News: Proposed new Rotherham apartment block "too high" says council
Plans to create 16 luxury apartments in Rotherham town centre are at risk of being refused after the council's heritage planner deemed the proposed new building to be too high.
Rothbiz reported at the start of 2025 on plans to knock down a prominent matchday pub and replace it with a new-build block of flats.
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 quality residential and mixed use developments. The latest plans are for a bar at the back of the old Post Office, once used to store the vehicles for the workers.
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.
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, next to the former Post Office.
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A response to the plans has now been made by Matt Peck, Assistant Development Manager & Conservation, Planning, Regeneration & Transport Service at Rotherham Council.
He states: "The building is historic and architectural interest [sic], and though unlisted, is a building of character within the Rotherham Town Centre Conservation Area.
"Overall, with regards to the scale and massing of the proposed residential block of flats, it appears to be largely within character with the approved and extent scheme to the left on Domine Lane and the building across the road. However, the scale and massing does dominate the former Post Office Building on the corner of Domine Lane and Main Street.
"My view is that the height of the building should be reduced by two stories to the west elevation. However, it could step upon the northern elevation to be more in line with the approved building to left. This would bring the height and scale and massing away from the remaining historic former Post Office."
A decision on the planning application has yet to be made. Applicants, SME Holdings, are being asked to reduce the height of the building and also to provide more justification for the loss of the building.
A viability assessment already shows how current build costs would exceed a total gross development value.
Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, has also responded to the application and has decided to not offer advice in this case. Rotherham Council planners subsequently asked Historic England if they assessed the impact of the height of the proposed building on views of the Grade I Minster nearby.
Historic England concluded: "As part of our review of this case we did consider the setting of the Minster and considered that based on the information received we had no concerns relating to the height of the proposal."
Images: Google Maps / Just Architecture
Rothbiz reported at the start of 2025 on plans to knock down a prominent matchday pub and replace it with a new-build block of flats.
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 quality residential and mixed use developments. The latest plans are for a bar at the back of the old Post Office, once used to store the vehicles for the workers.
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.
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, next to the former Post Office.
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A response to the plans has now been made by Matt Peck, Assistant Development Manager & Conservation, Planning, Regeneration & Transport Service at Rotherham Council.
He states: "The building is historic and architectural interest [sic], and though unlisted, is a building of character within the Rotherham Town Centre Conservation Area.
"Overall, with regards to the scale and massing of the proposed residential block of flats, it appears to be largely within character with the approved and extent scheme to the left on Domine Lane and the building across the road. However, the scale and massing does dominate the former Post Office Building on the corner of Domine Lane and Main Street.
"My view is that the height of the building should be reduced by two stories to the west elevation. However, it could step upon the northern elevation to be more in line with the approved building to left. This would bring the height and scale and massing away from the remaining historic former Post Office."
A decision on the planning application has yet to be made. Applicants, SME Holdings, are being asked to reduce the height of the building and also to provide more justification for the loss of the building.
A viability assessment already shows how current build costs would exceed a total gross development value.
Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, has also responded to the application and has decided to not offer advice in this case. Rotherham Council planners subsequently asked Historic England if they assessed the impact of the height of the proposed building on views of the Grade I Minster nearby.
Historic England concluded: "As part of our review of this case we did consider the setting of the Minster and considered that based on the information received we had no concerns relating to the height of the proposal."
Images: Google Maps / Just Architecture
24 comments:
And there we have it,as I've said a thousand times terrified of building above 4 storeys and the usual Minster used as excuse,funny York and other towns/city's with far more important grand buildings than minster don't have a problem with building high?.Toy town council!
"My view is that the height of the building should be reduced by two stories to the west elevation. However, it could step upon the northern elevation to be more in line with the approved building to left. This would bring the height and scale and massing away from the remaining historic former Post Office." How is this using the Minster as an excuse? The reasoning is around the height vs. the neighbouring Post Office building, and it seems a sensible suggestion to alter the elevation to reduce next to the Post Office and step to the north.
I was bored before I even read that. Did you copy and paste it from last time?
You've probably not said it a thousand times - it just feels like it
A well thought out and articulate comment. It will be beyond some on here though.
Including MiniMe
I don’t think Mr Peck has much credibility when he doesn’t even know the plural of storey is storeys, not stories!
Just demolish the post office building,that's what would happen anywhere else,only Rotherham seems to hold onto c*** buildings of little importance,that stops proper development (Look at the eyesore Guest and Chrimes building).One of reasons is light years behind other local towns/cities and frankly a laughing stock,as said above 'Toytown' And I'm from Rotherham!
Dosn't alter fact that points made are true.Why are they terrified of building higher?And why is Minster regularly used as a blocking point?
Luxury apartments.Council would probably prefer a HMO to house some of those people it gets a few extra pounds to take off central government to take.
Luxury apartments and Rotherham Town Centre - now there's two phrases you don't see very often in the same sentence!
Have any of you who object to this actually fed into the planning application online?
Shouldn't you be in bed if you have school in the morning?
Too much like hard work. Much easier to just let things happen and moan about them afterwards.
Not this, because I have no strong feelings either way, However I objected to the recent HMO in the old Greenwoods building but as I expected it made no difference.
I went on a mass "Rotherham Against HMOs" march to the Town Hall but the other guy didn't turn up.
It's a bit like saying Eastwood Spa.
Mum says I can stay up if I promise to keep away from Manvers
If your objection against the HMO made no difference it is probably because you're view was in the minority and no one else objected.
Probably but at least I tried to object in the proper manner rather just moaning into the ether about it like most people.
And if you read the article on it, that wasn’t the reason it was passed.
I don't believe my view WAS in the minority. I know for a fact that a guy in the barbers and a bloke in the County agree with me that HMOs should be built in Mexborough not Rotherham
And certainly not near the Brecks. We are a local pub for local people
Actually, I'd prefer to see the HMO next door to you, seeing as you have no problem with them.
As I live a few doors away from you, you need to be careful what you wish for
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