News: Plans approved to convert Rotherham town centre offices

Offices used by a finance firm in Rotherham town centre can be transformed for a new community use, as plans have been approved by Rotherham Council.

Rothbiz reported in October on plans submitted to enable the change of use of the Norton House building from offices (Use Class E) to a place of worship (Use Class F1).

Norton House is a five storey 1960's/70's office building on Mansfield Road home to Norton Finance, a family owned, independent finance company.

The application is from The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Freedom Centre (RCCG FC) which was established in 2006 in Rotherham and has occupied premises in East Dene since 2012.

The plans, drawn up by Baltic Planning and Development, show that the ground floor and first floor would be set out for church services with the second floor and third floor as offices.

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Plans stated: "It can be confirmed that the site will be in use all week round and will be run by both members of staff as well as volunteers. The times of formal worship are anticipated to be attended by an average of 100 adults and 100 children at any one time, with the main worship hall also proposed to be in use at other times for other community/support uses.

"The scheme as applied for represents the viable reuse of an existing office building to a community use in a suitable and sustainable location."

The application was approved without going before the planning committee at Rotherham council and comes with a number of conditions.

The site is allocated for mixed use purposes and council planners concluded that the principle of the change of use is acceptable. With the existing car park provision (34 spaces) and the proximity to the multi-storey car park and public transport facilities, the Council’s Transportation Infrastructure Service have raised no objections.

A Noise Impact Assessment has been submitted in support of the application. Given that the Friday evening evening sermon would include live music, Rotherham Council's Environmental Health team requested conditions to any planning permission, such as restricting operating hours (08:00 until 22:00 Mondays to Sunday), and sound attenuation measures.

RCCG FC website

Images: CPP

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News: KCM Waste Management grow commercial commitment with Millers

Long-term supporters KCM Waste Management has extended its commercial agreement with Rotherham United.

KCM is a family-run waste management company based at the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate nad had seen their name become synonymous with the club since it moved to AESSEAL New York Stadium, where their branding has proudly adorned the North Stand since it opened in 2012.

In addition to that, the company headed up by Phil and Mark Hickling have also pledged their support to the next generation of Millers talent for over a decade, having also laid claim to the front of shirt sponsorship of the academy kit.

The extension of the stand sponsorship deals will run for a further three years while the Academy shirt agreement has once again been penned on a seasonal basis until the end of the 2025/26 campaign. KCM has also added the sponsorship of the South West Corner of AESSEAL New York Stadium to its portfolio of commercial projects which also includes sponsorship of the home dugout and the substitutions made by Matt Hamshaw on a matchday.

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Mark Hitchens, Head of Commercial at Rotherham United, said: “It has and continues to be a pleasure to work with Phil and his staff at KCM Waste Management.

“It has been abundantly clear from the outset of us entering into business with them they are ardent supporters of the football club and, as a result, are always enquiring about new opportunities in which they might be able to offer their backing.

“You only need to look at the myriad of ways in which they are already involved with the Millers, which range from having their logo on the front of our young players’ shirts in the Academy to the association they have with the ‘Kop End’ at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

“They are another company we are immeasurably proud to be shouting about in our Centenary Year and we hope that we continue to enjoy the successful business relationship of today many years into the future.”

Phil Hickling, Managing Director of KCM Waste Management, added: “As a local business whose base is right here in Rotherham, we feel it to be vitally important that we show our support to the football club and we try to give back to the community wherever we can.

“The majority of our fanbase - and plenty of our customers - are lifelong Millers fans and it gives us immense pride to see the KCM branding atop the North Stand at AESSEAL New York Stadium. We hope that the exposure of those same visuals appearing on the South West corner will only amplify the message that we are huge supporters of Rotherham United.

“Whether it be on home matchdays or seeing our U18s in action – either live on pictured on the club website – it is fantastic to see the KCM Waste Management logo so closely connected to the club.

“It feels fitting to have committed to such a substantial business extension in the club’s Centenary Year and we are confident that we will continue to be successful together for many years to come.”

KCM Waste Management website
Rotherham United website

Images: RUFC

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News: South Yorkshire's new £68m growth fund

A £68m funding pot has been allocated to South Yorkshire as part of the Government's attempt to kickstart economic growth by addressing regional disparities in productivity.

The Local Growth Fund is a follow up to the Shared Prosperity Fund, which itself was funding to replace European Union (EU) Structural Funds.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) will be able to use the money for infrastructure investment, business support and skills development.

Previous EU settlements saw South Yorkshire allocated €410m for 2007-2013 and from 2014-2020 this was cut to around €180m. A legal challenge into the government's decision followed.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) three-year fund, running from 2022/23, included an allocation for South Yorkshire of £46.2m, including £7.3m ro address functional numeracy skills. A 25/26 allocation was announced earlier this and provided another £22.5m for South Yorkshire. The £68m Local Growth Fund runs for four years from 26/27 to 29/30.

The money can be used flexibly in line with SYMCA's new Local Growth Plan - a ten year plan which aims to grow the business base and labour market through delivering against four missions based around businesses, places, people and the future.

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Under infrastructure investment, the aim is to expand labour market reach and enable agglomeration benefits across functional economic areas. For business support, projects will need to strengthen regional clusters and increase innovation and investment to drive firm-level competitiveness and sectoral growth. Projects relating to skills development will work to provide the human capital aligned to priority sectors and emerging technologies.

A government policy statement explains that the funding is part of a new approach to regional investment with the Local Growth Fund "targeted at mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands with the highest productivity catch‑up and agglomeration potential, as part of a shift in how growth funding is delivered. It moves away from fragmented, short-term competitive pots to a single, flexible, long-term fund. This approach will empower regional leaders to drive local priorities and unlock the potential that exists in places across the UK, including city regions and high-potential sectors.

"For too long, local growth funding has been constrained by inefficiencies: short-termism, duplication, and wasteful competitive bidding. Opportunities for transformative change have been missed. The English Devolution White Paper set out a new vision: consolidating funding, devolving power, and allocating investment in line with locally led plans. By removing unnecessary processes and committing to long-term financial stability, we are enabling regions to plan and deliver this change with confidence.

"By backing the shared priorities agreed in Local Growth Plans, this investment will support small businesses, create jobs, regenerate commercial centres, enable new housing, and better connect communities through integrated transport – delivering the growth needed to fund our essential public services, enable further investment, and raise living standards."

The mayoralty will do well to support Rotherham's growth and replicate it across the region. Recent productivity statistics highlight Rotherham as one of the fastest growing sub-regions over the last two decades.

On the region's local growth plan, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "Our goal is simple: to make sure South Yorkshire plays a leading role in solving the big challenges of our time, using the talent, resilience and creativity which defines us. We want those growing up here to believe, with confidence, that in South Yorkshire you can stay near and go far."

In previous years, Rotherham Council were able to decide were UKSPF funding should be spent - from shop unit grants and business support to Rotherham Children’s Capital of Culture and social value.

SYMCA website

Images: Harworth Group

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News: Building systems manufacturer to meet demand from new Rotherham premises

Building systems manufacturer Mauerwall has moved to its first automated production site at a new business park in Rotherham.

The company, established last year and which employs 20 staff making precision-manufactured facade systems for commercial and residential buildings, has taken 36,000 sq ft at Kingsforth Business Park in Thurcroft, following a move from a temporary site in Derby.

Mauerwall has started production from the site with the aim over the next year of employing another 20 staff to satisfy demand from the growing sector.

Mauerwall CEO Jordan Rosenhaus said: “This is our first production site and we were attracted by the fantastic location with crucial access to the motorway network, the size and flexibility of the modern unit, the tremendous availability of labour, and the great landlord, who is very easy to work with.

“Having been based in the Midlands, we scoped several locations in South Yorkshire and this was by far the best option for us. We are delighted to be in Rotherham, it is a prime location for our national business needs.”

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Rotherham property company EV Waddington speculatively built phase 2 of the scheme with the support of South Yorkshire JESSICA Fund (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) with a First Loss Loan together with a Development Loan Facility.

Phase 2 comprises of 19 units of 5,310 to 14,230 sq ft which can be combined to accommodate larger requirements, as seen with Mauerwall.

Phase 2 follows the success of Phase 1 where occupiers include Bezwell Fixings, The Panel Company, UK Doors Online and EMED.

The development is aimed at satisfying the much-needed demand for small and medium-sized industrial space in the region. The units are built to a specification to include 5.7-6.5m eaves height; full height roller shutter loading doors; ground and first floor fitted office accommodation; warehouse lighting; three phase electricity; solar, fibre enabled and good sized external loading area plus dedicated car parking.

Developer Tony Waddington said: “We bring our experience of delivering exceptional quality industrial and manufacturing units, and with the prime location of the site, the flexible nature of the scheme it is well positioned to support the operational and growth needs of businesses across a variety of sectors.”

Rebecca Schofield, office head at Knight Frank in Sheffield and head of industrial Yorkshire, which is acting as agent on the scheme, said: “The build highlights developer confidence in our region. There continues to be a lack of available opportunities of this size, particularly new and modern."

Kingsforth Business Park is accessed from Kingsforth Rd, which offers access on to Woodhouse Green. Kingsforth Lane is easily accessible providing access to Junction 1 M18, approximately 1.6 miles to the North.

Mauerwall website

Images: EV Waddington / Knight Frank

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News: Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield opens in Rotherham

The newly built Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield has officially opened its doors at the entrance to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that Essex-based developer, Stapleford Ventures Ltd, had secured planning permission for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way where the Waverley development meets the Morrisons roundabout at Catcliffe.

Leading independent hotel management company, RBH Hospitality Management, was appointed to run the new hotel further strengthening RBH’s relationship with Marriott International following the prestigious The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection, Edinburgh and Old Town Chambers Autograph Collection joining RBH’s portfolio earlier this year.

The 150-rooms include family and dog-friendly options which are designed in a natural, calming palette of browns and greens, with contemporary wood accents. The hotel also offers meeting and event spaces that draw on the city’s industrial heritage, aimed at both business use and community events.

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At the heart of the hotel is Aspen Restaurant & Bar, inspired by the local community and named after the original meaning of Waverley: ‘a meadow of quivering aspens’. The restaurant serves up delicious dishes, including a signature Philly cheesesteak, sweet potato and butternut squash tagine, and Sunday roasts, in a stylish and relaxed setting. The bar’s cocktail list includes drinks inspired by the city’s steel-making history.

David Hart, CEO of RBH Hospitality Management, said: “Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield is a valuable addition to our portfolio, marking our first property in Sheffield. The opening also strengthens our long-term relationship with Marriott International as we continue to make progress against our strategic objectives of expanding our portfolio across the UK and operating a diverse mix of brands across the hotel chain scale, alongside our expertise in the luxury hotel market and independent hotel sector.”

Originally due to open in Spring 2023, work stopped at the site off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way, with master developer, Harworth Group issuing a statement in 2024 regarding "unforeseen challenges" faced by the hotel owner, Stapleford Ventures, who bought the land from Harworth in 2021.

Courtyard by Marriott website

Images: RBH / Courtyard by Marriott

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