A regeneration project based around creating a live music venue in Rotherham town centre highlights the difficulties working with heritage buildings and public sector funding.
Support from the private sector is required if the project is to be realised.
Rothbiz reported in 2021 that the plan for the Guest & Chrimes site was to use £4.5m of the government's Town Deal funding to create a micro-brewery and fan zone at the former foundry which sits alongside Rotherham United's New York Stadium and further updates confirmed that a large music venue was in the plans.
However, later in 2022, the council confirmed that it was not able to reach an agreement with the football club and attention switched to another potential building and creating a live music venue in the former Empire Theatre on Ship Hill. In 2024 feasibility concerns with the Empire were such that attention moved to the another building, the remains of the Alma Tavern, a building now in council ownership.
But now it appears that similar feasibility issues have arisen with the Alma which is not a listed building (unlike the saved and re-opened Cutler's Arms next door) but is in severe disrepair following a fire and years of abandonment.
A council report confirms that £4.5m is not enough to bring the building back to life as a venue within the timeframe of the funding. It states: "Stage 2 designs have now been completed and the updated cost plan demonstrates a cost significantly in excess of the funding available. Therefore, while there are benefits of supporting music provision in the Town Centre, the costs of the project are proving prohibitive to the public sector.
"It is therefore proposed to seek private sector support for the project and the methodology for this is currently in review."
Government pathfinder funding is set to be moved away from the live music venue project to the health hub project reported by Rothbiz earlier this week.
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Plans for the Alma redevelopment were submitted to the council's planning department as part of pre-application discussions. The early plans explain that Chantry Brewery, the operators of the Cutlers and a music venue within its brewery at Parkgate, are the intended occupiers of a live music venue at the Alma.
Plans so far have looked at creating a music venue with a capacity of 500 - 600. Keeping the Alma's ornate facade and using it as an entrance and making use of the adjacent land, currently an MOT garage, were also assessed.
The preferred option in the sketchbook involves an L-shaped new building on land behind, and to the side of the Alma, creating a main entrance in the vacant pub, with the stage at the rear and the front of house (including bar and courtyard), back of house and a main standing area in between. Plans show seating and standing areas on the upper floor overlooking the stage, along with another bar and dressing rooms. External amenity space is shown at the back of the building.
In the time since the public sector looked at the historic buildings, redevelopment plans have been brought forward by the private sector.
At the Guest & Chrimes, a company connected to the owners of the football club has submitted a planning application to transform the historic former foundry into a high quality hotel.
At The Empire, renovation work is underway with possible uses including a multi-purpose community arts venue.
Alongside this, Rotherham Council set aside regeneration funding to undertake market testing and an options appraisal for the provision of a performing arts venue in Rotherham town centre as the current Civic Theatre building has challenges in terms of capacity, opportunity for growth and its general condition.
Images: RMBC / AHR
Support from the private sector is required if the project is to be realised.
Rothbiz reported in 2021 that the plan for the Guest & Chrimes site was to use £4.5m of the government's Town Deal funding to create a micro-brewery and fan zone at the former foundry which sits alongside Rotherham United's New York Stadium and further updates confirmed that a large music venue was in the plans.
However, later in 2022, the council confirmed that it was not able to reach an agreement with the football club and attention switched to another potential building and creating a live music venue in the former Empire Theatre on Ship Hill. In 2024 feasibility concerns with the Empire were such that attention moved to the another building, the remains of the Alma Tavern, a building now in council ownership.
But now it appears that similar feasibility issues have arisen with the Alma which is not a listed building (unlike the saved and re-opened Cutler's Arms next door) but is in severe disrepair following a fire and years of abandonment.
A council report confirms that £4.5m is not enough to bring the building back to life as a venue within the timeframe of the funding. It states: "Stage 2 designs have now been completed and the updated cost plan demonstrates a cost significantly in excess of the funding available. Therefore, while there are benefits of supporting music provision in the Town Centre, the costs of the project are proving prohibitive to the public sector.
"It is therefore proposed to seek private sector support for the project and the methodology for this is currently in review."
Government pathfinder funding is set to be moved away from the live music venue project to the health hub project reported by Rothbiz earlier this week.
Advertisement
Plans for the Alma redevelopment were submitted to the council's planning department as part of pre-application discussions. The early plans explain that Chantry Brewery, the operators of the Cutlers and a music venue within its brewery at Parkgate, are the intended occupiers of a live music venue at the Alma.
Plans so far have looked at creating a music venue with a capacity of 500 - 600. Keeping the Alma's ornate facade and using it as an entrance and making use of the adjacent land, currently an MOT garage, were also assessed.
The preferred option in the sketchbook involves an L-shaped new building on land behind, and to the side of the Alma, creating a main entrance in the vacant pub, with the stage at the rear and the front of house (including bar and courtyard), back of house and a main standing area in between. Plans show seating and standing areas on the upper floor overlooking the stage, along with another bar and dressing rooms. External amenity space is shown at the back of the building.
At the Guest & Chrimes, a company connected to the owners of the football club has submitted a planning application to transform the historic former foundry into a high quality hotel.
At The Empire, renovation work is underway with possible uses including a multi-purpose community arts venue.
Alongside this, Rotherham Council set aside regeneration funding to undertake market testing and an options appraisal for the provision of a performing arts venue in Rotherham town centre as the current Civic Theatre building has challenges in terms of capacity, opportunity for growth and its general condition.
Images: RMBC / AHR
So basically non of the mentioned projects will happen any time soon, meanwhile other towns get there developments and enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteIf Chantry are the intended occupiers should they not be paying towards the project?
ReplyDeleteAre you suggesting they haven't?
DeleteNo suggestion that they have in the article.
DeleteWell if I was connected to the chantry brewery,I'd firstly insist on council selling back the properties including the cutler's next door for a £1,council were happy bullying there way in buying them .
ReplyDeleteI didn't think Chantry owned the Cutlers just Tennants.
DeleteThe Cutlers was owned by a property company think the brewery just leased it....the Council bought it off the property company ...not sure were bullying comes into it.
DeleteAre you saying sell it back to the property company that owned it before for a £1?....that would be pretty stupid surely?
DeleteWell whoever owners were ,council bullied them into a compulsory purchase,so like I said , chantry should offer a £1 ,means as council can't pay for development
ReplyDeleteSo the council pay ...say a couple of 100k for the property and you want them to give it to the brewery for a £1.....that's not how it works I'm afraid...infact that's the most laughable thing I've read.
DeleteOut of the proposed plans surely this has to happen, they want to build houses to the rear so noise from the current Cutlers will surely be an issue, I hope something can get resolved.
ReplyDeleteTennants still on the GO?
ReplyDeleteThink its a Scottish reference.
DeleteWhy don’t they simply redirect the funds to the Empire venue, which I believe would be a larger and more suitable venue. Private finance is already in action here?
ReplyDeleteIs it feasible to redirect the funds to the Empire music venue project? A larger and more suitable venue, where Private sector money is already being invested?
ReplyDelete