News: Whitestone - the £600m planned investment in Rotherham that would create just 39 long term jobs

Planning documents for one of the largest solar farms in the country have been published - all 159 of them.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Whitestone has been given a cost estimate of between £500m and £600m. It is being promoted by Green Nation but operates under Net Zero One Ltd.

Initial consultation documents from Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northern site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites that are included in the proposed solar farm development are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A three month pre-examination stage has now begun looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage. This next stage is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies and people whose land is directly affected can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

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Documents include numerous environmental statements on things like Landscape and Visual Impact (LVIA), contaminated land and transport, plus outline strategies for landscape and ecology management, surface water drainage and Public Right of Way (PROW) management.

However, much of the details are not yet known. Developers want to "maintain flexibility in the design" and instead specify parameter ranges, including details of the maximum, and minimum, size (footprint, width, and height, technology,) and locations of the different elements of the proposed development.

Plans also show that the developers are enacting a compulsory acquisition of land.

Applicants also say that they are proposing a large scheme due to its bulk generation potential and connection to the national grid that means that benefits are felt more widely. It discounts brownfield and rooftop sites due to thier unsuitability and related "ownership, occupation, and upkeep" issues.

On employment, planning documents say that: "During construction, it is anticipated that there would be 1,616 FTE jobs created as a result of direct, indirect and induced employment opportunities and that 538 of these would be from the local Study Area. Once operational, impacts on local labour market arising from operational and maintenance jobs would be more limited but still present, with 39 FTE direct, indirect and induced jobs created."

Promoters of the scheme, which they want to operate for 60 years, say that the proposed development is located on "grey belt land because the site does not strongly contribute to Green Belt purposes" but go on to say that "even if this position is not accepted, there are Very Special Circumstances that clearly outweigh any harm identified in terms of the five Green Belt purposes."

The applicants conclude: "The significant need for low carbon electricity generation infrastructure to meet the government’s decarbonisation objectives, and wider environmental benefits of the proposal, including the significant increase in BNG and creation of new permissive paths locally, would outweigh any harm identified to the Green Belt."

Rotherham Council does not agree that the site is "grey belt" stating that "this part of the Borough performs an important strategic and local function as open countryside in a relatively densely populated area, helping to maintain separation between settlements, prevent encroachment into the countryside and preserve a sense of openness."

Rotherham Council and the local MPs have raised issues with the scheme's consultation.

Rothbiz has detailed the issues raised by Rotherham Council with the Whitestone proposals.

Whitestone website

Images: Pexels / Giant Asparagus

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News: Rotherham Council raises issues with Whitestone solar proposals

Rotherham Council's issues with a massive solar farm proposed in the borough have been published.

Plans have moved to the next stage for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Local councils are statutory consultees for NSIPs and a report on Rotherham Council's issues with the proposals has been published with the application documents.

At the earlier stage, the council has commented on 18 separate issues. Proponents of the scheme, Green Nation, address how the latest submission relates to the earlier issues raised.

On the use of Green Belt land, Rotherham Council set out that the solar farm conflicts with the Rotherham Local Plan and national policies, in that "the development would introduce substantial built form and industrialising features into land intended to remain open and to safeguard the setting and separation of settlements."

In response, promoters of the scheme say that the proposed development is located on "grey belt land because the site does not strongly contribute to Green Belt purposes" and go on to say that "even if this position is not accepted, there are Very Special Circumstances that clearly outweigh any harm identified in terms of the five Green Belt purposes."

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Rotherham Council has also raised issue with the loss of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land which it says is "valuable not only because of its productive capacity for food and other crops, but also because it forms part of a finite soil resource and supports the long-term resilience of rural land use within the Borough."

Applicants argue that the scheme is set to operate for 60 years so any loss is temporary.

On the issue of lifespan, Rotherham Council has raised the issue of the 60 year timescale given that national policy is 40 years. The council said: "Even if the development is technically reversible at the end of its life, the Council considers that reversibility after 60 years substantially reduces the practical weight that can be attached to "temporary" effects in the planning balance.

The council adds that the operation is likely to span more than one generation and that a more nuanced approach would be needed, It said that the "applicant has not yet demonstrated why a 60-year operational life is justified."

Applicants say that in "recent decisions the Secretary of State has confirmed that the 60- year consent lifespan is ""temporary and reversible for the majority of the land.""

Concern has also been raised relating to the "scale, concentration and persistence of significant landscape and visual effects", particularly the impact on settlements such as North Anston, Wickersley, Ulley and Harthill, and various public rights of way and recreational routes. Issues have also been raised with the submitted Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA).

Rotherham Council is also concerned about the harm to the setting of heritage assets and have asked for a robust assessment of setting impacts, including cumulative effects.

The authority is also unhappy with the inclusion of the Local Wildlife Site at Brampton Common within the limits of the scheme. Though applicants say that it is "not being managed to achieve the objectives for which it was designated," a strategy for enhancements has been drafted.

On Biodiversity Net Gain, a way of creating and improving natural habitats, Rotherham Council said that "expressing an intention to achieve a 10% minimum gain does not go far enough." BNG is not currently a legal requirement for NSIPs but applicants say that updated plans show that BNG metrics have calculated that area habitat units would see a 42.52% gain, hedgerow units, a 44.47% gain, and watercourse units, a 10.11% gain.

Rotherham Council has also raised concerns regarding the suitability and capacity of the proposed substation and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) location, along with issues regarding highways, drainage, glint and glare effects arising from solar panels, noise, and how the proposed cable corridor would interact with areas of landfill and potentially contaminated land.

Rotherham Council will now need to digest the 159 planning documents published with the application.

A three month pre-examination stage has now begun looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage. This next stage is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies, and people whose land is directly affected, can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

Images: Pexels / Vitaliy Bratkov

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News: New openings in Rotherham town centre

A range of new food outlets and a play cafe are the latest openings in Rotherham town centre where current traders are also taking on new premises.

At Forge Island, the town's £47m leisure development, a new Smoke & Pepper franchise has opened a modern, vibrant, and flavour-driven restaurant.

Rothbiz reported in June that Rotherham Council had confirmed the letting for Unit 1, a 2,500 sq ft unit next door to Arc Cinema.

The menu includes smoked meats, loaded dishes and indulgent comfort food, designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. This includes top chef-quality burgers and succulent flame grilled chicken, famous flavourful loaded fries and crispy fried wings and tenders tossed in signature sauces. Smoke & Pepper is also known for bringing the thickest shakes in town, thirst quenching mojitos and freshly baked divine milk cakes.

Across town, a unique independent cafe has brought a Brazilian flavour to the heritage High Street.

Little Rio Cafe at 20 High Street offers authentic Brazilian speciality coffee and freshly baked goods and traditional snacks.

A wide-ranging menu features Brazilian favourites such as pasteis (pastries) and coxinha (croquettes) plus desserts like brigadeiro, a Brazilian chocolate truffle. Larger meals include Brazilian breakfasts, acai bowls, various traditional corn couscous dishes and tapioca crepes.

The independent business has utilised support from RiDO via the Launchpad scheme and to introduce the new flavours to the community, Little Rio has also been hosting Authentic Brazilian Colonial Breakfasts on Sundays.

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On nearby Moorgate Street, a former estate agents has been transformed into a play cafe with a soft play area.

Wiggle & Wonder is described as an indoor play experience and family cafe "beautifully designed for little explorers and the people who love them."

Re-imagining the traditional soft play experience to be less chaotic and loud, the new opening focuses on active early-years development and genuine relaxation for parents, grandparents, and carers.

Wiggle & Wonder offers bookable designated play sessions throughout the week. The cafe and viewing area makes it just as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the children.

Within the Grade II listed Imperial Buildings, the latest opening is set to bring something sweet to the prominent Victorian mixed-use site.

From the team at Chaii Street on Westgate, Cafe Treats is due to open soon at Unit 4.

Pokilee's CardCade has recently opened at its new location on Howard Street when hundreds of loyal Pokemon fans queued up to visit the store on opening day.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year that plans were approved for a change of use at 14 Howard Street, a former Argos store, as the new venue includes a shop, cafe and family friendly arcade.

With the opening of the new Market Hall this month, 37 independent businesses have found a temporary new home. Rotherham Council says that 96% of the stalls are let, with everything from fruit and veg and fresh meat to clothing, jewellery and more on offer.

Smoke & Pepper website
Little Rio Cafe facebook page
Wiggle & Wonder website
Cafe Treats facebook page
Pokilee's CardCade website
Rotherham Markets website

Images: RiDO / LinkedIn

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News: Priority projects for Rotherham Gateway regeneration scheme

Rotherham Council is using a twin track approach to progress key projects in the first phase of the masterplan for the proposed new mainline station in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported on the 20-year masterplan for Rotherham Gateway last year which showed how a transport improvement scheme can act as the catalyst for a much wider £300m regeneration project supporting thousands of new jobs.

Integrated with a new tram-train stop, the station would bring faster rail connections. A new mainline rail station at Forge Way would deliver faster links to Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, and Doncaster, unlocking wider regional and national connectivity. The aim is for journey times to Leeds to be cut from 60 minutes to 30 minutes and to be 75 minutes to Birmingham.

Station opening has been pencilled in for "late 2030" with the four-phase masterplan showing two platforms, with passive provision for four, to support future growth.

A phased approach starts with the Station Quarter, on land which is currently Northfields Business Park, which features the mainline station, tram-train station, public realm, car parking, northern access via new bridges, and the station anchor building - essentially covering the development of the station core area.

Outside the core area, an active travel route along Effingham Street will connect the town centre to the station as Phase 1a.

A Rotherham Council report states: "To maintain momentum and ensure the alignment of phase 1 schemes, the Council proposed utilising Gainshare funding. This will fund the three priority workstreams, plus resource capacity."

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Gainshare funding refers to the money committed to South Yorkshire through the Devolution Deal agreed by the Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), South Yorkshire local authorities and government.

The development of the three priority projects will cost over £2m.

£400,000 is being used to develop the outline designs for the space surrounding the station. The plans "will ensure the Station area is a welcoming transit interchange with good design and high-quality public realm that will create a ‘sense of place’ and act as a gateway into Rotherham."

£624,000 is set aside for work on the Innovation Gateway Anchor Building. A council report states: "This should be a high-quality, flagship building of architectural merit with an anchor tenant to act as a gateway into Rotherham. It would also be an anchor building for the Innovation Campus and incorporate the required station facilities into the ground floor."

£1.03m is for the full design of an Effingham Street Masterplan and Active Travel Route. A comprehensive scheme has been proposed that would incorporate a new cycle / footbridge, landscape improvements, Active Travel provision, and improved pedestrian crossings. A 20 minute walk from the town centre, the plan is to complement the tram-train stop at the new station site and enable commuters to connect quickly and easily into the town centre.

Recruitment recently got underway for the project team including a Land Acquisition Project Manager, a Rail Project Manager and a Station & Public Realm Project Manager. Further consultants are set to be appointed with timetables showing that project design work on the early phases will continue to December 2027.

The work is to support and compliment the Full Business Case which has already secured £11.38m via SYMCA for its development. £10m was previously secured for land acquisition.

Further phases of the masterplan involve the creation of an innovation campus on plots of land near the station, and the introduction of new housing in the area.

Rotherham Gateway station website

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham shortlisted to become first UK Town of Culture

From nearly 400 bids, Rotherham has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture, reports Visit Rotherham.

Visit Rotherham reported on a bid to the national competition last week.

Adding to the UK City of Culture, the competition is open to small, medium and large towns, with the winner delivering a vibrant cultural programme. Showcasing towns’ local visions and voices - through new arts venues, performances, workshops and more - this competition brings local investment, creates a lasting sense of pride in towns, and opens doors to the arts for everyone.

From 398 bids, Rotherham has made it into the final 15 towns still in the running to host the programme year.

It comes on the back of Rotherham's landmark year as the world's first Children's Capital of Culture in 2025, a pioneering, award-winning programme that put young people at the heart of arts, culture and creativity.

Rotherham's bid focuses on the real-life stories of place, saying: "We come from the England people don't put on postcards. We became the town people told stories about. The next chapter is where we stop asking whether Rotherham deserves a better future and start writing it."

Rotherham’s cultural offer is strengthened by a diverse network of organisations working both independently and in partnership. These include literacy charity Grimm & Co, which is set to become the national centre for folk and fairy tales, Flux Rotherham, part of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme, which works alongside communities across the borough to increase participation in arts and culture, and ROAR, which provides vital support for independent artists and creatives.

Together with major visitor attractions such as Magna Science Adventure Centre and Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park, they contribute to an increasingly confident cultural environment.

Rotherham's outdoor venues further strengthen that landscape, including the award-winning Clifton Park, Rother Valley Country Park which has recently seen major investment, and Wentworth Woodhouse, one of Britain's grandest stately homes, which has become a major cultural and tourism destination following significant restoration work. In 2025, the historic estate welcomed thousands of visitors when it hosted the prestigious RHS Flower Show.

Rotherham's bid says: "Our Rotherham - and your nation - isn't defined by its past. It's driven by it. Join us as we become your UK Town of Culture."

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: "The shortlisting for UK Town of Culture 2028 is great news for Rotherham and great recognition of the hard work over many years of the whole partnership. From becoming the world's first Children's Capital of Culture to the Women's Euros and our growing local events programme, Rotherham has shown how cultural events can inspire people and bring communities together. Our bid was based not on some abstract art, but on the real experience of our community, the people who live here, and the highs and lows we've been through together.

"We have an incredible story to tell - and not necessarily the story others might impose on us. It's supported by iconic landmarks such as Wentworth Woodhouse and Clifton Park to events like the Rotherham Show that are woven into the fabric of our lives. This shortlist is a tribute to everyone who contributes to making Rotherham such a vibrant and welcoming place."

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom, said: “Rotherham wears its Yorkshire identity with real pride, and they’re rightly proud of their incredibly rich cultural life. Like so many of our great industrial towns, its strength comes from that deep sense of community and from the creativity of the people who call it home. I'm very excited to see how Rotherham makes its case to be the first ever UK Town of Culture.”

15 towns will now compete for the inaugural UK Town of Culture 2028 title. The shortlisted towns are:

Small towns: Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward
Medium towns: Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot
Large towns: Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham

Shortlisted towns will now receive £60,000 each to finalise their bids, which will explain how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling, empower their local communities and provide more accessible culture in their local area.

From these fifteen shortlisted towns, an independent panel will recommend the best small, medium and large town from the full applications they receive. An overall winner from these three towns will be designated the “UK Town of Culture 2028” and receive a £3m grant from the government. The additional two towns, from the other two categories, will be selected as finalists and receive £250,000 each to carry out part of their programme.

The winner will go on to host a season of culture in 2028, which will help them to deliver a long-lasting legacy of cultural participation and local pride as has been seen in previous winners of the UK City of Culture competition; Derry-Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017, Coventry 2021 and Bradford 2025.

Chair of the independent panel, Sir Phil Redmond said: "The response to the competition has been, to say the least, overwhelming, quite literally from all four corners of the UK. It has been fantastic that nearly 400 towns have come forward, sharing their sense of pride, ambition and desire to demonstrate how much they have, and continue to contribute to our national story.

"That of course has made making the decision on the shortlist itself much more difficult, never mind the actual winners.

"I look forward to visiting those towns that have made the list and I am sure that, just like City of Culture, those that didn’t manage it will have found the experience of taking part worthwhile in strengthening partnerships, raising awareness and reminding us all of the depth and spread of the UK’s cultural landscape. I’d like to thank them all for that."

Images: Children's Capital of Culture

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