News: Swim school looking to make a splash with new Rotherham location

A family run business is hoping that the planning process will all go swimmingly as it looks to expand into another Rotherham location.

Super Swimmers was established in 2009 and initially the swim school operated through hire of public and private pools for children’s lessons. it now operates from two of its own locations - Dinnington in Rotherham, and Rossington Hall in Doncaster.

The company has now identified Unit 4 Phoenix Riverside at Templeborough to help address the substantial waiting lists in the area for the type of one on one swimming lessons they offer.

Rothbiz reported on the development back in 2020 and the unit was completed in 2023 but has remained vacant ever since.

As the site is designated for industrial and business use, an application is required to change the use of the 5,740 sq ft unit so that it can be used as a swimming pool.

Rotherham Council raised initial concerns regarding the loss of industrial space that would generate employment.

A sequential test has not been submitted. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.

Plans include the pool and plant rooms being built on a raised platform, plus a reception/café area with viewing to the pool area, changing rooms and toilets.

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Operating hours are shown as 8am to 7.30pm weekdays and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4.30pm. In the week, morning sessions would be for adults, afternoon sessions for local schools and children's lessons in the evenings.

With 11 spaces at the unit, plans say that car parking would be sufficient for the staff and customers and operators add that: "they would work alongside the local businesses closing who have agreed for us to use their facilities and the pub car park."

If approved, it is anticipated that 25 to 30 people would be employed at the new pool in a variety of roles including water-based assistants, teachers and administration, management and cleaning personnel.

Directors Ryan Plant and Rachel Turner state in the plans: "Throughout the transition from hirer to owner, we have developed our business models to ensure we are able to provide a positive impact on the local community, provide jobs to the local area and become a popular choice for this important lifelong skill for all our pupils.

"Our business teaches a life skill and is in a sector that is poorly accommodated in a relatively low-income area. We provide affordable life skill lessons with 16 successful years of evidence to support this. We would also be able to offer the local schools a solution to lesson offering for pupils and assist with carbon footprint due to the locality of our premises.

"We are very passionate about our business and the growth of this in areas that we feel would benefit from what we offer."

Super Swimmers website

Images: Super Swimmers / CPP

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News: New Rotherham retail development filling up as dentist next on the waiting list

Changes are being made at a new retail development in Rotherham to enable a dentist to take space that was initially earmarked for offices.

Olive Lane opened earlier this year at Waverley and signing up to the scheme is a Tesco store, vets, nursery and restaurants. A medical centre and community centre are part of the plans.

The urban shopping and leisure development on Highfield Spring, part of Harworth’s complete redevelopment of the former mining site, totals 11 retail units and a medical centre and will serve the current community of more than 2,500 residents and around 1,700 homes, expected to rise to 8,000 people and more than 3,000 homes by 2029.

A planning application has been approved relating to a new build block of commercial units that was sold off by Harworth to developers before work began.

Sky House Co., the Sheffield-based housing developer bringing forward the adjacent Waverley Central scheme, applied to make changes to unit G2. The plans show the building split into three units with one set to be occupied by a dental practice.

The officer's report explains the reasons for the change: "This application now seeks to use Unit G3 as a dentist (use class E e) instead of offices, as this particular Use Class was not listed in the original permission this application seeks approval to allow Unit G3 to be used for that use."

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As previously reported by Rothbiz, the unit was originally earmarked to be the new Sky-House Office headquarters, who at the time of the original application had 30 and 35 members of staff and intended to grow the business. However, since then plans explain that "working practices have altered and continue to evolve such that far more employees now routinely work from home or from other locations."

Sky-House now only require about half the available floorspace to meet their operational requirements in the building which is nearly completely constructed on site.

The report adds: "The applicant also notes that they have been unable to secure demand that would secure commercial use of the unit, however, in contrast there is confirmed market demand from a prospective purchaser to use the unit as a dental practice (Use Class Ee) and to deliver the social and economic benefits for the local community and for Waverley as a whole. They go on to note that there is a national shortage of dentists and access to dental services, as well as within the Waverley area, as such the provision of a dentist would be a community asset.

"The proposed dentist would create ten or more full time jobs as well as approximately ten part time jobs, and customers to the practice would increase footfall to other businesses on Olive Lane."

The plans were approved without going before Rotherham Council's planning board. The planner concluded: "After discussions with Rido [Rotherham Investment & Development Office] it is concluded that there is no demonstrated demand for offices in this location.

"It is therefore not considered that the loss of this office space would have a significant detrimental impact on the supply of office accommodation in this locality or in the Borough as a whole. Additionally, it is noted that the provision of a dentist within the unit would be beneficial to the local community. It has been requested that a condition be attached to ensure that the dentist is an NHS dentist, however it is not considered that this is acceptable."

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on plans that would enable My Dentist (GB) Limited to open at a vacant unit at Parkgate Shopping.

Sky-House Co. website

Images: Harworth

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News: Mexican multinational invests in UK production creating 100 jobs in Rotherham

A viral TikTok snack is being made in Rotherham with a multinational firm expanding into an empty warehouse alongside its existing facility in the north of the borough.

A local recruitment firm says that the move is creating over 100 jobs across various roles.

Takis, the cult snacking brand known for its extreme heat and intense flavours, has had its rolled tortilla chips inspired by taquitos available in the UK for four years and work started in 2024 on a new production line at Swinton Meadows in Rotherham.

The industrial estate is the location of the New York Bakery Co production facility, one of the largest bagel production factories in the world. The bagel factory's owners, Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, itself recognised as the largest baking company in the world, took over the warehouse next door that was vacated when motorhome manufacturer, Autocruise, ceased production here.

The use of the 59,000 sq ft building has been under wraps but now a planning application shows that it is for the production of Takis snacks.

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Plans, drawn up by consultants at [PS]K Design, state: "The Proposed Development is a fundamental part of Grupo Bimbo business strategy in the UK.

"In recent history the site has been owned by Grupo Bimbo with the aim of creating a new production line for their "Takis" crisps in the UK.

"The proposed works are necessary to adapt the existing building and bring it back into use. The design and appearance of the proposed development is appropriate to the industrial setting and will not be prominent in views from outside of the site. The proposed development will create new jobs both while the proposed works are carried out and afterwards."

The plans include a new goods in/out dock, new external plant and exhaust flues, an extension to east side of the main building to store ready to use pallets and an extension to the south side of the main building to house new plant. The installation of two oil tanks, including the construction of a bund wall to contain any spillage, is also in the plans.

The application also shows that work started in September 2024 and was completed in March 2025. The new production line involves taking the crisp from flour to cooking, to seasoning, to boxing.

Rotherham-based Elevation Recruitment is supporting the project and its recent job advert for a Maintenance Engineer says: "Elevation Recruitment Group is thrilled to partner with Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company, in launching their brand-new, state-of-the-art Takis factory in Rotherham.

"Grupo Bimbo operates in over 33 countries and is bringing the production of their globally renowned snack, Takis, to the UK for the first time! This new facility represents a significant investment in the UK market and will create over 100 jobs across various roles.

"The launch of this facility in Rotherham is an exciting milestone, making Takis more accessible to UK consumers."

Takis was launched by Barcel Snacks, another Grupo Bimbo company. Takis has earned a cult following among snack enthusiasts around the globe. Originating in Mexico, these fiery snacks include flavours such as Fuego, Dragon Sweet Chilli and Blue Heat. Products are available in covenience stores and the likes of Aldi, Morrisons and Co-op.

Takis website

Images: Takis / Facebook / Google Maps

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News: Work begins on Thrybergh Country Park revamp

Work is underway on a café refurbishment project and outdoor landscaping at a country park in Rotherham.

The café upgrade – set to be completed this winter - will transform the aging building at Thrybergh Country Park into a modern lakeside hub with improved indoor and outdoor seating, better access, and upgraded facilities.

Rothbiz reported last month on local firm O&P Construction had been appointed as the main contractor by Rotherham Council.

The project has been given a budget of £789,873 and is being funded by a £19.9m package of investment secured by the Council from the Government’s Pathfinder funding.

Improvements include a new kitchen, an updated interior, a new outdoor terrace and fully accessible toilets and entrances.

The café will also feature modern design elements that blend with the park’s natural surroundings, while visitors with a sweet tooth are in for a treat, as the new café will serve ice cream.

While the work is underway, a temporary café service will operate at the nearby Tutti Fruitti ice cream parlour, so visitors can still enjoy refreshments during their visit.

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The work at Thrybergh is part of the Council’s wider aim to build a thriving leisure offer and visitor economy in Rotherham.

Cllr Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Safety and Street Scene, said: “Thrybergh Country Park is one of our most loved green spaces, and this investment will help it reach its full potential as a welcoming, accessible destination for residents and visitors alike.

“The café refurbishment is just one example of how we’re forging ahead and enhancing our local attractions to support wellbeing and Rotherham’s growing visitor economy, by creating jobs and encouraging more people to spend time - and money - in our borough.”

In addition to the work at Thrybergh, the £19.9m package is being used to create a new café at Rother Valley Country Park, transform part of Wentworth Woodhouse’s Grade I listed stable block to include a new commercial kitchen, café and events space, while Magna has benefited from exhibition upgrades and an improved visitor experience.

The investment has also led to the creation of Skills Street at Gulliver's Valley Resort and a new incubator space at the former Maltby Grammar School.

A larger project was initially planned for Thrybergh with £2.5m plans for a new café building, but they were scrapped due to rising costs.

O&P Construction website

Images: RMBC

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News: Consultees raise same issues again in "left behind" Rotherham

Consultation is underway that will guide a £20m investment into the town over the next ten years, and the issue of feeling safe is coming to the fore again.

Consultees (people who live, work or visit the main urban areas around the town centre) assessed the area low in most themes and picked out safety, run-down streets and parking as key issues.

Rothbiz reported in March that £20m earmarked for Rotherham by the previous Government had been confirmed and given a wider remit focusing on neighbourhood renewal and improving social capital.

Now called Plan for Neighbourhoods, the £1.5 billion programme sets out to invest in 75 areas over the next decade – "a long-term strategy to fix the foundations of those places most left behind." It focuses on three core themes: Thriving Places, Stronger Communities, and Taking Back Control. These themes aim to revitalise local areas, address deprivation, and empower residents by focusing on local needs and priorities.

The findings echo the previous consultation carried out before the government revamped the strategy. Rotherham's long term plan for towns included the key themes of safety and security, high streets, heritage and regeneration, and transport and connectivity.

An update to councillors explains that Rotherham is one of 75 places to receive funding based on its level of need. Money will be spent inside the boundary chosen by Government, known as a "Built Up Area." It is based on data provided by the Office for National Statistics and is the area of a town characterised by urban features such as town centres, major infrastructure and larger populations.

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Consultation used the "Place Standard" tool to assess and improve the quality of places by helping to identify what's good about a place, what needs to be protected, changed, or improved.

Results so far show that the lowest score was for the Influence & Sense of Control theme which scored an average of 2.83 out of 7. A council paper said that "Residents don’t feel listened to. While surveys and councillors are valued, people want clearer evidence that feedback leads to change."

The next lowest theme was Feeling Safe at 2.91, the report adding: "Safety is one of the biggest concerns. Crime, antisocial behaviour, and intimidation make people feel unsafe, especially at night. CCTV and lighting are valued but seen as not enough."

Parking problems in neighbourhoods, litter and fly-tipping have also been flagged up.

In the Street & Spaces theme, the report highlights that "heritage and recent improvements valued, but many streets fee [sic] run-down and in need of better upkeep" and in the Identity & Belonging theme, consultees expressed "pride in heritage, diversity, and friendliness, but stigma and negative perceptions persist. Residents want more positive promotion of Rotherham."

Natural Spaces scored an avaerage of 4.18 out of 7 and was the seen as the strongest asset where parks and countryside was highly valued, "with Clifton Park and Thrybergh often mentioned."

A raft of interventions have been pre-approved by the government which can address the issues from the consultation.

The council report said: "The allocation of funding will be informed by the built-up-area data provided by Government and consultation feedback. Interventions will be prioritised where they have collective benefits and meet the needs of the Geography as a whole."

Undertaking meaningful engagement with the local community is seen a central pillar of the funding and "Neighbourhood Boards" will work up a Regeneration Plan – in partnership with the local authority - to deliver the strategic objectives of the programme.

Rotherham's Regeneration Plan will be submitted to government by November 2025, following which the first tranche of funding will be released in April 2026, broken down to approximately £2m per year with a 75% / 25% split between Capital and Revenue.

The £20m fund is set to be discussed at the council's next Improving Places Select Commission.

Images: South Yorkshire Police / RMBC

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