News: Rotherham library closure brought forward following discovery of RAAC

The Swinton library building in Rotherham has been closed for the foreseeable future after RAAC was discovered following inspections.

A long-awaited £8m regeneration revamp of Swinton includes a new library, but it is not yet complete.

Rotherham Council’s Asset Management Team has been reviewing the authority’s estate to check for the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Should RAAC be found, actions are taken to ensure buildings remain safe to residents and staff.

In the case of Swinton Library, RAAC has been identified in the roof and therefore the building has been closed.

In the 1990s, several bodies recognised structural deficiencies in RAAC panels installed up until the mid-1990s. It was recognised that the in-service performance was poor with cracking, excessive displacements and durability all being raised as concerns.

Alternative arrangements have been put in place at the newly renovated Swinton Civic Hall, while the council conducts further surveys to see whether remedial work is appropriate.

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A newly refurbished library is planned to be opened early next year at the former customer service centre building as part of a major redevelopment of Swinton town centre. This will mean the demolition of the current library off Station Street, with the area then landscaped.

Building work has already started on affordable new homes, upgraded community buildings and public spaces in Swinton Town Centre.

This includes building 49 new homes, the upgraded and improved Civic Hall, a green and the demolition of the current library. Under these ambitious plans the existing Council Customer Service Centre will house the new library.

Assistant Director Rob Mahon, who oversees the maintenance of all Rotherham Council owned buildings said: “The health and safety of our residents and staff is our priority, which is why we have temporarily closed Swinton Library as a precautionary measure.

“We made the decision to close the site as a precaution last week while further surveys are conducted, and potential mitigations investigated.

“This decision is supported by recent government guidance issued due to concerns where RAAC has been used in schools, prompting similar concerns around other public buildings including libraries. Our approach here is in step with similar approaches taken by other local authorities.”

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News: Ben Bailey begins work on Rotherham redevelopment project

Yorkshire property developer Ben Bailey Homes has begun work on a major development of new housing and important community restoration in the Rotherham town of Swinton.

Plans were approved last year for the long-awaited project that will see the construction of 41 private properties and eight housing association homes, along with upgraded community buildings and public gardens.

The £8m plus Harrop Mews project is being carried out in partnership with Rotherham Council.

The 49 new homes - including the eight affordable properties - are being built off Highcliffe Drive in Swinton, along with a newly refurbished library at the former customer service centre building, an upgraded and improved Civic Hall and a new public space area between the existing Civic Building and Station Street.

As part of the partnership, Ben Bailey will also provide funding towards sustainable travel measures, the planting of replacement trees and education provision. Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy performed a ceremonial ground-breaking alongside Rotherham Council Leader Councillor Chris Read, Council colleagues and partners from Ben Bailey Homes.

“These new homes, green spaces and improved community facilities will transform Swinton Town Centre for the better,” said Cllr. Lelliott.

“It’s a real privilege to be able to mark the official start of works and I’m looking forward to seeing the benefits.

“These changes will bring people much-needed housing, and new community buildings where friends and families will meet and enjoy their leisure time together.”

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Ben Bailey Sales and Marketing Director Jon Bailey said: “This project really takes Ben Bailey Homes back to its roots as the company was launched in the 1930s in neighbouring Mexborough.

“We’re pleased that as well as providing much needed two, three and four bedroom homes for sale, all with Ben Bailey’s signature unrivalled specification, we are also providing refurbished facilities to Swinton town centre, delivering a project that will once again make this area the centre of the community.

“This is the sort of project that the Ben Bailey brand was revived for, bringing quality development to the heart of the region.”

Launched in 1933 by Ben Bailey himself, Mexborough-based Ben Bailey Plc was Yorkshire's largest independent house builder, developing more than 700 homes a year when acquired by Gladedale in 2007.

Following the takeover and a subsequent rebrand, the Ben Bailey name disappeared completely from the construction industry.

But it has made a strong return after it was acquired and revived by Yorkshire’s award-winning Conroy Brook Group.

Conroy Brook website

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News: Swinton town centre revamp plans approved

A long-awaited £8m regeneration revamp of a Rotherham town has finally been approved after the council and its partners agreed a number of financial contributions for the area.

The regeneration of Swinton town centre has been under consideration for some time and to progress plans a consortium made up of the Sheffield-based development and asset management company, Vesta Group, with Barnsley-based developer, Quest Property, and Holmfirth housebuilder, Conroy Brook, were selected by Rotherham Council.

The partners submitted a planning application from Ben Bailey Homes Ltd (part of the Conroy Brook Group) in February 2021 and it was approved by the planning board at Rotherham Council in July 2022.

The plans include a refurbished Civic Hall and café plus the library relocating to the refurbished former customer service centre. A significant landscaping scheme is planned.

This was all predicated on approval for 49 homes on the cleared land adjacent to the site. It has been agreed that 12 affordable homes will be provided - eight 2 bedroom houses would be provided on site and the equivalent financial contribution for four 3 bedroom houses provided off site.

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A decision notice has been published this month after the council and developer agreed a Section 106 agreement (a mechanism which makes a development proposal acceptable in planning terms, that would not otherwise be acceptable). The agreement includes a financial contribution of £500 per dwelling towards sustainable travel measures to support the development, a financial contribution of £23,600 for the provision of replacement offsite tree mitigation, a financial contribution of £91,338 towards education provision, the establishment of a management company to manage and maintain the areas of Greenspace on site.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy said: “Our partnership work will bring affordable new homes, green spaces and improved community facilities to Swinton Town Centre. It’s out with the old and in with the new.

“We’re modernising and regenerating a large area of Swinton in order to create attractive places for people to live and visit.”

Two, three and four-bedroom homes will be built on the site of the former council offices on Queen Street, the former swimming pool and health centre, and the old Charnwood House care home.

Jon Bailey, Director at Conroy Brook, said: "We are excited to see the development move ahead, bringing new family homes to the town centre along with the refurbishment of community facilities. Ben Bailey has a long history of building in Swinton and we can’t wait to get started on this new project."

Conroy Brook website
Quest Property website

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News: Swinton regeneration moves ahead with land swap

Rotherham Council has approved a land deal with housebuilders to enable a wider regeneration to take place in a Rotherham town.

The regeneration of Swinton town centre has been under consideration for some time and last year the authority appointed a consortium of private sector companies to lead on the £8m project.

A consortium made up of the Sheffield-based development and asset management company, Vesta Group, with Barnsley-based developer, Quest Property, and Holmfirth housebuilder, Conroy Brook, were judged by the Council to have best met the development brief which set out regeneration of the town based on new homes and revamped commercial areas plus community facilities.

A planning application is due to be submitted shortly which is set to include a refurbished Civic Hall and café plus the library relocating to the refurbished former customer service centre. Public realm and accessibility is set to be improved through a significant landscaping scheme which opens up the site, improving visibility of the shops and community facilities, safety and accessibility.

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Ben Bailey Homes has also entered the project and is proposing 49 family homes on the cleared, disused council offices site at Queen Street that suffered a fire back in 2015, and the former Swimming Pool and Squash Court in Charnwood Street that were demolished in 2016 having suffered an arson attack. The site of the former Charnwood House care home is also due to be redeveloped.

At the end of 2020, Rotherham Council agreed to hand over its land for free.

A Council report said: "A development appraisal was submitted with the tender which demonstrates that the land value achieved through the sale of houses on the rear of the site facilitates the creation of the community facilities and public realm improvements at the front of the site.

"Financial Services have confirmed that there is no requirement for a formal valuation to be undertaken, as following an evaluation of the submitted development appraisal, it is considered that the value associated with the land transferred equates to the level of the proposed capital investment in the community facilities and public realm works, The value of the works totals £640,000."

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News: Locals set to have their say on Swinton redevelopment

Residents in Swinton will get the chance to see new proposals for the £8.4m redevelopment of their town centre at the earliest opportunity.

Rothbiz reported last week that a consortium had been identified as the preferred bidder by Rotherham Council to take on the regeneration of key sites within the key area in the north of the borough.

The Vesta Group, Quest Property and Conroy Brook, are in line to get the approval of the Council's cabinet to continue to work up plans based on new housing, refurbished community facilities, an upgrade to the parade of shops and landscaping.

The redevelopment would be funded through the sale of the vacant Rotherham Council owned former swimming pool, Charnwood House, neighbourhoods office and doctors surgery site for family housing. The site has been vacant since 2017.

The use of vacant land to generate income for the redevelopment proposals means the scheme can be delivered without cost to taxpayers.

Land values in the area are low which limits what can be achieved. As a result, a proposal to accommodate the civic hall facilities and library into one building has been dropped in favour of a refurbishment of the Civic Hall and café and a new library, based in the refurbished former customer service centre.

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Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council's Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, said: "These are exciting proposals which would see major improvements to shops and public facilities in Swinton town centre, provide new family homes and bring redundant land back into use.

"The plans brought forward by the Vesta Group, Quest Property and Conroy Brook consortium meet all the aims of our ambitious development brief for a community-focused redevelopment. The investment will provide a huge boost to the economy in Swinton and subject to Cabinet approval, we look forward to sharing the detailed proposals with local residents and businesses."

Recommended reading: Reducing Maintenance Costs in Multi-Unit Developments

If cabinet approval is granted next week, drop-in sessions for the local community to view and comment on the plans will be arranged, alongside an outline planning application to be submitted by the consortium.

Cllr Ken Wyatt, Swinton Ward member, said: "It's important from local members perspective that Swinton residents are involved at every stage of the process and I am pleased there is a commitment to share the detailed proposals with the community at the earliest opportunity, subject to approval."

If Cabinet and planning consent is granted, it is hoped that work could start on site in Spring this year.

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News: Consortium identified for £8m Swinton regeneration scheme

A group of private sector partners have come together to progress redevelopment plans to transform an area at the heart of Swinton in Rotherham.

The regeneration of Swinton town centre has been under consideration for some time and Rotherham Council identified that an opportunity could be brought forward at an early stage relating to existing Council-owned land and buildings alongside an option to acquire an adjacent site from a public sector partner organisation.

A preferred option is now set to go before the authority's cabinet, and if approved, will see the appointment of the successful bidder.

A consortium made up of the Sheffield-based development and asset management company, Vesta Group, with Barnsley-based developer, Quest Property, and Holmfirth housebuilder, Conroy Brook, has been judged by the Council to have best met the development brief which set out regeneration of the town based on new homes and revamped commercial areas plus community facilities.

The site totals nearly seven acres and includes the cleared disused council offices at Queen Street that suffered a fire back in 2015 and the former Swimming Pool and Squash Court in Charnwood Street that were demolished in 2016 having suffered an arson attack. The authority was also looking to include the site of the former Charnwood House care home.

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A report to the cabinet states: " In summary the preferred option includes the following:

- Community facilities are provided in the form of a refurbished Civic Hall and café plus the library relocated to the refurbished former customer service centre.
- The public realm and accessibility is improved through a significant landscaping scheme which opens up the site improving visibility of the shops and community facilities, safety and accessibility.
- The existing parade of retail premises receives an upgrade to the external façade.
- There is an option for a pop-up/modular building on the former library area which could accommodate other uses (e.g. restaurant)."

One of the key issues has been the viability of the scheme where the land value achieved through the sale of houses on the rear of the site facilitates the creation of the community facilities at the front of the site. Land values in the area are low which limits what can be achieved.

As a result, a proposal to accommodate the civic hall facilities and library into one build has been dropped in favour of refurbishment.

The report adds: "The redevelopment opportunity offered was for two sites, one a vacant Council owned site proposed for residential development and the other the existing Council buildings in Swinton Town Centre. The site was fronted by Council owned retail and residential units and community facilities, the rear of the site was vacant. The vacant element was suitable for housing and the development of this land offered the opportunity to bring forward improvements to the Council owned assets without financial commitment from the Council apart from forgoing potential capital receipts.

"The development value of the scheme is £8.4m. The scheme as submitted is financially viable, with the works to the community facilities being funded by residential sales."

Following formal approvals and subject to planning a potential start on site in Spring 2020 is being earmarked.

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