental advancement in defence technology, and we’re proud to be leading the charge.”

Andy Gilligan, Managing Director at Magtec, added: “Magtec has always been at the forefront of electrification, and this project is proof of our ability to deliver world-class defence solutions. The technology we’re developing will provide the Royal Navy with an operational advantage that was once thought impossible.”

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News: Dame Julie Kenny, champion of Rotherham business, dies at 67

Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL, one of the Yorkshire region’s most dynamic and respected businesswomen and the champion of Wentworth Woodhouse, has died suddenly at the age of 67.

A mother of three, grandmother of eight, wife to Iain and step-mother to his three children, she died after a short illness on Friday, February 21, at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Her success as a self-made entrepreneur, and the numerous accolades and honorary roles bestowed on her, made her an inspirational figure across every sector she touched.

Dame Julie was down-to-earth but aimed high, smashing through glass ceilings and pulling others through at the same time. She often said that surviving a difficult childhood gave her the motivation to succeed.

Leaving her Sheffield home at 18, Julie travelled to the opposite end of the country and found a job as a junior secretary in a Cornish law firm. Ten years of part time study led to the second career as a lawyer.

Returning to South Yorkshire with a belief in a new security system, Julie set up Pyronix with her then husband in 1986. Becoming a single mother of three on the break-up of her marriage, she grew Pyronix, which is still based at Hellaby in Rotherham, into an award-winning organisation supplying 65 countries. When she sold the company in 2016 its turnover was £25m.

She was awarded a CBE in 2002 for her services to industry in Yorkshire and Humberside and made an Honorary Freewoman of Rotherham in 2021.

Other roles include being the chair of the first academy school in Rotherham at Maltby, taking a commisioner role at Rotherham Council, being the first female president of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and the second Lady Master Cutler in the history of the Cutlers' Company, and being a High Sherriff for South Yorkshire.

Dame Julie's business acumen was also harnessed with director roles at growing Rotherham companies: AES Engineering; SBD Apparel; and IntelliAM AI.

In recent years it was spearheading work to rescue Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham’s Grade I Listed masterpiece, from decay and decline, which she described as "one of the most inspiring, yet hardest, challenges of my life.”

She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2019 in recognition of her five-year campaign with SAVE Britain's Heritage to buy the house in 2017 and her ongoing leadership of Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT).

Tim Cooke, Deputy Chairman of the Trust, said: “Dame Julie Kenny and Wentworth Woodhouse became synonymous with one another. Her personal impact on the house has been enormous.

“Julie chaired the board of trustees and committed her time and numerous talents on a daily basis. It would be nowhere near its current status without her.

“Everyone involved - employees, volunteers, trustees and patrons - will feel her loss very keenly. Our best way of remembering Julie is to continue our work on the house that she loved so much, and which is a monument to her remarkable personality and capabilities.”

Rotherham MP and Defence Secretary John Healey MP, who had known and worked closely with Dame Julie for nearly 30 years, paid tribute. “Julie was a truly remarkable woman who was proud of her roots and wanted to make life better for others,” he said.

“I first met her when I visited her Pyronix factory. She knew all her staff and they adored her.

“Over three decades, Julie took on a list of public life roles as long as your arm - at local, regional and national levels. She took on challenges others would shy away from, with a commitment that was always total.

“She became President of the Rotherham Chamber of Commerce to rescue it from the brink of bankruptcy and rebuild it into one of the country’s leading chambers.

“She became Trust director of Doncaster Children’s Services when the Government took it out of the council’s hands and in 2010 became Chair of Yorkshire Forward to wind it up after a change in government.

“She brought brilliant business insight, plain common sense and a warm personal touch to every organisation, and she inspired those she worked with to achieve more.

“Julie’s sudden untimely death leaves a massive gap in the lives of so many of us who knew her and public life is now so much poorer without her.”

Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber said: “Julie will be remembered as a progressive visionary who brought out the very best in everyone she met. She will be fondly remembered by many in the Chamber community for her tireless work, drive and sheer will to succeed, often against all the odds. My thoughts and sympathies are with her family and loved ones during this sad time.

“From the very beginning of her business career, Julie didn’t just break through glass ceilings; she smashed them, often in her own inimitable way. She was proof that with drive, energy and self-belief that anything could be possible.

“Julie always brought out the best in the people she met. She was a source of inspiration, guidance and support, particularly when it came to nurturing the talents of women in business, always on hand to help those who followed in her footsteps and she will be greatly missed.

“Perhaps her true legacy isn’t just in the business success she achieved during her lifetime, nor in the good causes she passionately supported, or even in the transformational projects she delivered which played such key roles in reshaping South Yorkshire. She will be remembered for the lives she changed, the opportunities she created and the belief that anything can be possible, which she inspired in so many.

"Her leadership and dedication to making South Yorkshire a better place to live and work were inspirational. From founding Pyronix and growing it into a globally recognised company to her tireless efforts in preserving Wentworth Woodhouse, Dame Julie’s contributions to our region leave an enduring legacy in Rotherham and beyond.

"Dame Julie’s passing is a profound loss to the Rotherham and wider South Yorkshire business community. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who knew her."

Images: WWPT

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News: Strong rationale for investing in a new Rotherham Gateway Station despite "weak transport benefits"

Proponents of a new mainline railway station in Rotherham are focusing on the regeneration benefits of the scheme, on top of the transport benefits, in order to secure funding.

A masterplan has been completed for Rotherham Gateway Station at Parkgate but the council admits that, due to the way central government and the industry evaluates projects, current assessments show "weak transport benefits" from an integrated mainline station and tram train stop.

The project, featured by Rothbiz earlier this month, is a Department for Transport (DfT) retained scheme, so a business case for the project has been prepared in line with government guidance, including the requirements of the Treasury’s Green Book.

Rothbiz reported in 2022 that the Government had confirmed that it would not allow the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to use £8m from its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for the project with the only explanation being a "need to ensure integration with national networks."

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A Rotherham Council report states: "The Outline Business Case (OBC) presents a strong rationale for investing in a new Rotherham Gateway Station that will transform the regional and national connectivity of Rotherham, catalysing a new Innovation Campus around the station based on the advanced manufacturing strengths of both the borough and South Yorkshire.

"Rotherham Gateway Station, consisting of new mainline platforms, a tramtrain stop and associated station area development, will make a direct contribution to delivering each of the Government’s five missions, with particular benefit for some of Rotherham’s most deprived communities.

"The economic benefits arising from the new station are significant. Redevelopment of the area immediately around the new station on its own would be expected to generate a significant number of new jobs. These economic benefits alone suggest that the project would offer high value for money and the relationship between the provision of a new station and these benefits is clear.

"However, the traditional transport benefits that have been assessed for the project to date, are limited. The approach required by the rail industry uses the existing timetable to assess the services that could stop at a new station, rather than those that should stop to maximise the benefits of the investment. This has resulted in the weak transport benefits.

"If benefits had been appraised using a potential 2030 timetable (anticipated station opening date), a more realistic assessment of what services could be accommodated at the new station would have been provided. The transport benefits set out within the OBC need to be seen in this context."

Rothbiz reported last month that a £100m station surrounded by business, retail, community and housing offerings could generate 1,800 new jobs.

Simon Moss, Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport at Rotherham Council said that there was "a huge opportunity for economic growth" at Rotherham Gateway Station.

He added: "Funding for new stations and new stopping services is really competitive. There'll be hundreds of towns in the UK that would love the idea of having a new station and in making the case to government it is not really enough to talk about the transport benefits - that is a given."

Outcomes for the borough, region and the North include things like increasing connections to employment and joining up regional economies as well as increasing the viability of employment development opportunities and housing developments. A 30 minute journey time reduction to Leeds, York and Birmingham is the aim.

Last month, the government confirmed a review of the Green Book in order to support decisions on public investment across the country. Northen leaders say that the guidance doesn't work outside of London and the South.

Discussing the project at a recent council meeting, Cllr. Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "I think it is true to say that for the last 40 years the rail connection to Rotherham has been quite frankly, awful, and we need to address this if we have any serious aspirations for growth and prosperity of the borough.

"The Gateway project will provide a new mainline station and a whole host of transport and other economic growth solutions.

"But make no mistake, it is a serious undertaking and there are literally dozens of hurdles that we need to overcome before even a single spade is put in the ground.

"We are determined it will happen and we have the support of the regional mayor and government to realise this project."

The next steps for Rotherham Gateway Station involve working up detailed designs and a Full Business Case (FBC). The council says that completing this next stage of development work is expected to cost £11.35m and work is underway to secure funding.

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham building shortlisted for the RIBA Award

The AESSEAL Factory for the Future in Rotherham has been shortlisted for a regional award that celebrates excellence in architecture.

AESSEAL is the fourth largest global manufacturer of mechanical seals and equipment and the latest project has expanded its operations at the global headquarters in Templeborough.

Opening in 2023, the project 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 and it is hoped that the global showcase for sustainable manufacturing will lead to an additional £20m of investment in the Rotherham area over the next five to ten years.

The new building reflects AESSEAL’s commitment to creating quality local jobs and ensuring a sustainable future for both the company and the surrounding community. The building is entirely heated by electricity powered by photovoltaics. This has contributed to AESSEAL as a business achieving net zero carbon.

The AESSEAL Factory for the Future by Race Cottam Associates Ltd is one of seven projects that have been shortlisted for the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Yorkshire Awards 2025.

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RIBA Yorkshire Jury Chair Gayle Appleyard, Director of Gagarin Studio said: "The Yorkshire region is home to a wonderful mix of people across cities, towns and rural communities, so it’s encouraging to see such diversity reflected in this year’s shortlist. From the tiny but well crafted pavilion space created for young people within a hospice, to the renovation of a grade I-listed church and a cutting edge factory on a remediated industrial site; it’s brilliant to see the sensitivity and ambition manifest in all these shortlisted projects that evidently create inspiring, sustainable places in which to live, work, learn and play."

A spokesperson for Race Cottom, said: "We are incredibly proud as project architects, involved from conception through to completion, that this project has been recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

"A huge thank you to the team and, of course, AESSEAL for their trust, passion, and commitment to excellence. This recognition belongs to all of us!"

All projects shortlisted for RIBA Awards will be visited by a regional jury, and the winning projects will be announced later this spring.

The winners will then be considered for several RIBA Special Awards, including the RIBA Sustainability Award and RIBA Building of the Year, before being considered for a highly coveted RIBA National Award, which will be announced in summer.

The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the UK’s best new building – will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning projects and announced in September. The Stirling Prize winner will be announced in October.

WilkinsonEyre won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2001 for the transformation of a redundant steelworks in Rotherham to create the UK's first Science Adventure Centre at Magna.

AESSEAL website
Race Cottom website

Images: Race Cottom / AESSEAL

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News: Vetro Lounge at Forge Island confirmed

Vetro Lounge, a new neighbourhood bar, has been confirmed as the first food and drink venue to open at the Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz revealed at the end of 2024 that Loungers UK Limited had applied for a premises licence for a unit at Forge Island, indicating that it would operate under the Lounge brand.

With the licence approved, recruitment underway and a planning application in for new signage, Vetro Lounge is set to open on April 30.

Lounge, which currently operates at The Glass Works in Barnsley and Fox Valley in Sheffield, is operated by Loungers plc. The AIM-listed firm, which also operates the Cosy Club bar and dining concept, and Brightside roadside dining, is currently undergoing a buyout by an American investment group which places its value at £350.5m.

The company has secured the premises licence for the 5,618 sq ft Unit 4 at Forge Island, which is the largest of the remaining units.

Vetro Lounge will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, including full kids, gluten-free and vegan menus. The family-friendly restaurant will also feature a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads. A full menu, highchairs and baby-changing facilities are also available.

With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Vetro Lounge will welcome locals and visitors looking for a space for regular catch ups, meetings and events. It will join the already open Arc Cinema and Travelodge at Forge Island, with further announcements expected soon.

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Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Vetro Lounge to Forge Island.

“This marks a significant moment for Rotherham. With its vibrant atmosphere, delicious menu and prime location, Vetro Lounge will undoubtedly become a popular destination for both residents and visitors alike.

“The opening of Vetro Lounge sets the stage for even more exciting developments in the town centre, which will bring a boost to the local economy and create job opportunities for local people.

“We are forging ahead with our plans for a revitalised town centre that reflects Rotherham’s potential, and Vetro Lounge is an important step in making that vision a reality. I look forward to seeing it thrive and to the many more great things ahead for our community.”

John English, Head of Community, The Lounges, added: “We’re so looking forward to opening the doors of Vetro Lounge at the end of April. We hope our family friendly environment and top-notch food and drink offering will prove popular with local residents and visitors.

“We’re passionate about integrating genuinely into the communities we serve so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and to playing our part at the heart of Forge Island’s food and drink scene. Anyone looking for a space to host events or groups should pop in once we are open, we’d love to hear from them and see what we can do to help.”

Vetro means glass in Italian. Rotherham has a long history of glassmaking. Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751. The Glassworks Cone at Catcliffe is the oldest surviving structure of its type in Western Europe and one of only four to remain in the UK.

Lounge website
Forge Island website

Images: Loungers

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News: AMRC Training Centre targets specific skills gaps

The University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre has launched an enhanced apprenticeship programme, offering employers unprecedented flexibility in shaping the learning journey of their apprentices.

With state-of-the-art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the centre has trained over 1,700 apprentices, helping to create the manufacturing workforce of the future.

The new bespoke programme will enable businesses to customise their apprenticeships to specific needs through additional modular training options.

Employers can select modules at any point during an apprenticeship, in addition to the apprentice's core curriculum, to address skills gaps and tailor development in line with evolving business and industry demands.

These modular add-ons, crafted by industry-experienced educators, cover a wide range of in-demand skills, including introductory and intermediate CAD, welding, manual and CNC milling, manual and CNC turning, robotics and metallurgy, with additional modules continually being developed.

The add-ons can be integrated into various pathways, from level three advanced to level six degree apprenticeships, and are available immediately.

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Nikki Jones, director of the AMRC Training Centre, said: “This enhanced apprenticeship programme, built on bespoke, modular training, is a game-changer for employers looking to shape their future workforce.

“It allows them to take control of their workforce development to precisely target skill gaps, ensuring their apprentices receive the training they need to thrive.

“As part of our commitment to strengthening UK manufacturing by nurturing the next generation of engineers, we are continuously refining our apprenticeship programmes based on employer feedback to address challenges and implement the changes they want. Together, we're building the talent pool needed for the sector to grow.”

In January, the University’s apprenticeship training was rated as ‘Good’ for overall effectiveness and Ofsted recognised the institution's commitment to ensuring the content of its curriculum matches the specific needs of employers which, in many cases, extends beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship standard.

AMRC Training Centre website

Images: AMRC Training CEntre

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News: £6.5m for Rotherham regeneration

Over £6m has been approved to continue regeneration schemes in Rotherham.

Approving its budget for 2025/25, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has agreed to distribute further "gainshare" funding to each local authority. Gainshare funding refers to the money committed to South Yorkshire through the Devolution Deal agreed by the MCA, South Yorkshire local authorities and government.

Gainshare funding has previously been used to "top up" externally funded regeneration projects in Rotherham where budgets have increased.

To advance schemes included in the borough's Place Investment Plan, Rotherham is set to receive a total of £4.49m - £1.8m revenue and £2.7m in capital funding.

Rothbiz reported on Rotherham's place-based investment strategy back in 2023 which set out priorities for using funding across the borough up to 2025 and beyond.

Looking beyond buildings and infrastructure to the needs and assets of its community, the strategic objectives included supporting and diversifying Rotherham’s town centre offer to increase footfall and create a resilient and economically secure place. Other objectives focus on manufacturing, culture, housing, transport, skills and inclusive growth.

Building on Forge Island and the markets, the plan includes indicative investments such as the £27m cultural quarter around Corporation Street and the £12m of investment into new housing along the riverside.

Going beyond 2025, a new theatre is included in the strategy with an investment figure of c.£28m.

Rotherham Council has also committed a further £2m in its latest budget for "strategic aquisitions," following on from a previous allocation of £3m.

Rothbiz reported last year on the authority setting up a £600,000 "Feasability Fund" to progress planning and feasibility for a programme of interventions based on the next potential regeneration sites in Rotherham town centre. These include the riverside on Sheffield Road, Bailey House, The Statutes, the former Mecca Bingo and other sites on Corporation Street.

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Budget documents explain: "Over the last three years the Council has used a combination of its own capital and Government grant to facilitate the acquisition of buildings in the town centre, many of which have been demolished or prepared for redevelopment. Public sector control of property along Corporation Street, the former Boots building and land fronting the river has all been enabled by the Council’s interventions.

"Another allocation to a Strategic Acquisition Fund will allow the Council to respond to opportunity acquisitions as and when strategic sites are presented to market by willing sellers. The fund being provided by the Council, as opposed to a central funding body, gives additional flexibility and allows the Council to move at pace when the opportunity to acquire is presented."

Asked about the £2m allocation at a recent meeting, Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, explained: "It is not ringfenced specifically for the town cente, although over the last few years we have predominantly spent it in there, and that is because we need to buy land and property in the town centre in order to facilitate the regeneration programme that we are committed to.

"If you look at the council plan consultation that is coming forward, where it had something like 2,000 repsonses, their top wish for the future of Rotherham is town centre regeneration.

"We have set our stall out for wanting to improve the centre of the borough. We are delivering on the committments that we have made about that. I don't think any of us thinks that the town centre is the thriving place that we would like it to be.

"We own relatively little property in the town centre. It is one of the reasons why Rotherham has been slower to be able to improve over the course of the last few years, and we think it is reasonable to continue to approve a certain amount of money each year to facilitate that."

Images: Google Maps

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News: Government cash could be used to help steel areas like Rotherham

The Government's Plan for Steel has been welcomed by local MP, John Healey, as it sets out how industrial heartlands like Rotherham could be protected for the long term.

Consultation is underway on the plan that looks at the long-term issues facing the industry like high electricity costs, unfair trading practices, and scrap metal recycling – to protect jobs and living standards in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

Up to £2.5 billion will be put towards supporting the steel industry, as per the manifesto commitment, including via the National Wealth Fund. This could benefit regions across the UK – like Scunthorpe, Rotherham, Redcar, Yorkshire, and Scotland – which have a strong history of steel production. It will be spent on initiatives that will give the industry a long future – such as electric arc furnaces, or other improvements to UK capabilities.

The Plan for Steel will look at ways to identify where there are opportunities to expand UK steelmaking to better support UK manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and growth – and secure UK jobs and livelihoods.

To make the UK competitive globally, the Plan for Steel will examine the electricity costs for steel companies and issues such as procurement and tarrifs.

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Improve our scrap processing facilities so they can best support the steel-making of the future. Liberty Steel's operations in Rotherham recycles and melts scrap steel in an electric arc furnace and the steel produced is used across the aerospace, oil & gas, automotive and motorsport industries.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, said: "The UK steel industry has a long-term future under this Government. We said that during the election, and we are delivering on it now.

"Britain is open for business, and this Government has committed up to £2.5 billion to the future of steel to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs, and drive growth as part of our Plan for Change."

John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said that up to £2.5 billion would be spent on initiatives that will give the industry a long future – such as electric arc furnaces, or other improvements to UK capabilities.

He also highlighted the British Industry Supercharger which will cut electricity costs for steel firms and bring prices more in line with international competitors.

Healey said: "During the election, I said that steel can have a bright future and that I would keep up the fight for UK steelmaking. Under the new government we are delivering on it with up to £2.5 billion of funding.

“The announcement of a Plan for Steel is fantastic news for Rotherham and further afield across South Yorkshire, making clear that we are putting the full weight of government behind the industry to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs and drive local growth.

“I will always champion our proud local history of steelmaking and I will continue to work with the Government to make sure the Plan for Steel delivers what is needed for steel workers and communities across our area.”

Images: John Healey

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News: New flats plan would see Rotherham pub pulled down

It could be last orders at a prominent matchday pub in Rotherham town centre if plans for a new six storey block of flats are approved.

Close to Forge Island and the New York Stadium, the area around Domine Lane, Main Street and Market Street has been successfully regenerated with high quaity residential and mixed use developments. Now a bar at the back of the old Post Office, once used to store the vehicles for the workers, could be flattened and replaced by a new-build block of flats.

The Post Office building has itself been converted into residential use.

Currently The Forge (Magoo's bar), the pub operation has been made smaller over the years after consent was granted to create five apartments in the Loading Bay / Post office building. Previously The Exchange, and formerly Yates Wine Lodge, it is where Mark McGrail, owner of SME Environmental Holdings, saved the vacant building and created the 1915 Bar & Bistro in 2016.

The latest application from McGrail and SME, states that the leisure operations have "struggled to survive" and a proposed apartment building is being put forward, so that "a more cohesive community living environment will be created in this area of the town."

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At six storeys, the design for "Forge Apartments" from Just Architecture is for a "relatively condense apartment scheme" that aims to complement the existing buildings and create 16 luxury apartments, including two duplex apartments and two penthouse apartments.

Facing brickwork is proposed to be used, punched through with tall windows for the apartments in order to maximise the natural daylight and maximise views. Apartments will have a balcony / terrace area.

The development can be considered as sustainable in transport terms due to the town centre location so no parking is proposed. A scheme of sound insulation including glazing and Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) is also proposed.

A viability assessment shows how current build costs would exceed a total gross development value so no affordable housing provision is included.

The plans conclude: "The proposed building will nestle neatly into the corner of Market Street and Domine Lane surrounded by buildings of a similar size, scale and use class. With the introduction of this new building the existing public house will be removed for the betterment of the area. A noisy bar will be demolished in favour of a luxury apartment facility which is more in keeping with the buildings that create this residential corner of the town.

"With some careful design decisions the building has been changed to make interesting interior spaces creating city centre living areas which will be attractive to young professionals many of which now have an increased focus on working from home.

"The adaptation of the existing building, which has struggled to survive over its recent iterations will help to form a more cohesive community in keeping with the councils recent vision and Master Plan for the town centre. Adjacent and surrounding areas are all earmarked for residential development and this proposal would sit well with these proposed future developments and the adjacent approved scheme."

Images: Google Maps / Just Architecture

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News: RNN Group builds with Esh Group on construction programme

RNN Group (made up of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham) is partnering with Esh Group to deliver a bespoke construction course that will help deliver on the future skills needed in the sector and support South Yorkshire residents who are currently unemployed to kickstart their career in the construction industry.

Starting late February, the three-week course taught at the College between staff from Rotherham Campus and Esh Group will focus on Health and Safety (COSHH, PPE, Signage, Legislation and manual handling), Employability Skills (interview techniques, skills qualities and attributes), construction skills, onsite practical training and CSCS Testing.

The course will conclude with interviews undertaken by Esh Group and its supply chain as well as other companies in the region, with the potential for candidates to secure a work placement or employment if they successfully complete the course.

Esh has secured conrtacts worth millions of pounds in Rotherham, including work on regeneration and transport schemes around Rotherham town centre.

Esh has been successfully working with the RNN Group for 18 months now starting out as an Employer Partner and supporting the construction department since September 2023. After winning key RNN Employer awards in November last year for New Business Partner of the Year and ‘Skills for Employment’ Business of the Year, they have now further entrenched the partnership with this exciting and innovative course designed to help adults in the local community into jobs.

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It comes on the back of Rotherham Campus’s multi-million-pound new Construction Centre in the heart of Rotherham, built to generate the future skills needed for our region including T Levels and key adult skills courses.

Megan Roberts, Social Value Manager at Esh Group, said: “Our strong partnership with RNN provided the perfect opportunity to bring this programme to the Yorkshire region. We are really proud of this offer, it will directly benefit local residents by helping them gain important employability skills and sector specific training that directly corresponds with our construction sites in Rotherham.”

“We hope to see our supply chain and local businesses hiring through this programme, which will in turn support their recruitment needs.”

Jason Austin, CEO and Principal, RNN Group, added: “This partnership with Esh is going from strength to strength and we are thrilled to be working with them on this innovative programme to support adults into work.”

“Our brand-new construction centre will play a huge part in this, which is one of the many reasons RNN Group worked to gain the government money needed to develop this facility knowing the importance of developing skills in our region and in this sector to support employers, our community and our local economy.”

Esh Group website
RNN Group website

Images: RNN Group

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News: Spotlight on efforts to turn former Rotherham cinema into a live music and community arts venue

A "maltreated" former theatre in Rotherham town centre could be about to take centre stage again as a community arts and dedicated live music venue.

Rothbiz reported last year on the former cinema known as the Essoldo building and Essoldo Chambers where letting documents showed that the proposal for "The New Empire Building" is to create "a music venue/bar/food court/co-working development with units of varying sizes."

The building on Ship Hill / High Street was built in 1913 as the Empire Theatre. It has since operated as a cinema, snooker hall and nightclub.

With Mark McGrail of SME Environmental Services and Branch Developments Ltd already working on the interior of the building, uncovering period features and layers of its past, a new community interest company (CIC) has been formed for when the work is complete, hopefully later this year.

A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. Expertise has been brought in with Chris Hamby (who led a heritage regeneration project on Rotherham's High Street) and David Plumtree (owner of Scunthorpe's top independent music and food venue, Cafe Indie). They join McGrail who has helped to regenerate the former Post Office and the George Wright building in Rotherham town centre.

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On the former Empire Theatre, the CIC said: "We plan to develop the building into a multi-purpose community arts venue catering for the people of Rotherham and South Yorkshire. Rotherham has a lack of venues and no dedicated live music venue. There are limited spaces where large groups of people can come together - for leisure, cultural and social purposes.

"Bringing the space into modern use will enhance the local offer, improve the artistic infrastructure of the town and offer new generations the opportunity to experience and participate in the arts."

Having looked at the same building, Rotherham Council has switched its focus to the Alma Tavern, which the authority owns, as a potential live music venue, backed by £4.5m of government funding.

This cinema building was designed by architects Chadwick and Watson, opening in 1913 under the name of the Empire Theatre. By 1929 it had become part of the ABC cinema chain and subsequently became part of the Essoldo chain in 1954. It became the Classic Cinema in 1972 and subsequently a Cannon Cinema in 1988 before closing in 1990 to become a nightclub and snooker club.

The last part of the building in operation was The Amber Lounge, a contemporary cocktail / champagne bar. It went by many names as a nightclub including New York, New York, Beach, Blu Bambu, Synergy, Pop and Hub.

The CIC added: "People from all over Rotherham have a memory of, and connection to, this building. Built in the early 1900s, the Rotherham Empire is of architectural importance - housing the first cantilever beams (designed by a local architect) that created the impressive 'Gods' - the building's uppermost balcony.

"Throughout its life it has been a theatre, a cinema and a leisure venue that different generations have engaged with, attended cultural events at, even met their spouses at or formed core memories in the space.

"Over the years it has fallen into disrepair and the building has been maltreated by previous owners. But recently, it has taken on by a loving owner keen to restore the Rotherham Empire to its former glory and have the building belong to the people of Rotherham.

"By unearthing the original features and working through a process of respectful, restoration we will celebrate the buildings heritage, re-engaging the community in the space and telling an important part of the story of Rotherham Town Centre. This will encourage the local community to explore and celebrate its history and feel more pride in their town and its resources."

A community open day, where visitors can also lend a hand with the clean up, is taking place on Saturday February 15, starting at 12.

Rotherham Empire on Facebook

Images: Google Maps / Branch Developments

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News: Parking concerns raised again over Rotherham hotel expansion plans

Concerns have been raised about the impact of restrictions on the car park at a Rotherham hotel where operators want to expand.

Rothbiz reported in 2024 that Premier Inn had identified a "considerable demand" for additional accommodation at its Rotherham East hotel in the Brecks area.

Eight years after the operator secured approval for a similar scheme, the latest proposal, drawn up by Walshingham Planning, is for a 4,800 sq ft two storey extension to the east of the current hotel. It would provide an additional 16 bedrooms but two current rooms would be lost to create a new corridor. It would take the total rooms at the site from 62 to 76.

2016 plans for an extension to the east was for a net increase of 21 bedrooms over three floors. It was approved despite objections regarding car parking and the impact on nearby businesses. However, the scheme was never built out.

The latest proposed development would lead to a net reduction of 15 car parking spaces but it is the recent introduction of time limited restrictions and charges at the car park that has led to Rotherham's highways department raising concerns.

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Nigel Davey, Highway Development Management Engineer at Rotherham Council explained that: "Since this [2016] application was approved, the owners of the hotel have introduced time limited restrictions on the car park(s) for those visitors to the restaurant, and additionally, there is now a car park charge for those visitors to the hotel. I note that the surrounding roads, with the exception of Bawtry Road, do not have any restrictions preventing parking.

"I have consulted with colleagues within the Council’s Transportation Unit, and they have indicated that the Council have received complaints made by the general public, regarding parking on Brecks Lane, which is adjacent to the application site."

Whitbread, which operates the hotel and adjoining pub / restaurant, has said that it has no intentions of amending the parking restrictions.

Highways are already concerned about parking on nearby residential roads and on the busy junction of Brecks Lane and Bawtry Road.

Davey concludes: "I am therefore concerned, that the effect of the car park management restrictions that have been introduced in conjunction with the application for the additional bedrooms at the hotel resulting in a loss of car park spaces should the application be approved, will result in additional vehicles parking on adjacent side roads, potentially having a detrimental effect on road safety and the amenity of nearby residents."

Premier Inn website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Unlimited free parking coming to Forge Island

When new food and beverage outlets open on Forge Island in Rotherham, customers will be able to park for free, Rotherham Council has decided.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema and a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel but new food outlets are yet to open.

The development includes a 340 space car park, operated by the council, that was created on the main site with the new buildings on a podium above.

The current strategy for parking at Forge Island offers free parking for hotel customers between the hours of 4pm and 10am. In addition, those customers using the cinema are offered concessionary free parking for a period of up to 3.5 hours.

Now Rotherham Council has admitted that this is confusing for customers and has vowed to change the rules to offer unlimited free parking for all paying customers of Forge Island businesses.

A council report explains that this is being done "in order to support the continuing increased usage of Forge Island."

Rothbiz revealed at the end of 2024 that Loungers UK Limited had applied for a premises licence for a unit at Forge Island, indicating that it would operate under the Lounge brand.

Rotherham Council has said negotiations with operators for the empty units were in advanced stages "with the most likely timescale for opening, following operator fit-outs, being Spring 2025."

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A new free parking offer for the first hour is being introduced in Council-operated car parks in the town centre, and this includes Forge Island. Free parking is already offered in the town centre at most Council Off-Street car parks on Saturdays and Sundays.

Customers of Forge Island businesses will need to validate free, unlimited parking through receipts. This is to ensure that the parking remains available for users of the site and is not adversely impacted by town centre events such as football matches at the nearby New York Stadium.

The car park currently uses an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, which registers number plates upon entry. A 30-minute concession period for drop-offs currently operates.

The report states: "In order to support the continuing increased usage of Forge Island, consideration has been given to promoting access to Forge Island through the parking tariffs associated with those visiting Forge Island businesses.

"Representations have been received in relation to confusion associated with tariffs for customers of Forge Island businesses and as a result, it is recommended that to simplify the system, anyone visiting a Forge Island business is granted free car parking."

The cost to the council for implementing the change has not been made clear but the report states that it "will significantly impact" on the ability to meet the approved revenue income budget of £209,000 in respect of car parking income at Forge Island, adding: "however, this needs to be balanced against the wider requirement to ensure that Forge Island is a commercial success and full occupation of the commercial units on Forge Island is achieved."

Any shortfall is set to be covered by existing budgets.

In November, Rothbiz reported that the Forge Island development was fully-funded by Rotherham Council for the purposes of regeneration of the town centre, not as a commercial venture.

Funding was confirmed on the basis that the scheme would pay for itself over the life of the development. It was projected to do so through a complex financial model which included provision for periods of time when some of the units could be empty.

Providing and update on Forge Island, Cllr. Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "I understand from figures over the Christmas period that the Arc has been one of the best performing cinemas from that particular chain, so that is particularly good news.

"We work continuously to fill the rest of the development. Efforts continue at a great pace. It is no exaggeration to say that on a daily basis we are having those discussions and negotiations to hopefully occupy those particular units, because we appreciate how important it is for the regeneration of the town - it is the flagship development in the town centre."

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / Simon-Dewhurst

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News: Parseq opens e-commerce warehouse at Rotherham HQ

Parseq, one of the UK’s largest independent managed service providers, today announced that it has repurposed almost 750,000 cubic feet of storage space at its Hellaby headquarters to meet growing demand from UK e-commerce companies for logistics and fulfilment support. Six e-commerce companies have already taken space in the new facility.

The new warehouse provides secure storage space for up to 6,500 pallets and a team of people available on-demand to support same-day dispatch of goods ordered before 4 pm. Parseq has automated large parts of its fulfilment processes to minimise costs for clients and integrated its warehouse management system with more than 60 e-commerce platforms — including eBay, Etsy, and Shopify — to automatically trigger shipping requests.

Parseq has opened its new facility to serve the growing number of small and medium-sized e-commerce companies operating in South Yorkshire and across the UK. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of UK retail sales were made online in 2024, and the rise of online shopping has driven an almost tenfold increase in UK e-commerce startups over the last decade. 73,000 new e-commerce businesses were registered at Companies House in 2024, more than 800 of which were based in South Yorkshire.

The facility is located near the M1/M18 interchange in an area of South Yorkshire that is now a significant logistics hub. Parseq’s proximity to distribution centres operated by Royal Mail and other courier companies provides a strategic location in the centre of the UK. From here, couriers can reach 95 per cent of the UK population within a 4.5-hour drive.

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Craig Naylor-Smith, CEO at Parseq, said: “The UK has become a nation of online shopkeepers, with growing numbers of online retail specialists in South Yorkshire and across the country. These are often small businesses, succeeding online but struggling for time and space to fulfil orders quickly.”

“With this new facility and the technology that underpins it, we offer a fast, flexible and affordable way for e-commerce companies to deliver any number of orders without expanding and hiring more staff, and without the complex and costly contracts that are common in warehousing and fulfilment.”

Parseq previously used its warehouse space to store millions of sensitive documents for public-sector organisations and major financial institutions. It continues to provide document storage, management, and digitisation services at its facilities in Rotherham, Runcorn, and Lisburn.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that a Belfast-based third party logistics operator that expanded into Rotherham had gone into administration. Selazar provided e-commerce fulfilment services and opened a 26,000 sq ft warehouse operation in October 2022 in partnership with Parseq.

Parseq website

Images: Parseq

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News: Legal challenge over Rotherham housing scheme

A power response firm has failed in a legal challenge over the approval of planning permission for a housing scheme near to its Rotherham operation.

Amalgamated Smart Metering Ltd, a subsidiary of Mercia Power Response, had taken its cause to the courts, arguing that Rotherham Council had acted unlawfully in granting outline planning approval for 120 residential units on the site of the former Midland Road bus depot.

Mercia claimed that the council had not informed them of the plans and so they could not make representations regarding potential noise conflicts.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Prospect Estates Ltd had submitted an application for the demolished site at Masbrough in 2023. The plans were approved in February 2024.

Mercia submitted a judicial review claim on July 17 2024 - outside of the six week time limit for such a claim. It was concerned that the introduction of a large scale housing development so close to its gas reciprocating flexible power generating facility would risk its existing operations and limit the scope for any future development.

Issues were raised regarding how the council alerts potential interested parties through letters, signage and local press notices, and its online planning portal and faulty online map search facility. The noise impact assessment submitted in support of the application was also argued to be deficient.

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At Leeds Combined Court the claimant stated that it had heard rumours and was "very concerned to discover the existence of the planning permission on 11 June 2024." However, the judge, Robert Palmer KC, ruled that it was clear from evidence that the firm had seen a 2023 article from Rothbiz in February 2024 "that could not be more explicit" in setting out that an outline planning application had been submitted.

Palmer said: "It was entirely clear – indeed the article could not have been more explicit – that an outline planning application had been made. Further, the article had provided significant detail as to the basis of the application. Despite all of this, the only reference to the contents ... was that it "referred to the prior approval of the demolition of the Development Site". This is a strikingly incomplete summary of its contents."

The judge was told by Mercia's lawyers that that is all that had been taken from the article at the time. Palmer added: "It is not clear why that should be so. It is difficult to understand why anyone could have been left in any doubt as to the existence of a recent outline planning application, which represented a separate and new application to the demolition application that had been previously approved.

"It therefore appears that the application would have been capable of discovery with minimal effort, had suitable searches been conducted at an earlier stage.

"The Claimant had had a fair opportunity to become aware of the proposed development, and could subsequently have objected to it [in time]."

The legal challenge was dismissed with the judge concluding that "there is no good or sufficient reason to extend time to make up for the claimant's delay."

The summary of the case also shows that Gleeson, the Sheffield-based urban regeneration and strategic land specialist, was poised to buy the site once outline planning permission was approved.

The site was purchased by Prospect Estates, and buildings demolished, for £1,8m. Gleeson had agreed terms for the site with planning permission for £3.2m.

Gleeson focuses solely on building low cost homes and only builds affordable homes. It has completed developments in Kilnhurst and Dalton.

Prospect Estates website
Mercia website

Images: Google Maps

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News: What is opening at Olive Lane?

The construction of Olive Lane, a retail mixed use development in Rotherham, is targeted for completion this month.

The plans proposed a new high street within the Waverley regeneration site which would incorporate retail, leisure, office, community uses, outdoor events and pop-up market stall spaces. The proposal also includes 50 residential units along with car parking, public realm and an improvement to existing public transport infrastructure.

In a scaling back of the plans, a 16,500 sq ft discount supermarket for the likes of Aldi and Lidl was taken out of the scheme and replaced by a 4,000 sq ft supermarket.

Rothbiz reported last year that Tesco Express would take the largest unit that is at the centre of the scheme which sits between the housing developments at Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Lindum Group is the lead contractor for regeneration specialists, Harworth Group.



Harworth has recently confirmed that the current occupier line up includes a Medical Centre, Tesco, Waverley Community Centre, Specsavers, Little Olives Nursery, Karobar Indian restaurant and Hall Court Vets.

A spokesperson from Harworth Group, said: "We know residents will be looking forward to making use of these amenities and enjoying what Olive Lane has to offer to the Waverley community. We are also currently in discussions with several other occupiers for the remaining few units.

"Our intention is for one of the units to be a pharmacy, to complement the medical centre at Olive Lane. We are in discussions with a pharmacy operator and they are currently in the process of securing an NHS license."

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Adjacent to Olive Lane is Sky-House Co's Waverley Central. It features 96 new homes in a series of house types based on the Sheffield house builder's concept inspired by the revival of Victorian and Georgian urban design principles.

The site includes two-bed starter homes, three and four bed mews and town houses and a range of larger detached homes with various tenures, with the first occupants already moving into their completed new homes.

Rebecca Prince, Head of Brand at Sky-House Co, said: "Waverley Central is our biggest development to date and we are delighted that we are now welcoming our first residents.

"Following the success of our two well-established Waverley sites, Waverley Central places us even more firmly at the very centre of the Waverley community."

Harworth has also provided an update on the new Marriott Hotel at Waverley where construction has stalled.

The company said: "While Harworth is the master developer of Waverley, we have not been leading on the development of this hotel. It is instead being constructed by another developer – Stapleford Ventures – which bought the piece of land where the hotel is situated from Harworth in 2021.

"We have been in discussion with Stapleford Ventures in recent months and are pleased to report that it will be resuming works on the hotel in the week commencing 27 January.

"Marriott remains committed to operating the hotel, although we are not yet able to confirm timings for the hotel being operational. We know the community will be looking forward to the hotel opening and will continue to keep residents informed on this."

Harworth website

Images: Lindum Group

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News: Vetro Lounge at Forge Island

A new neighbourhood bar planning to open at the Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham town centre, looks set to be called "Vetro Lounge."

Rothbiz revealed at the end of 2024 that Loungers UK Limited had applied for a premises licence for a unit at Forge Island, indicating that it would operate under the Lounge brand.

With recruitment underway, the updated job adverts now indicate what the new operation will be called.

Lounge, which currently operates at The Glass Works in Barnsley and Fox Valley in Sheffield, is operated by Loungers plc. The AIM-listed firm, which also operates the Cosy Club bar and dining concept, and Brightside roadside dining, is currently undergoing a buyout by an American investment group which places its value at £350.5m.

The company has secured the premises licence for the 5,618 sq ft Unit 4 at Forge Island, which is the largest of the remaining units.

The Lounge brand is designed to create "a home from home, offering delicious food and drinks, all day, on your doorstep." It is described as a neighbourhood café-bar combining elements of a restaurant, British pub and coffee shop culture. The offer includes breakfasts, brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks with a wide range including full kid's, gluten-free and vegan menus.

Lounges are principally located in secondary suburban high streets and small town centres and the estate has a consistent look and feel but each Lounge is individually named and tailored to the site and local area.

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Vetro means glass in Italian. Rotherham has a long history of glassmaking. Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751. The Glassworks Cone at Catcliffe is the oldest surviving structure of its type in Western Europe and one of only four to remain in the UK.

Roles that the company is advertising for the new opening in Rotherham include a general manager, assistant manager, head chef and sous chef. Like other new sites, it is expected that nearly £1m will be invested into the local area and around 30 new jobs are created.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema and a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel.

The latest update from Rotherham Council said that: "After a significant tenant for the food and drink units fell away, negotiations have taken place with alternative operators and are in advanced stages with the most likely timescale for opening, following operator fit-outs, being Spring 2025."

Lounge website
Forge Island website

Images: Loungers plc

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