News: Codename Canaveral - £2m for Rotherham investment zone project

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) have agreed to measures to speed up delivery in the South Yorkshire Investment Zone (IZ).

A £2m investment is in the pipeline for a "huge scale-up and reshoring" project in Rotherham.

In 2023, the region was confirmed as the UK's first investment zone, using success in advanced manufacturing to help make South Yorkshire the best place to start, scale or relocate businesses from around the world, boosting the UK economy.

Primarily focused on connecting Sheffield to Rotherham (where the research assets such as The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are already located), it is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and bring in £1.2bn worth of private investment by 2030.

Rothbiz highlighted the Rotherham sites that have been given IZ status where funding can be used to offer investors, developers and start-ups a combination of targeted support and financial interventions. £160m over ten years was confirmed in the 2023 Autumn Statement.

A recent SYMCA board paper showed that there has been a change from a ten-year funding programme to two annual funding pots, which has necessitated more of a focus on single year projects.

Projects so far has seen match funding drawn in at a ratio of 9:1 with £71m private investment for £8m IZ investment.

Featured projects include £3m towards £34.8m scheme to establish a flexible fund to encourage and accelerate development in the (IZ), and £375k for FerretWorks - an AMRC project to help mature and de-risk the formation of disruptive technology businesses.

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Earlier this year, Rothbiz revealed that an unnamed manufacturer was preparing to invest in a £21.3m expansion project in Rotherham, backed by a £2m grant via SYMCA.

Papers show that the project is known internally as "Canveral" with phase 1 in line for "£2m for a huge scale-up and reshoring of blade manufacturing."

SYMCA papers state: "The Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham is a cutting-edge supplier of high-value superalloy turbine blade castings for large civil jet engines. The investment is for tooling and precision machine tools to help to satisfy demand by uplifting blade output above the existing factory capacity."

An advisory group meets to provide guidance on investment with funding based on criteria including: strategic fit, value for money, match funding, deliverability, productivity growth, affordability, and innovation.

The SYMCA board has recently agreed to tailor their assurance procedure so smaller projects are not subjected to the same assurance process and timeline as multi-million pound schemes. It relates to funding for projects under £500k which SYMCA says would "speed up delivery whilst also having the right level of assurance."

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on SYMCA's support for support the Ultimate Battery Company's move to Rotherham with £5.2m in loans and grants. Due to issues encountered by the projects, the company has since ceased trading without the repayment of loans to the authority.

There is a £17m IZ budget for 2025-26 with all projects needed to be assured before acquiring approval.

South Yorkshire Investment Zone website

Images: Rolls-Royce

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News: JELD-WEN announce plans to relocate UK facility

JELD-WEN, a major UK door manufacturer with a facility in Rotherham, has announced plans to move to a new state-of-the-art facility to support its continued growth.

JELD-WEN is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of quality timber windows, external and internal doors, patio doors and stairs. It employs hundreds at the JELD- WEN UK production facilities at Woodhouse Mill, just inside the Rotherham border.

Having invested millions of pounds in production equipment over the last decade, the firm appears to have outgrown the Retford Road site and has signed a lease for Unit 3A, a new 294,000 sq ft state-of-the-art industrial and logistics facility at PLP Bessemer Park in Sheffield.

The company said that the new facility will allow it to obtain operational efficiencies in a modern, sustainable base, supporting its continued growth in the UK.

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Dom Gaffey, Vice President and General Manager, JELD-WEN UK, said “Securing this facility at PLP Bessemer Park is an important milestone for JELD-WEN UK. While the timeline for the relocation is still being finalised, this investment demonstrates a clear commitment to investing in the UK market, how we serve our customers, and how we continue to operate responsibly as an employer and community partner. The focus remains on sustaining the strong relationships JELD-WEN UK has with its customers and partners throughout this process.”

Bringing the development to 100% occupancy, this lease marks the final chapter in a series of successful lettings at Bessemer Park in Tinsley, all secured with blue-chip occupiers and with a strong emphasis on the manufacturing and advanced engineering sectors.

Hugh Chesterton, Development Director at PLP, commented: “PLP has taken a former steelworks brownfield and created a commercial park fit for ‘next generation’ manufacturing and logistics occupiers. We’re proud to welcome JELD-WEN to PLP Bessemer Park and to have completed this flagship regeneration project at full occupancy. The calibre of tenants we’ve attracted—each a blue-chip business with a strong manufacturing footprint—underscores the enduring appeal of Sheffield as a location for forward-looking industrial operations.”

Knight Frank, CBRE and CPP represented PLP. JELD-WEN UK were represented by JLL.

Founded in 1960, JELD-WEN has its global headquarters in Oregan, USA. It employs approximately 16,000 people across North America and Europe.

JELD-WEN UK website

Images: PLP

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News: Historic England objects to Rotherham hotel development

Historic England continues to raise objections with proposals to redevelop the remains of a former foundry on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Applicants say that the only viable way forward would involve some demolition.

Last month Rothbiz revealed that the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment had asked for further information regarding the removal of two of the buildings at the fire-damaged former Guest & Chrimes foundry.

Historic England say that the proposed loss of two out of three wings of the building "would cause a very high level of harm to the significance of the listed building."

A planning application was submitted in January for a new hotel development on the prominent site which is alongside Rotherham United's AESSEAL New York Stadium. Stewart Developments Ltd is seeking permission to convert and partly demolish the dilapidated existing Grade II listed building and link it to a new build property to create a new hotel.

The foundry use of the site ceased in 1990 and the building has been empty since 1999. A severe fire at the former brass and iron foundry in 2018 meant that the front portion was subsequently demolished.

The building remains Grade II listed and Historic England says that its significance largely lies with the ability to read the rapid expansion of a highly successful 19th century metal and brassworks in Rotherham, adding: "In spite of the loss of the more architecturally elaborate office block, we are able to read this story of expansion through the functional architecture of the remaining buildings."

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Plans show that the 51,074 sq ft hotel would have 138 bedrooms and include a restaurant and bar. The largest northern range is set to be refurbished so that the hotel main entrance is located directly beneath the water tower. A new L-shaped building is set to replace the other two remaining wings as the retention of fire damaged blocks is seen as unviable.

A structural report concluded that the wings planned for demolition "are not beyond repair and could be sensitively restored, should resources allow."

Applicants however say that the proposed hotel development and the demolition of two wings "is considered the only viable opportunity available to deliver beneficial use."

Alexander Harrison, Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas at Historic England, said: "It is important to understand fully whether or not retention, repair and conversion of these buildings could be viable. The viability assessments provided are based on estimates and not on accurate and robust condition surveys and costings for the reuse of the existing buildings. Therefore we cannot be certain from the information provided that retention is unviable, and that demolition has been proved necessary. The required clear and convincing justification is not considered to have been demonstrated by the additional information supplied by the applicant."

Consultants, White Land Strategies, looked at the options assessed for the redevelopment of the site in a bid to find a viable proposal that is deliverable, and where conservation is maximised / balanced. Included options ranged from having all three buildings retained, two buildings retained and one building retained.

Historic England wants to see these appraisals with the inspector adding that "the applicant has not demonstrated that a less harmful configuration of hotel use would be unviable."

On the benefits outweighing any harm, the inspector concludes: "It is not clear whether the applicant has been in discussion with any hotel operators and whether those operators have shown an interest in taking the site forward. Similarly it has not been demonstrated that thorough market research has been conducted to understand whether there is a demand and a viable business case for a mid-range hotel in Rotherham."

Images: Stewart Developments / stephenson hamilton risley STUDIO

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News: Maltby Solar Park plans submitted

Plans have come forward for another solar farm near Rotherham, an area where plans for the much larger Whitestone development cast a large shadow.

Infinis Solar Developments Ltd has submitted a planning application to construct a solar energy park at Holme Hall Quarry, Maltby Colliery.

Infinis is the UK’s leading generator of low carbon power from captured methane, capturing the gas from landfill sites and abandoned mines and convert it to electricity.

Although called Maltby Solar Park, the application site boundary covers approximately 17.76ha at Stainton, and crosses two local planning authority boundaries; Rotherham and Doncaster. The above ground development will solely be within Doncaster, the only development within Rotherham area will be underground cabling to the existing grid connection at Maltby Colliery.

The site forms part of the green belt and has been used for colliery spoil and is now capped off as part of a restoration scheme.

The plans for the solar park would involve 14.4ha of solar PV panels mounted on metal framework up to 3m high in rows and also inlcudes a battery energy storage system (BESS). It would be in operation for a period of up to 40 years.

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Applicants say that the site is "grey belt land" and that their approach is to develop on brownfield land that ensures other greenfield local spaces and agricultural land are retained.

ICP consultants for the applicant add that: "The proposed development reuses a previously disturbed site associated with Maltby Colliery and will operate for 40 years."

Some mitigation measures are included - 1.2ha new native tree and shrub planting, 770m new hedgerow, with retained woodland and scrub and 831m of enhanced native hedgerow for landscape mitigation and biodiversity.

Plans have recently been submitted for Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park with plans also being put together for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough.

Rothbiz has previously reported on Whitestone Solar Farm, which if constructed, would generate up to 750MW of energy, enough to power up to 250,000 homes. It would be the largest solar farm in Yorkshire and one of the largest in the UK.

Infinis website

Images: 3i / infinis

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