News: Huge American restaurant chain planning to open in Rotherham

Visit Rotherham reports that a vacant restaurant building could be converted into South Yorkshire's first branch of a huge American fast food restaurant chain, if plans for a new drive thru are approved by Rotherham Council.

With more than 3,000 sites, Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States and is known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. Specialising in chicken sandwiches, the chain's menu also includes salads and milkshakes.

Last year the first restaurant opened in Leeds as part of the company’s commitment to open five restaurants in the UK in the first two years and invest more than $100m in the UK in the next ten years.

Visit Rotherham states that a planning application is on its way for a new 4,000 sq ft restaurant at the Cortonwood Retail Park, which is in Rotherham.

Plans are for the change of use of the existing restaurant building (Use Class E) to a drive-thru restaurant (Use Class E / Sui Generis) plus some external alterations and a 300 sq ft extension to the existing unit.

Rothbiz reported last year that the Pizza Hut restaurant at Cortonwood would close after a UK operator of the brand entered administration.

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The plans, drawn up by agents, Lichfields, state that the proposed development represents an opportunity to bring a vacant unit back into use and add that it "incorporates a high-quality design, including retained and cleaned red brick facades, timber effect planks, bronze fascia canopy and glazing. The overall design approach will significantly improve the appearance of the existing unit while also being in-keeping with the retail character of Cortonwood Retail Park."

To facilitate the new drive-thru lane, on-site car parking will be reduced from 17 spaces to six spaces, comprising four standard bays and two accessible bays.

The application states that a proposed Chick-fil-A drive-thru restaurant would create around 80 jobs, with a mixture of full / part time staff.

Applicants have also carried out a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), as required for hot food takeaway proposals in line with Rotherham Council's planning policies.

Chick-fil-A's franchise model means that most restaurants are locally owned and operated. Local individuals therefore manage each restaurant, being responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business including hiring and developing their staff.

Chick-fil-A is famous in America for being closed on Sundays. The rule started in 1946 with the founder, Truett Cathy, who was a devout Christian and wanted to give workers a guaranteed day off to rest, spend time with family, or go to church.

Chick-fil-A website

Images: Chick-fil-A / Google Maps

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News: Is Marks & Spencer planning to return to Parkgate?

M&S is searching for new, bigger food store sites as it aims to double the size of its food business. A new "potential location list" contains two areas in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 that the national retailer was closing its large Parkgate store when it confirmed plans to close over 100 stores in total in order to "radically reshape M&S's Clothing & Home space" alongside relocations, conversions, downsizes and the introduction of concessions.

The historic retailer made the decision to relocate its store on College Street in Rotherham town centre to Parkgate Shopping in the early 2000's. M&S opened a Rotherham Simply Food store at Cortonwood, which is also in Rotherham, in 2017.

Following the performance of the new food stores opened in the last three years, M&S is now expanding the number of locations in its search for sites, including areas where there is not yet an M&S store. It is also looking to expand the size of its food stores to stock a fuller range and attract more customers to do their weekly shop.

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Out of London, M&S requires edge of centre and out of town locations for units of 21,500 sq ft that accommodate its new renewal format. It has 500 areas across the UK on a new potential location list.

In Rotherham, Wickersley and Cortonwood have been identified as target locations.

The current M&S unit at Cortonwood is 11,000 sq ft whereas Wickersley is without a large foodstore, although it is close to neighbouring Bramley which has a Morrisons and an Aldi.

At Parkgate, where the former M&S is now occupied by an 18,500 sq ft Poundland, a planning application has been approved for a new 20,000 sq ft unit designed for a food retailer.

The plans discussed that it will be a "national multiple food retailer" that will be the new tenants but no occupier has been named. An analysis of the current market submitted with the application by agents, Savills, stated that this size of store is popular with secondary foodstores including Waitrose, M&S and Co-op, and discount foodstore retailers including Aldi and Lidl.

Rothbiz recently reported that commercial property agents are now showing that The Food Warehouse is taking the former TUI unit at Parkgate.

M&S website

Images: M&S

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News: Pizza Hut in Rotherham to close following administration

A Pizza Hut restaurant in Rotherham is set to close after a UK operator of the brand entered administration.

Pizza Hut has announced the closure of 68 restaurants and 11 delivery sites following the collapse of its UK operator, DC London Pie, which has entered administration. The restructuring move will put 1,210 UK workers at risk of redundancy.

On the list of restaurants to close was the site at Cortonwood Shopping Park, which is in Rotherham.

DC London Pie, the company behind Pizza Hut's UK dine-in operations, appointed administrators from FTI Consulting earlier this week. The administration follows less than a year after the company itself acquired Pizza Hut's UK venues from insolvency.

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Yum! Brands, the American parent company of Pizza Hut, stepped in with a pre-pack administration deal, securing 64 restaurant sites and protecting 1,277 jobs across the UK. The rescue package aims to ensure operational continuity for remaining outlets while providing limited protection for affected employees.

Nicolas Burquier, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, said: "This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible. Our immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition."

The financial distress came to a head approximately six weeks after HMRC filed a winding-up petition against DC London Pie, following concerns over unpaid tax liabilities. The firm, formed by Directional Capital, had previously operated Pizza Hut franchises in Sweden and Denmark before purchasing 139 UK restaurants from Heart with Smart Limited earlier this year.

A statement from the Worker's Union said: "The Pizza Hut closures represent both a painful loss for UK high streets and a stark warning about the fragility of the casual dining sector. While the intervention by Yum! Brands has prevented a total collapse, the job losses will be deeply felt across the UK. For workers affected, support, communication, and fair treatment must remain the priority."

The Pizza Hut delivery outlet at Parkgate remains open. A restaurant at Parkgate Shopping was demolished in 2015 to make way for a Nando's

Pizza Hut website

Images: Google Maps

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News: National retailer eyes former Rotherham Wilko store

A national retailer is set to move into an empty unit in Rotherham, but only if planning permission is secured to enable the sale of a wider range of goods.

Rothbiz reported last year on the efforts of the owners of the Cortonwood Shopping Park in Rotherham to secure new tenants following the closure of the large Wilko store.

Administrators were called in to the British high-street retail chain in 2023. A deal to save hundreds of stores fell through and instead, B&M was reported to be acquiring 51 former Wilko store premises and then-Poundland owner Pepco took on the leases of up to 71 stores. The Range subsequently agreed a deal to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property.

Managers, Threadneedle has already secured permission to split Unit 1 into two separate retail units for separate tenants and now they are applying for a change of use for Unit 1B so that it can be used for the sale of food and drink "by a national multiple retailer."

Plans for the 98,000 sq ft development were only passed on appeal at a public inquiry in 2013 after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council. The permission prevents a retail operation that is "primarily for the sale of food" and planning permission had to be secured in 2015 to enable an M&S Foodhall to open at the park.

Now permission is being sought for food retail at the 5,000 sq ft Unit 1B.

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The application states: "The application is submitted to enable a small-scale national multiple food and drink retailer to take occupation of the floorspace and enable its reoccupation. The Shopping Park can already be used for a wide range of food retail operations including M&S, Poundland, B&M and Morrisons. The proposal therefore does not result in a material change of the already permitted retail land use operations that can take place at the Shopping Park."

If approved, a new tenant would bring 25 jobs to the area.

As the site is classed as out of town, a sequential test is also included. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.

Applicants say that there are no suitable and available sites in nearby town centres and hope that planners agree, in the same way they did with the M&S approval.

The plans conclude: "The proposal is positive economic investment in Rotherham which will secure sustainable economic growth by providing economically beneficial retail facilities at an existing and established retail location that enhances consumer choice.

"Further, the proposal will bring vacant economic floorspace into productive use.

"With this in mind, the proposal is a positive investment in Rotherham's retail market that results in the sustainable re-use of an existing building which currently does not contribute to the local economy. Reoccupying the floorspace at Unit 1B would provide new job opportunities and wage creation, which would be to the benefit of local people."

Images: Google Maps

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News: Opening date announced for new Rotherham B&Q

Rotherham DIY enthusiasts and tradespeople will soon be able to get their fix closer to home with the opening of a new B&Q store in the borough.

Rothbiz reported at the end of 2023 that the retailer, part of the Kingfisher group, was eyeing up space at the retail park at Great Eastern Way in Parkgate.

A planning application was approved earlier this year that has enabled two units to be combined together to create a new large store and garden centre. The plans, from Rotherham Foundry RP Limited, involve Units 2 and 3, in addition to the existing rear service yard and a small area of car parking to the front of the units.

The retailer's website now shows that the new Rotherham store will open on December 13.

Currently operating at Cortonwood in Rotherham, B&Q closed its store at Northfields, Parkgate in June 2016 when it cut back its UK store numbers. The 51,000 sq ft unit was purposely built to enable a move from the edge of the town centre in 2009.

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B&Q has also revealed what will be included at the new location.

Much of the 20,000 sq ft unit will be taken up by the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom displays and space for associated planning appointments.

Services offered from inside the store are set to include timber cutting, paint mixing and key cutting.

Click + Collect is also set to feature, both for DIY and TradePoint customers. TradePoint is a trade membership scheme from B&Q that offers exclusive services and discounts to tradespeople.

B&Q had a total of 309 stores in the UK & Ireland in July and identified approximately 50 catchments or geographic ‘white spaces’ in the UK where B&Q is currently under-represented.

Its latest financial results said that the group had carried out various tests and adaptations over the last three years to establish an optimum store size.

The update explained: "After being initially tested as a ‘small retail park’ compact store format, the validated format is between 2,000-4,000 sqm [21,500 - 43,000 sq ft], enabling more area in store to be dedicated to inspiration (for example, for kitchen, bathroom & storage), garden centres and addressing the needs of trade customers. B&Q currently has 13 retail park stores, and plans to open one more in H2 and up to four further stores in FY 25/26."

B&Q website

Images: B&Q

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News: What's happening with the former Wilkos at Cortonwood?

The former Wilko at Cortonwood in Rotherham remains empty but the retail park's owners are taking steps to attract new tenants.

Administrators were called in to the British high-street retail chain in 2023 after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

A deal to save hundreds of stores fell through and instead, B&M was reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises and Poundland owner Pepco is taking on the leases of up to 71 stores.

The Range then agreed a deal to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property.

The new owners launched a concept Wilko store at Parkgate in Rotherham ealier this year, reopening in the closed unit, but nothing has come forward for Cortonwood.

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A planning application has now been submitted to alter the unit, which is listed as being "under offer" with agents.

Zurich Assurance Limited / Threadneedle Portfolio Services Ltd are seeking permission to split Unit 1 into two separate retail units for separate tenants.

The plans involve changing the frontage, replacing the current doors and signage with two new entraces and signs.

Rothbiz reported in 2022 that B&M wanted to make changes at underused units at Cortonwood Shopping Park. Securing planning permission, the retailer took on Unit 9, which was formerly occupied by Outfit, and Unit 8, formerley occupied by New Look, combining the units, adding a mezzanine and a new garden centre to rear.

Plans for the 98,000 sq ft development at Cortonwood were only passed on appeal at a public inquiry in 2013 after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council.

Images: Napper / Workman

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News: Is wilko returning to Rotherham?

Having crashed into administration last year and closed all of its stores, including two in Rotherham, could the discount retailer's new owners be reopening a wilko store in the borough?

The British high-street retail chain was founded in 1930 sells homeware and household goods. The group, with headquarters in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, had 400 stores across the UK and approximately 12,500 employees.

Administrators were called in after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

A deal to save hundreds of stores fell through and instead, B&M was reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises and Poundland owner Pepco is taking on the leases of up to 71 stores.

The Range agreed a deal to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property.

Now bosses at The Range have begun a revival of the wilko name with the reopening of stores, and recruitment has begun for a wilko store in Rotherham.

Posted online by The Range, but marked "wilko", the firm is recruiting for a number of roles, including store manager, assistant manager, retail assistants, warehouse and cleaning roles. The company says that it is planning to recruit up to 80 local team members per store.

The Range currently has a Rotherham store in Parkgate. wilko stores that closed last year were based at Cortonwood and Parkgate.

As reported by Rothbiz, Rotherham Council acquired the building at 4 Corporation Street in January 2023 to prevent it from becoming a long-term empty building, after wilkos closed the store. It has since been demolished.

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Alex Simpkin, CEO of CDS Superstores, trading as The Range and wilko, said; “For the majority of its 93 years, wilko was an incredibly successful business that gave its customers exactly what they needed to get their home and garden jobs sorted. It was their advanced own-brand capabilities that encouraged us to invest in the brand and wilko.com and, we’re excited to now be selling wilko products online once more and across our 200 stores network.

"The public reaction to the loss of wilko stores was undeniable. It’s clear that there’s a huge love for wilko and we’ve seen an encouraging demand for the return of its own-brand products. That’s why we’ve taken the decision to reintroduce wilko back to many of the high streets and communities that it used to so proudly serve.

“Our team from wilko that joined us through the acquisition has shown true resilience, they’ve set to work to integrate the best parts of wilko into The Range’s operational systems. We’re expanding that team every day with new wilko hires and can’t wait to extend that back out to local communities.

“We’ll endeavour to give ex-wilko employees priority as a part of the recruitment process for the new stores.”

Under new owners, wilko recently opened its first three stores in Plymouth, Luton and Exeter.

Simpkin added: "This initial rollout is only the beginning for our plans for revitalising the wilko brand on the nation’s high streets and retail parks, and we’ll be announcing further store launches and re-openings throughout 2024.”

wilko website

Images: wilko / Facebook

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News: Closure date for remaining Rotherham Wilko store

The administrators of discount retailer, wilko, have confirmed when its remaining store in Rotherham will close.

The British high-street retail chain was founded in 1930 sells homeware and household goods. The group, with headquarters in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, had 400 stores across the UK and approximately 12,500 employees.

Jane Steer, Zelf Hussain and Edward Williams of PwC were appointed as Joint Administrators of Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd, wilko Ltd and wilko.com Ltd after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

With administrators investigating a potential sale, an offer being explored for the sale of hundreds of stores as a going concern fell through, leading to their closure being confirmed.

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The 20,000 sq ft wilko store at Parkgate Shopping is set to have its last day of trade on October 8.

It follows on from the store at Cortonwood Shopping Park, which is in the Rotherham borough, which closed on September 14.

Rival retailer B&M is reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises and Poundland owner Pepco is set to take on the leases of up to 71 stores. The Rotherham stores are not on the list of those taken on by Poundland, and the B&M deal has not yet been detailed further.

The Range agreed a deal to buy the Wilko brand, website and intellectual property.

Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer, said: “Wilko should have thrived in a bargain retail sector that is otherwise strong, but it was run into the ground by the business owners.

“Money was siphoned out of the business for dividends, warnings about what needed to be done to save the business were not heeded and advice around what the business to do to thrive was not listened to.

“No worker caused the downfall of Wilko. But they will be the ones who will suffer – all as the owners get off scot-free. GMB will not stop campaigning for the owners of this debacle to be held to account.”

Rothbiz revealed in 2014 that wilko was set to take a large unit that was vacated by electrical retailer, Comet at Parkgate Shopping. At the time, an agreement was reached with Rotherham Council and the retailer that would see the town centre store staying open for at least five years if plans for Parkgate were approved.

In 2022, even before giong into administration, the wilko on Corporation Street closed down. To aid town centre regeneration, Rotherham Council acquired the empty unit and the area has been earmarked as the potential location for a new theatre.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Rotherham Wilko store to close this week

After a purchase of discount retailer, wilko, fell through, the administrators have confirmed when stores will close, including one in the Rotherham borough.

The British high-street retail chain was founded in 1930 sells homeware and household goods. The group, with headquarters in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, has 400 stores across the UK and approximately 12,500 employees.

Jane Steer, Zelf Hussain and Edward Williams of PwC were appointed as Joint Administrators of Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd, wilko Ltd and wilko.com Ltd after it was hit by incredibly challenging trading conditions, both throughout the pandemic and more recently as it has felt the impact of the cost of living crisis, resulting in increasing cashflow pressure and a deterioration in trading.

With administrators investigating a potential sale, unions were informed by PWC this week that a previous offer being explored for the sale of hundreds of stores as a going concern had fallen through.

It means that all wilko stores are expected to close by early October.

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The wilko store at Cortonwood Shopping Park, which is in the Rotherham borough, has been given the last day of trading as Thursday September 14.

The store was one of a number of national retailers to open in 2017 where a vacant warehouse was demolished and replaced by 11 new retail units and a restaurant totalling 79,750 sq ft. The £36m retail development saw over 200 jobs created.

Since the development was completed, the units formerly occupied by Outfit New Look have been combined to create a new home store and garden centre for B&M - a retailer reported to be acquiring 51 former wilko store premises.

Despite another update today, the wilko store at Parkgate Shopping has not yet been given a closure date.

Andy Prendergast, national secretary of GMB Union, said: “GMB Union will continue to support our members through this process and will fight to ensure they are consulted as per the law and receive every penny they are entitled to.

“We will fight to ensure people are held accountable for this situation for the simple reason our members deserve so much better.

“GMB will not forget the incompetence that has led to this collapse and will we not forget the dividends paid to the millionaires who gambled workers jobs on their whims.“

Images: Google Maps

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News: Opening date for new Rotherham B&M

B&M Bargains is taking on 22,000 sq ft of space at a retail park in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported last year that the UK's leading variety goods value retailer wanted to make changes at underused units at Cortonwood Shopping Park.

Securing planning permission, the retailer is taking on Unit 9, which was formerly occupied by Outfit and Unit 8, formerley occupied by New Look.

The new store combines the units and includes the creation of a mezzanine and a new garden centre to rear to provide a sales space of around 8,000 sq ft.

The scheduled opening date for the new store is Saturday March 4 2023.

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The B&M Group was founded in 1978 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in June 2014. It is a variety retailer with nearly 700 stores in the UK operating under the "B&M" brand, 298 stores under the "Heron Foods" and "B&M Express" brands.

With its status as an essential retailer, the group continues to expand through the COVID-19 pandemic. It has stores in Rotherham town centre and at Parkgate which combine "Big Brands, Big Savings" with 100 new lines added each week, predominantly across general merchandise categories.

The retailer has a longer term UK store target of 950 stores.

Plans for the 98,000 sq ft development at Cortonwood were only passed on appeal at a public inquiry in 2013 after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council.

The planning approval for the whole scheme set an upper limit for floorspace and included a condition that the units "cannot be used primarily for the sale of food."

The latest application, drawn up by Lichfield planning consultants, argued that B&M should be able to trade from the units as the proposal doesn't increase the total retail floorspace and that less than half of the unit would be used for the sale of food.

Regarding the latest plans, officers at Rotherham Council said that "the proposal is acceptable in this commercial location without being harmful to the area."

B&M website

Images: B&M

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News: Boots walks away from Rotherham town centre

Boots is the latest national retailer to dispense with Rotherham town centre.

The last pharmaceuticals, prescription glasses and meal deals were sold on Saturday as the Rotherham store closed after decades in the town centre.

Other recent closures in the town include national names, Wilko, Jack Fulton and Shoezone.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is accelerating its Boots Transformation Plan in the UK following COVID-19. During lockdown, pharmacies remained open but its revenue-driving beauty and fragrance counters were closed. A decline in footfall lead to retail sales being cut by 48% for Boots UK and 72% for Boots Opticians.

Bosses at Boots said in 2020 that with an "uncertain economic outlook, it is anticipated that the high street will take considerable time to recover." It announced the start of a consultation process for a significant restructuring across its head office, store teams and opticians teams, resulting in a reduction of its headcount of more than 4,000.

Bosses also recognised that COVID-19 accelerated the shift by consumers towards digital channels and online shopping adding that the acceleration of the Transformation Plan "will see continued investment into online and digital services as a key driver of growth for the business." Indeed, Boots.com sales are up 60% versus pre-Covid levels.

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Overall since COVID, Boots has delivered a strong performance. For the second quarter ended 28 February 2022, Boots UK comparable retail sales were up 22%

After the closure of the Effingham Street store, Boots still operates large stores out of town at Parkgate and Cortonwood.

The former Boots store was sold in 2020, before it was due to go to auction with a guide price of £1.1m. It includes some 25,985 sq ft of floorspace over three floors.

Auction documents show that Boots started a 35 year lease in 1987 (the same year Parkgate Retail World opened), paying £173,000 per annum in 2020.

The empty property is now being marketed by agents, Brassington Rowan who say that: "The property is available on a new lease at a rent of £125,000 per annum exclusive. Alternatively, offers are invited for the freehold interest."

It is advertised as an "outstanding retail / leisure / development opportunity."

Images: Brassington Rowan

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News: Discount retailer sets sights on Rotherham retail park

Underused units at a retail park in Rotherham look set to be taken on by the UK's leading variety goods value retailer, if plans are approved.

At Cortonwood Shopping Park, Unit 9 was formerly occupied by Outfit but is now vacant. Unit 8 is currently occupied by New Look, although the store is only trading on a temporary basis.

A planning application has now been submitted to Rotherham Council that proposes that the units be combined so that B&M Bargains can take 22,000 sq ft of space.

A new external garden centre is also in the plans.

The B&M Group was founded in 1978 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in June 2014. It is a variety retailer with nearly 700 stores in the UK operating under the "B&M" brand, 298 stores under the "Heron Foods" and "B&M Express" brands.

With its status as an essential retailer, the group continues to expand through the COVID-19 pandemic. It has stores in Rotherham town centre and at Parkgate which combine "Big Brands, Big Savings" with 100 new lines added each week, predominantly across general merchandise categories.

The retailer planned 45 gross new stores for this financial year with a longer term UK store target of 950 stores.

The latest plans for Cortonwood include minor external alterations and the installation of a trolley bay outside the front entrance of Unit 8. The existing mezzanines in both units would also be removed.

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The application, drawn up by Lichfield planning consultants, argues that B&M should be able to trade from the units as the proposal doesn't increase the total retail floorspace and that less than half of the unit would be used for the sale of food.

The planning approval for the whole scheme set an upper limit for floorspace and included a condition that the units "cannot be used primarily for the sale of food."

The application adds: "The proposed B&M would reoccupy two retail units and provide a source of employment for the surrounding areas; indeed, based upon information provided by B&M, it is estimated that the store would create approximately 20 new jobs."

In 2016, Outfit, was one of a number of retailers to sign up to take units at a new retail development at Cortonwood. Plans for a 98,000 sq ft development, were only passed on appeal at a public inquiry in 2013 after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council.

Outfit was the out-of-town stores within the Arcadia group which brought together brands such as Topshop and Burton. Arcadia went into administration in 2020.

B&M website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Frankie & Benny's not reopening Rotherham branch

The operators of Frankie & Benny's restaurant are unlikely to reopen one of its Rotherham branches.

A national coffee chain looks set to take its place.

The favourite family-run restaurant focusses on classic American-Italian style cuisine and the majority of the 100 restaurants are found within leisure and retail locations. It is one of a number of brands operated by The Restaurant Group plc (TRG).

Hit by Covid restrictions and under pressure from landlords, the company had to take drastic action in 2020 with a proposal to reduce the size of its leisure estate and rental cost base by the implementation of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The Restaurant Group, which also operates the Wagamama brand, proposed a reduction in its current portfolio by exiting approximately 125 trading sites as well as seeking improved rental terms on a portion of the remaining trading estate.

The purpose built unit at Cortonwood was removed from the company's website last year and now plans are being brought forward to reuse the building.

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Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group said in June 2020: "The issues facing our sector are well documented and we have already taken decisive action to improve our liquidity, reduce our cost base and downsize our operations.

"The proposed CVA will deliver an appropriately-sized estate for our Leisure business to ensure we are well positioned despite the very challenging market conditions facing the casual dining sector.

"I would like to wholeheartedly thank all of my TRG colleagues for their continued understanding and extraordinary commitment during this unprecedented period."

The CVA was approved and the group secured new finance facilities and was successful with a new share placing in 2021.

The Parkgate branch reopened and recently began to promote the group's new "Bone Jam" virtual brand which offers US comfort food including BBQ, chicken and wings for delivery only.

At Cortonwood Shopping Park, plans were passed in 2016 for a tenth stand alone unit to be used as a restaurant for Frankie & Benny's. The 3,600 sq ft unit was large enough to accommodate 166 customers indoors and created around 30 full time equivalent jobs.

Now plans have been submitted to Rotherham Council to enable the unit to be subdivided and split into two separate units. One of the units is being lined up to be taken on by Costa Coffee.

Costa, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK. Coca-Cola completed the acquisition of Costa Coffee from Whitbread PLC in 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion. With around 4,000 outlets, the most recent opening in Rotherham was a drive-thru at Catcliffe.

Images: Google Maps

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News: On the right path at Cortonwood

Pedestrian access to the newest stores of the expanded Cortonwood retail destination is set to be improved after shoppers were left with a confusing link between the two developments.

At Cortonwood Shopping Park, work started in 2016 on a programme to demolish the vacant 150,000 sq ft ALBA warehouse, following which J F Finnegan undertook works to create 11 new retail units and a restaurant totalling 79,750 sq ft.

Opening last year were national retailers Outfit, H&M, New Look, River Island, Mountain Warehouse, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Clark's, JD Sports, Wilkos, Poundland and Frankie & Benny's.

Only passed on appeal, the development is from Helical Retail and forms an extension to Cortonwood Retail Park which was developed by St Paul's Developments, totally transforming the site of the former Cortonwood Colliery, where the 1984 miners' strike began.

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The development included a condition requiring a pedestrian link to the adjacent car parking area close to the already existing Halfords and Asda stores.

What resulted was a set of "steps to nowhere" and level differences, a hedge, an area of landscaping and hardsurfacing which prevented the pedestrian link from being used.

Plans have now been approved by Rotherham Council to amend the site levels and provide hard surfacing up to the boundary and existing ramp/steps to enable the link to the adjacent retail park to be utilised.

Steps to nowhere.
Steps still blocked off between new and original shopping centres at #Rotherham #Cortonwood.
WHY ?!!! Crazy.@RMBCPress pic.twitter.com/lTr0NQqjMU

— Chris Needham (@Young_Nudger) November 9, 2017

A report from council planners concludes: "There are benefits in terms of pedestrian linkages with the adjacent retail development and also in terms of pedestrian safety (a desire line is currently being used by pedestrians for access between the two sites). There is no impact in terms of the level of car parking.

"It is considered that the proposal meets with relevant policies and is acceptable in terms of design and visual appearance and highway safety."

Cortonwood Shopping Park website

Images: Helical Retail

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News: Same issues in Rotherham town centre

It is five years since Rotherham town centre was named as a Portas Pilot by the Government. Rothbiz editor Tom Austen takes a look at some of the issues affecting Rotherham and other town centres.

The Portas review of 2011 set out in detail what the retail consultant thought we all needed to do to breathe economic and community life back into our high streets. It covered issues that rang true in Rotherham, and across the country. She said at the time: "The new high streets won't just be about selling goods. The mix will include shops but could also include housing, offices, sport, schools or other social, commercial and cultural enterprises and meeting places."

Five years later, and after a number of local plans, studies, masterplans and documents (at significant cost no doubt), it is clear that the focus for Rotherham now is on new housing and leisure uses to boost the town centre. A recent report from consultants was clear that retail is not the answer.

The same 2017 retail study showed that just over £1 in every £10 from the Borough's residents is still being spent in Rotherham town centre - its main use now for convenience goods. However, £2.50 in every £10 spent by the Borough's residents is spent at Parkgate and £2 in every £10 is being spent at Meadowhall. I wonder how much is spent online?

Home to big name stores and free parking (subsidised by the bigger rents), Parkgate and Meadowhall are the main shopping destinations for comparison goods. You can add to that the evidence from recent studies that showed that 51% of Meadowhall's food and beverage turnover comes from residents of Rotherham.

There are opportunities to claw some of this spend back. Leisure, food and beverage stands out and consultants say there is a market for a cinema in the town. However, residents need to get over their desire for Rotherham town centre to look like it did in its retail heyday with department stores and lots of national retailers. It is not going to happen. Shoppers have changed how, and where, they spend and retailers have changed how they sell to us.

The focus for the town centre now is leisure and housing. Perhaps retailers will follow / return when the town is more viable? Convenience goods retailers and a range of service are here for the foreseeable future. With the support from the Portas pilot, the town will continue to offer something different with niche, independent retailers (who care about their town).

Why it has taken so long to adopt a plan to shrink the town's retail core and look at other uses, I don't know, but it is estimated that the catalyst leisure development in the new masterplan that is set to revive the town - the £43m cinema and hotel led proposal for Forge Island - is not planned to be ready until 2020.

I'm looking forward seeing the impact of the new projects (1,000 students at the new University Centre Rotherham has got to help, for example) and for the town centre to find its new role, but it could still get worse before it gets better.

Portas recently told BBC Radio 4: "The last five years, three years particularly, with the growth of internet, has been actually shifting beyond how we ever thought retail would shift and when you start to look at some of the biggest names in retail who have tried desperately to ride this wave and failed, your heart goes out to the independents.

"There needs to be greater, greater support, and vision, from Government. And real understanding of what we need as a country, and what we want as a country, from our High Streets and our communities."

The Portas review looked at other issues, calling on the Government to address business rates and absentee landlords. A 2017 rates review saw some rents in Rotherham town centre go up, whilst others went down. Many smaller units receive rate relief, or pay no rates at all.

The only retailer in Rotherham that I can remember benefiting from a national scheme that offered a period of reduced rates for taking on a vacant property was Wilkos when it opened at Parkgate in 2014. Not really any help to our town centre which I think was the aim of the initiative.

The retail and property industry is still waiting for the Government to address the rates issue. Another national relief scheme announced in March is yet to come into force in Rotherham.

Portas also said that local authorities should use their discretionary powers to give business rate concessions to new local businesses. I can only recall Rotherham Council giving concessions to charities and community projects (the fantastic Grimm & Co in the town centre is an example), along with getting KP Nuts to stay in the area.

Whilst I'm here, a new out of town retail development has recently opened at Cortonwood. Passed only on appeal, Rotherham Council refused the application, raising concerns over the impact of the development on Rotherham town centre, and not convinced by applicants that sequentially preferable sites in Rotherham and Barnsley town centres could not be used for the 100,000 sq ft of retail space.

Now open, my rough calculations indicate that the ten new national retailers at Cortonwood will have a collective rates bill that would see the Council retain perhaps £500,000 a year. I'd like to see this income ringfenced and used for boosting the economy and supporting our town centres. Difficult when the authority has a funding black hole but still...

On a related point, Mary Portas made a recommendation for the Government to have the Secretary of State have "exceptional sign off" for all new out-of-town developments and require all large new developments to have an "affordable shops" quota. Would it have affected Cortonwood? The planning inspector siding with the developer suggests not.

Portas also recommended that local areas should implement free controlled parking schemes that work for their town centres. Some free parking is offered in Council car parks, short stay on Forge Island for example, but the issue comes up time and time again (Parking is also free for three hours at Tesco so long as you spend a fiver in store).

The new masterplan makes it clear that free parking across the board is not the answer for revitalising the town centre. The authority recently pledged to investigate additional parking incentives and parking spaces. It will be difficult given that most councils have got used to the income that parking generates and a lot of car parks are owned by private companies. The conflict between long staying workers and short staying shoppers is also an issue.

Possible initiatives might include pay on exit barriers where the first hour is free and you only pay for how long you stay, or money off parking if you spend with local retailers (taking a leaf out of Tesco's book).

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Another recommendation was focused on making high streets accessible, attractive and safe. In Rotherham, a lot of this comes down to perception. If people stay away because they think it is unsafe, even though the stats show that reported crime is a lot lower here, then it is still an issue that needs addressing. I found it hard to understand when reading that only 18% of Rotherham pupils in a survey said they felt safe in town centre, but there it is.

I'm looking forward to seeing the review of the newly introduced Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) but how do you measure perceptions? At least, from what I'm told, the perceptions of the town from investors and developers has changed in so far that there is "significant interest" in the Forge Island scheme.

What else? Portas took aim at betting shops but even with a change in planning rules, Rotherham Council failed in a bid to stop Paddy Power opening in the town centre.

On landlords, Portas discussed ideas around lease structures, further disincentives to prevent landlords from leaving units vacant and prompted Council's to be more proactive in using Compulsory Purchase Order powers to encourage the redevelopment of key high street retail space.

In Rotherham, this issue has never been more evident on Corporation Street (pictured, top) where Council bosses were reaching the "last resort" having failed to engage with the absentee owners of burnt-out, eyesore, long-vacant buildings, despite numerous attempts.

As my other article shows, I think that the efforts to improve the retail offer by supporting independent retailers in Rotherham has been a success, but with stretched council budgets, a distinct lack of a sustained follow up from the Government and a retail sector that continues to shift, it's the same issues that are affecting our town centres. The new projects in the masterplan can't come soon enough for Rotherham.

Images: Google Maps / RMBC / CWM / Eltherington /

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News: New stores set to open at Cortonwood

New stores are getting ready to open for business at a £36m retail development in Rotherham where over 200 jobs have been created.

At Cortonwood Shopping Park, work started last year on a programme to demolish the vacant 150,000 sq ft ALBA warehouse, following which J F Finnegan undertook works to create 11 new retail units and a restaurant totalling 79,750 sq ft.

Getting ready to open are national retailers Outfit, H&M, New Look, River Island, Mountain Warehouse, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Clark's, JD Sports, Wilkos, Poundland and Frankie & Benny's.

Only passed on appeal, the development is from Helical Retail and forms an extension to Cortonwood Retail Park which was developed by St Paul's Developments, totally transforming the site of the former Cortonwood Colliery, where the 1984 miners' strike began.

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Helical Bar plc is a property investment and development company and is working with partners, Oswin Developments Limited on the scheme.

Jonathan Cox of Helical Retail said: "This development has come about over a period of time which many retailers have found challenging, underlining the confidence these high profile names have in Cortonwood as a retail destination."

Edgerley Simpson Howe acted for Helical Retail and Aberdeen Asset Management was advised by CWM.

The 9,000 sq ft M&S Foodhall, which has created 57 jobs at the scheme, has set its opening date as August 30.

Helical Retail funded the development to clients of Aberdeen Asset Management for £36.3m, showing the buyer a yield of c.5.5%. Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is a global investment management group, managing assets for institutional and retail clients from offices around the world.

Over 95% of the scheme was pre-let "off plan" and the developers believe that the new retail park will create between 279 and 372 jobs (equivalent to 186 full time jobs).

Helical plc has narrowed the focus of the company to London, offices in Manchester and a portfolio of logistics units. It expects to sell off remaining non-core assets, such as its retail portfolio, this year.

Helical Retail website

Images: J F Finnegan

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News: Distributor deal for Ashton Seals

Ashton Seals Ltd, based in Rotherham, has been appointed as a distributor for Parker Prädifa, a global leader in the field of designing, developing and manufacturing sealing systems.

Part of the Ashton Group and with a site at Cortonwood, Ashton Seals is a leading supplier of O-Rings, bonded seals and associated sealing products.

Parker Prädifa, develops and manufactures components made from polymer materials used in the automotive engineering, chemical processing, oil and gas, and aerospace industries.

The parties believe that the agreement will provide Ashton Seals' customers with access to the full range of products and technical support network of Parker Prädifa.

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Zoë Fearnley, managing director of Ashton Seals, said: "As a leading supplier of sealing and engineering solutions we are thrilled to enhance our existing product portfolio with the support of Parker Prädifa."

Andy Hine, regional sales manager for North Europe at Parker Prädifa, added: "Parker Prädifa are excited to announce this partnership with Ashton Seals, an agreement that will enable us to expand our reach into additional markets."

Thomas A Ashton Ltd, trading as the Ashton Group, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. It began life in 1866 as Thomas A. Ashton trundled his handcart through the cobbled streets of Sheffield and district delivering wares, mainly paraffin.

The company grew as it supplied the booming industrial sector from its Norfolk Street premises and it became a household name. By 1966 Ashtons was one of the largest stockists of hydraulic seals in the country, carrying millions of seals in many ranges.

In 1999 Ashton Seals relocated from Sheffield to a modern purpose-built site at Cortonwood Business Park in the Dearne Valley where three subsidiaries of the group now employ around 80 staff.

Ashton Seals website

Images: Ashton Seals

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News: Finnegan bags brief at £36m Rotherham retail project

Sheffield-based contractor JF Finnegan has been appointed by Helical Retail Limited to deliver Cortonwood Shopping Park, the £36m new retail development in Rotherham.

Work on site has started on a programme of works which will involve the demolition of a vacant 150,000 sq ft ALBA warehouse, following which site preparation works will take place ready for the development of 11 new retail units totalling 120,000 sq ft for occupiers to be trading by Autumn 2017.

Rothbiz reported last week that Outfit, H&M, New Look, River Island, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Clark's, JD Sports, Wilkos, Poundland and Frankie & Benny's have all signed up to take units.

The developers believe that the new retail park will create between 279 and 372 jobs (equivalent to 186 full time jobs).

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Only passed on appeal, the planned development forms an extension to Cortonwood Retail Park which was developed by St Paul's Developments, totally transforming the site of the former Cortonwood Colliery, where the 1984 miners' strike began.

The latest contract continues JF Finnegan's long-standing involvement at the former colliery site, having constructed all 250,000 sq ft of retail units in the previous phases over the last 20 years.

Adrian Russell, of Helical Retail, said: "Our aspirations for a new retail development to enhance the existing offering at Cortonwood have been long awaited by the local residents and we are delighted to have now reached the stage where work is starting on site.

"By attracting new retailers to the area, the scheme is bringing significant capital investment and new jobs to the locality in addition to adding to the vibrancy of an already successful retail destination. We appointed JF Finnegan due to their historic involvement with Cortonwood and their strong reputation and are looking forward to seeing work progress on site."

Dawa Singh, head of pre-construction at JF Finnegan, added: "Over the years we have witnessed the transformation of Cortonwood into one of the region's most acclaimed regeneration projects and shopping destinations. We have been working alongside Helical Retail and their Project Managers PMS (Wessex) Limited for some time to develop the plans for the new extension which will ensure the continued success of the development. Our teams are now undertaking preparatory works on site."

Helical Retail has funded the development to clients of Aberdeen Asset Management for £36.3m, showing the buyer a yield of c.5.5%.

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is a global investment management group, managing assets for institutional and retail clients from offices around the world.

JF Finnegan website

Images: Helical

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News: Retailers sign up for £36m Rotherham development

Retailers and funders have shown confidence in proposals for Cortonwood Shopping Park, with deals signed so that construction can begin on the Rotherham retail development that is set to create over 200 jobs.

Outfit, H&M, New Look, River Island, Marks and Spencer Simply Food, Clark's, JD Sports, Wilkos, Poundland and Frankie & Benny's have all signed up to take units at the new retail development at Cortonwood.

Plans for a 98,000 sq ft development, to be known as Cortonwood Shopping Park, were only passed on appeal at a public inquiry in 2013 after earlier being refused by Rotherham Council.

Developer Helical Retail has been working on an extension to the existing Cortonwood Retail Park and the scheme would see a current distribution warehouse demolished to make way for ten large units. Helical Bar plc is a property investment and development company and is working with partners, Oswin Developments Limited on the scheme.

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A funding deal has now been secured that means that construction can get underway. Helical Retail has funded the development to clients of Aberdeen Asset Management for £36.3m, showing the buyer a yield of c.5.5%.

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC is a global investment management group, managing assets for institutional and retail clients from offices around the world.

Over 95% of the scheme was pre-let "off plan" with work due to start this week with completion due in June 2017.

The developers believe that the new retail park will create between 279 and 372 jobs (equivalent to 186 full time jobs).

Jonathan Cox, managing director of Helical Retail, said: "This is one of only a very few funding deals in the market at present. The pre-lettings of ten out of the proposed 11 units to some of the strongest fashion retailers in this sector will arguably create one of the best shopping parks available in recent times."

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Robert Cass, head of UK property transactions at Aberdeen Asset Management, said: "We are delighted to be funding this opportunity with Helical Retail who have a strong track record in delivering high quality schemes. The retailer line up attracted is testament to their confidence in the scheme and will build on the already very successful retail destination at Cortonwood."

Edgerley Simpson Howe acted for Helical Retail on both the lettings and funding. Forsters acted on behalf of a fund managed by Aberdeen Asset Management (AAM).

Already home to the likes of Morrisons, Next, Argos, Asda Living, Boots and B&Q, Cortonwood Retail Park was developed by St Paul's Developments,totally transforming the site of the former Cortonwood Colliery, where the 1984 miners' strike began. It was sold to The Hercules Unit Trust for £46.5m in 2003. In 2009 the trust sold the long leasehold interest in the the park to the Kirkham Family Trust for an estimated price of £41.85m.

Helical Bar website

Images: Edgerley Simpson Howe

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News: Mixed bag at B&Q stores

Kingfisher plc, the owner of DIY retailer, B&Q is considering the future of the Rotherham store, which only opened in 2009.

Under plans to "transform its offer" to customers, the nearby store at Darnall in Sheffield is closing and the store at Cortonwood in Rotherham is to remain open.

The mini-warehouse is part of the £6m Northfields Retail Park developed by Henry Boot on brownfield land close to the established Parkgate Shopping retail park. The retailer moved from previous premises at Thornhill.

A new chief executive of Kingfisher announced last year that, as part of plans to counteract a slowdown in the DIY market, B&Q intended to close around 15% surplus space (65 stores) by the end of the 2016/17 financial year. A move which put 3,000 jobs at risk.

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Reporting its financial results for the year ended 31 January 2016, the company said that: "the first 30 B&Q closures took place during the year as planned, mostly in Q4. Of the 65 stores, exits of 40 leases have been secured through a combination of transfers to national retailers and lease expiries. Discussions are ongoing on the remaining stores. Sales transference to date supports the one third required in the business case for the closures. Closures in FY 2016/17 are expected to be more evenly phased across the year."

It added that: "We know that in the UK & Ireland we can adequately meet local customer needs from fewer stores, so the closures are prioritised by the most over-spaced catchments, in order to retain customers and sales."

At the same time, Kingfisher has opened 60 Screwfix stores.

A spokesperson for B&Q said: "We can confirm that our Sheffield Darnall store will close in April 2016. We will endeavour to find alternative positions for as many staff as possible.

"We can confirm that staff at our Rotherham Parkgate store are aware that we are considering the future of their store as part of changes to the B&Q estate across the UK. Our Dearne Valley store is not proposed for closure."

The 51,000 sq ft retail warehouse unit at Northfields was purchased in 2014 by IPT Property Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of FCRE, for £10.5m, at an initial yield of 7.3 per cent. The unit is let until August 2029, with a tenant's break in 2024, at £810,346 per annum.

Full-year retail profits for Kingfisher rose 18% to £326m for the year ended 31 January 2016. At its B&Q business total sales were up 1.1% to £3.8bn. Its "Click, Pay & Collect" scheme is now available on over 16,700 products and total online sales, including home delivery, grew by 29% for the year.

B&Q website

Images: Henry Boot

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