News: Esh Construction appointed to deliver £3.1m Rotherham flood alleviation scheme

Plans to strengthen flood defences at Whiston have taken a step forward with Rotherham Council appointing Esh Construction to complete the £3.1m Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.

The project aims to reduce the flood risk along Whiston Brook, a tributary of the River Rother which flows through the centre of the village, and has been affected by recurring flooding in recent years.

Most recently, Whiston experienced significant floods in October 2023, with high water levels exacerbated by surface water runoff and pressure on existing drainage infrastructure. Flooding has previously impacted homes, businesses and the local road network, including Howarth Road and Long Lane.

Steven Garrigan, Divisional Director at Esh Construction, said: “Whiston has experienced the very real impacts of flooding in recent years, and this scheme will play a vital role in better protecting residents, businesses and local infrastructure.

“By combining flood storage, improved conveyance and naturalised watercourse enhancements, the project takes a holistic approach to managing flood risk while also delivering environmental benefits. We’re pleased to be working with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a solution that supports long-term resilience for the village.”

The project will introduce a series of targeted interventions at key locations to manage water flow more effectively, reduce peak flood levels and improve resilience across the surrounding area. Works will be delivered across three main sites.

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At Worrygoose Lane, Esh will install a new parallel culvert and upsize existing culvert sections to increase the maximum capacity the brook can hold alongside the construction of a new flood wall and embankment. Improvements will also be made to the culvert inlet headwall serving a tributary flowing from Sitwell Golf Course.

Upstream of the village, within agricultural land at Royds Moor Farm, an online Flood Storage Reservoir (FSR) will be created to temporarily store floodwater and release it in a controlled manner, which will target reduced volume and the speed of water reaching Whiston during heavy rainfall.

The project also includes realignment and meandering of Whiston Brook through the storage area, with existing culverts removed to allow the watercourse to run in the open. New wetland areas and backwaters will be created to support biodiversity, providing habitat for aquatic wildlife and plant species.

Further works will see the diversion of a Yorkshire Water surface water conduit to improve flow routing, along with upgrades to the B6410 Royds Moor Hill road crossing, where the existing structure will be upsized and new headwalls and parapets installed to increase flood capacity. Additional improvements will be carried out at nearby road crossings to help manage runoff and reduce surface water ponding.

Cllr Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “We know flooding has been worrying for people living in Whiston, and we understand how it has affected people’s lives. This scheme is an important step in helping to reduce flooding in the future. It will help manage water during heavy rain and protect homes, businesses and local roads.

“We’re pleased to be working with Esh Construction on this project. We will keep residents updated during the works and will do our best to keep disruption to a minimum.”

It is anticipated that when the project completes, the Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme will significantly reduce flood risk through the village centre and limit the effects of high rainfall causing flooding in Whiston by storing the water in an upstream reservoir and slowly releasing it.

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News: Rotherham sorting office still standing nine years post-masterplan

There are no signs that a key regeneration site in Rotherham town centre will be redeveloped anytime soon, nine years after the council's own masterplan said it was a high priority that the authority should help Royal Mail to relocate.

Details of a land swap between Rotherham Council and Royal Mail show that the postal service will continue to use the site on Main Street and Westgate and are carrying out new infrastructure works.

Progress has been made on the Riverside Residential Quarter, with the council leading on housing schemes on land it owns, as well as carriyng out further land acquisitions and enabling works to open up areas for redevelopment.

However, the large plot currently home to the Royal Mail sorting office remains out of reach despite being ripe for redevelopment and earmarked for a mix of uses, predominately housing, a decade ago.

On the site of the former Westgate station, the sorting office and wider area has a long planning history with previous owners, Satnam Urban Regeneration putting forward plans for a food store to rival those being put forward for Tesco. A long running legal battle with the council came to an end in 2009.

Rotherham Council went on to buy significant landholdings from Satnam in 2023.

The town centre masterplan of 2017 stated that after the redevelopment of the former Sheffield Road baths site, "the Council shall work positively to facilitate the relocation of the Royal Mail Depot elsewhere in the Borough to deliver up the second phase of the waterside project.

"The relocation of the Royal Mail Depot is a high priority. This site, with the former baths site, will prove the market and enable future phased deliver of land along the riverside to be secured.

"The present [sorting office] building is underutilised and large parts of the building are not used. The hard standing parking area is though wellused. The Council will take a pro-active approach by assisting in the site search for replacement facilities for this Royal Mail depot function and are aware of Royal Mail’s requirement. This site will then be redeveloped to deliver the second phase of the Residential Riverside. The future use and value of the site should be explored through a development capacity study alongside any site search, building on the masterplan."

Any relocation would need to be on a commercial basis and the delivery programme in the masterplan had construction starting on new developments on the sorting office in 2020.

With little sign of a relocation, the council and Royal Mail has now agreed on a land swap for two parcels of land around the site. The authority is acquiring a strip of land between the sorting office and the river so that enabling works can be completed. In exchange, Royal Mail will acquire a piece of land to the south, behind the former MOT centre and the remains of the Alma Tavern.

A council report reads: "The agreed swap will enable continuation of works to the river wall and the creation of public access along the river and into the town centre. It will also allow the Royal Mail to accept delivery of a fleet of electric vehicles once infrastructure works are completed within their new yard layout.

"The exchange of land parcels allows the River Walk to be developed as planned and Royal Mail to continue to operate from the Main Street site whilst meeting the same operational requirements as prior to the exchange of land."

Having secured £6.59m from the Government's Pathfinder grant to deliver infrastructure improvements in preparation for future residential redevelopment within the town centre, a £4.4m scheme delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of Rotherham Council completed last year. It included the construction of a new access road and a riverside footpath linking Water Lane to the town centre, alongside extensive landscaping and infrastructure upgrades.

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News: Esh Construction officially unveils Interactive Learning Zone at Skills Street

Esh Construction has officially opened its new Interactive Learning Zone at Skills Street, located at Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park in Rotherham.

The event, attended by key client partners from YORhub and local councils, marks a significant milestone in Esh’s collaborative investment in social value across Yorkshire. As the first employer partner to join Skills Street, the North of England contractor has merged its award-winning employability and careers programmes – Stay Safe, Get into STEM, and Construction in the Curriculum – into a single, immersive space.

Skills Street is a pioneering and immersive careers learning experience developed by Gulliver’s Valley Theme Parks in collaboration with The Work-wise Foundation. It aims to inspire and inform children, young people, and adults from across Yorkshire and beyond about the diverse career opportunities available.

Thousands of students have visited the Interactive Learning Zone and availed of the chance to explore the diverse world of construction through hands-on activities, interactive challenges, and real-life scenarios.

Megan Roberts, Social Value Manager at Esh Construction, said: “It's fantastic to have a home for all our programmes, especially given the great work we do locally through our social value schemes. This space brings together everything we stand for – engaging, inspiring, and informing the next generation about the breadth of opportunities in construction. It’s not just about what we do here, but about the wider impact we can have when we work together with partners like YORhub, Sheffield City Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.”

The Esh Interactive Learning Zone features a range of engaging activities, including Dudley’s Site Cabin, where visitors can dress as construction workers and learn about site safety; the Esh Living Site, which challenges teams to build to client specifications; and the Retrofit Tri Station, where sustainable technologies are brought to life through interactive science lessons. The space also includes an immersive technology sand pit for planning river embankments.

Andy Radcliffe, Chief Executive at Esh added: “Our social value and design teams have worked tirelessly with key stakeholders since 2022 to bring our Interactive Learning Zone to life. It is a proud day for the business to be officially launching this space, which showcases Esh’s commitment to inspiring young people to consider a career in construction from an early age. It’s not just about what we do here, but about the wider impact we can have when we work together with partners like YORhub and local authorities.”

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James Beighton, Business Development Manager at Skills Street, said: “Construction is such a critical industry for our economy with increasingly pressing skills needs. We are delighted to partner with Esh to showcase the breadth of opportunity across the built environment, introducing young people at an earlier age to job roles and practical skills that look beyond the obvious.

“Visitors are placed into real life scenarios linked to Esh projects and leave the space with a broad view on construction and its relevance to classroom learning. Most importantly, we are working collaboratively to inform a better prepared workforce whilst inspiring our next generation one skill at a time.”

The opening of the Esh Interactive Learning Zone demonstrates the power of partnership in delivering lasting social value and equipping young people with the skills and inspiration they need for the future. YORhub, whose member councils have played a key role in supporting Skills Street, also welcomed the opening.

Mike Raven, YORhub Performance and Improvement Manager, said: “The sector is badly in need of more people and our award-winning Employment & Skills offer drives this, with 29,000 pupils having benefitted from site visits and workshops since the launch of YORhub.

“We're delighted to see Esh Construction, as one of our framework contractors, inspiring young people to join construction by becoming the first contractor on Skills Street and so being able to give visibility to the wide range of careers the industry offers.”

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News: Using the river to link together Rotherham regeneration schemes

A £4.4m improvement scheme along the riverside will help open up new sites for development and connect them to Forge Island and new public space in Rotherham town centre.

Delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of Rotherham Council, the project, which completed last year, included the construction of a new access road and a riverside footpath linking Water Lane to the town centre, alongside extensive landscaping and infrastructure upgrades.

Works involved cut and fill operations, deep drainage, invasive weed removal, pavement construction, and the installation of gabion baskets to form a retaining wall feature. The project also included cosmetic repairs to the existing masonry river wall, carried out by rope access-trained personnel.

A key component of the scheme saw complex piling works used to futureproof the riverbank and support the walkway along the River Don.

Michael Sherrard, construction manager at Esh Construction, said: "The sheet piling was quite complicated. The piles themselves were about six tonnes each. The ground itself was not very stable so we had to look carefully at the plant we used to support the stability of the existing river wall."

Over 250 sheet piles - 127 pairs measuring between 14-18 metres in length - were installed over a five-week period.

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Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "Now the Riverside Walk project has been completed, it’s a really important step for our town centre — it’s going to provide a lot of benefits for visitors and residents who come here.

"Immediately it’s providing a new riverside access between our residential sites right through to the town centre and over to Forge Island. It’s really important to provide that connection, because now we’ve got the hotel, we’ve got the restaurants, we’ve got a lot of independent offerings in the town centre, and it’s just providing that really good access between both sides of the town.

"It’s really opened up the river, it’s providing access where people didn’t have it before to enjoy the scenery and to enjoy the riverside new walk."

Riverside Gardens is a new public space on the opposite side of the River Don to Forge Island. The £4.1m project got underway last year and includes proposals for accessible routes from Market Street and Domine Lane, soft landscaped terraces, a riverside walk offering views of the River Don, natural play for children, new seating and improvements to footpaths and public spaces along Corporation Street.

At the other end of the new riverside walk is the Riverside Residential Quarter on Westgate and Sheffield Road. Acquisition of under used and derelict land and property by the council has been ongoing since 2021 with multimllion pound developments such as Westgate Riverside and Millfold Rise bringing new housing to the area.

Sites such as the large car park and newly acquired SIG Roofing yard are next in line for residential redevelopment.

Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "This [the riverside walk] is a huge infrastructure project to take forward that wider regeneration.

"The site that has been left vacant, now currently a temporary car park, is going to be transformed into new housing developments and we hope to be moving forward with that in the next couple of years. We’re developing a new Riverside Gardens, so that is complementary to what’s been done here, and will create more green space."

Both the Riverside Walk and Riverside Gardens have utilised funding from the government's Town Deal, know renamed as the Local Regeneration Fund. The Riverside Walk project was delayed after it was "rescoped" in 2023 in order to remove the proposed new bridge that would have joined to the Guest & Chrimes site and the New York Stadium.

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News: The £2.45m of transport improvements in Rotherham that hasn't improved traffic flows

A multimillion pound transport scheme in a Rotherham village has failed to improve traffic flow, the local council has admitted.

Where Coach Road meets Main Street and Potter Hill in Greasbrough, a mini roundabout was replaced by a three-way crossroads, with traffic lights and dedicated left and right turn lanes, aiming to relieve congestion at this busy junction.

To improve safety and encourage travel on foot and by bike, paths around the junction were widened to provide cycle routes, and new crossings for pedestrians and cyclists have been installed.

In 2021, £2.45m was secured from the Local Growth Fund via the predecessor to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and the work was carried out by Esh Construction, on behalf of Rotherham Council.

Following correspondence from local MP Sarah Champion, Rotherham Council said that a review of the scheme has shown that "the improvements have not had the desired effect of increasing traffic capacity through the junction."

In 2017, Rotherham Council approved an option to demolish Greasbrough Public Hall so that future road improvements could be carried out here. Papers showed at the time that the Council deemed that the strategic importance of improving the infrastructure around the proposed Bassingthorpe Farm development outweighed proposals to save the historic village hall.

Removed from the greenbelt, a masterplan has recently been signed off for a 2,000 home development - a "well-connected 21st century garden community" at Bassingthorpe.

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Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, said in the letter that "It is apparent that traffic has redistributed around the local highway network negatively affecting junction operation. In particular, it appears that there has been a significant increase in demand for some movements, including a significant increase on outflow from the junction toward the north, which could explain the apparent underperformance of the scheme. This may be a consequence of a well-documented effect, where improvements to junction capacity can result in increased traffic, where road users change their route or travel behaviours in response to driving being made more attractive.

"Secondly research undertaken by (sic) regionally has identified a local factor with regards the operation of junctions in South Yorkshire. Research has shown that the actual traffic flow crossing stop lines, known as the saturation flow, is generally lower than the values calculated using industry standard methodology (TRRL research report RR67). The research showed that some drivers are, relative to industry standard forecasting, slow to respond to a green signal and the queue starting to move and / or prefer to leave a larger gap to the vehicle in front. This has led to green time effectively being 'wasted' and the junctions not operating as expected with actual saturation flows (simplistically the capacity of the junction) being 18% less than expected values on average."

Further work at the junction has been ruled out and a nearby project for "The Whins" no longer appears on any lists of council capital projects having previously been identified as a project that could be funded by the authority's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). A potential scheme to support Bassingthorpe had been in development for a new roundabout at the triangular road layout on Cinder Bridge Road. A passing bay at the junction was also discussed back in 2023.

Sarah Champion said that she was disappointed that the response offered no solution. adding: "This simply is not good enough, and it is something that I will keep pushing alongside Greasbrough’s local councillors."

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News: £4.4m Rotherham riverside improvement works complete

A transformative £4.4m improvement scheme along the Rotherham riverside is now complete, opening up more land for housing developments in the town centre.

Delivered by Esh Construction on behalf of Rotherham Council, the project included the construction of a new access road and a riverside footpath linking Water Lane to the town centre, alongside extensive landscaping and infrastructure upgrades.

Works involved cut and fill operations, deep drainage, invasive weed removal, pavement construction, and the installation of gabion baskets to form a retaining wall feature. The project also included cosmetic repairs to the existing masonry river wall, carried out by rope access-trained personnel.

A key component of the scheme saw complex piling works used to futureproof the riverbank and support the Riverside walkway. Over 250 sheet piles – 127 pairs weighing up to six tonnes each and measuring between 14-18 metres in length – were installed over a five-week period.

These piles formed a new foundation to support the new riverside route behind the existing river wall, designed with a 100-year lifespan to ensure long-term stability and resilience while a capping beams and balustrade were also installed to complete the new riverside route.

Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase our expertise in complex civil engineering. We’re proud to have successfully completed this transformative scheme, which plays an important part in the wider regeneration of Rotherham town centre.

“The project is a great example of the collaborative partnership we’ve built with Rotherham Council, and we look forward to continuing that relationship through future projects that help shape the town’s future.”

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Cllr John Williams, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, added: “We’re delighted to see this infrastructure project completed, opening up a new footpath along the river and wider site that pave the way for future development in Rotherham town centre.

“The scheme has also delivered a brand-new access road alongside significant landscaping and infrastructure improvements.

“As we continue to invest in the future of our town centre, and bring brownfield housing sites forward, works like these are an essential part of the redevelopment. It’s all part of the work we need to build a smarter environment, supporting a brighter future for this corner of town.”

As part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter. The authority has continued to acquire land in the Sheffield Road area and are set to use a cluster approach "to create a sufficient quantum of development potential to tackle viability."

The project was procured through YORhub’s YORcivil2 framework. Through its Constructing Local strategy, which sees Esh maximise social and economic value for the local area, the social value team has delivered 66 apprentice weeks, 19 weeks of work experience, 392 hours of support into work through our Constructing Careers programme and 67% of operatives on the project were South Yorkshire residents.

Additionally, a community garden at Lighthouse Homes was redeveloped thanks to £8,200 of funding which was unlocked through the YOR4Good Fund community grant initiative. The garden’s makeover was part of plans to enhance the quality of life for the Lighthouse Homes residents, and saw Esh’s team, alongside agricultural students from RNN Group revamp the garden area and create a space for residents to grow fruit and vegetables for the facility.

The Rotherham Riverside scheme completion builds on Esh Construction’s delivery of public realm and active travel projects in the region, including Wellgate and Broom Road, Sheffield Road Cycleways, and Maltby Bus Corridor.

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News: Constructing Careers in Rotherham

A Rotherham resident, who was previously unemployed, is throwing himself in at the deep end after securing a contract with Esh Construction. Labourer Josh secured the role after completing Esh’s Constructing Careers programme in his hometown.

The three-week bespoke course provided out of work Rotherham residents with hands-on work experience on a £4.1m public realm project at Rotherham Riverside in the town centre and a range of entry level construction skills and employability sessions.

After successfully completing the programme and securing his CSCS card, Josh Connelly, 30, was landed a labourer position with Esh’s civil engineering division. Having worked in customer-facing roles through a plumbers’ merchants for eight years, the role with Esh marks a change in direction.

He said: “I had never worked in construction before in my life, but as I had been applying for roles anyway, it was worth exploring the Constructing Careers programme with Esh, knowing it could open a door to an opportunity at the end of the three weeks.

“I’ve always been willing to throw myself into any situation that presents itself, so I went for it, and it’s turned out really good.”

Since joining Esh on site at the end of April, Josh admits he initially felt out of his depth, but soon found his feet shadowing the site team. He added: “Everyone on site has been very helpful, showing me how things work on site and getting me up to speed on key tasks. I’ve been doing a bit of everything, from helping complete the gabion baskets along the new footpath, to changing buckets on diggers and learning the procedures for dealing with concrete.

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During the Constructing Careers programme, which was run in partnership with RNN Group, Hatton Traffic Management, Henry Boot Construction, Antz UK and Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, candidates took on two days of site-based work experienced, while receiving sessions in occupational studies, health and safety training and being put through their CSCS card exam.

Project Manager for Esh Construction, Joe Heptinstall, has been impressed by Josh’s adaptability since joining the Rotherham Riverside team. He said: “Throughout the programme, Josh was recognised for his enthusiasm and hard work in both the theoretical and practical areas covered.

“Following a successful interview, Josh has knitted into the Esh team perfectly. Without Constructing Careers, candidates like Josh wouldn’t have had the opportunity to explore a career in construction, nor Esh recognise his potential.”

Rotherham Riverside is part of a public realm improvement project which aims to further develop the riverside in Rotherham town centre. Once completed, the works will upgrade land just off Westgate, to link Water Lane to the town centre via a new footpath.

“I’m from Rotherham and I know first hand how badly this area has needed developing,” added Josh. “It’s been great to join Esh and to play a small role in helping to open the site up again. It has been needed for a long time. The new footpath will provide a nice walking route for the local community and will be brilliant for the town.”

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News: Rotherham charity gets garden revamp

A community garden at Lighthouse Homes in Rotherham has been redeveloped in time for Spring in a bid to promote positive mental wellbeing and outdoor activities for young men that are facing homelessness.

The charity is a 17-bed hostel on the edge of the town centre set up to give men over the age of 18 24/7 support with homelessness, poverty, and drug and alcohol abuse, aiming to improve wellbeing and poverty in the local area. The garden’s makeover was part of an initiative to enhance the quality of life for the Lighthouse Homes residents, creating a space for them to engage in outdoor activities.

Esh Construction has donated £8,200 in funding which was used to purchase materials and resources for the new garden area, including a space for residents to grow fruit and vegetables for the facility. The use of the outdoor area will provide a step in the right direction for residents on the road to recovery, helping to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Martin Haigh, Support Manager from Lighthouse Homes, said: “The provision of a quiet green space is an essential part of what we offer to our residents in Rotherham. We are very grateful to Esh Construction for the work done and the way they did it. They minimised disruption and were polite and courteous at every contact we have had with them.”

A team of agricultural students from RNN Group have volunteered their time to deliver the project with Esh Construction by upcycling existing benches, installing sleepers, paving, and creating a planting area that can be used by the residents. Patience Middleton, RNN student, said: “I have really enjoyed participating in practical activities on site, as it has allowed me to work outside of my comfort zone and given me valuable knowledge and skills by working with industry specialists.

“Completing this project with the Esh team has given me an insight into how to work together to complete a project, and I feel confident that I can take what I have learnt on site into my future careers.”

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The volunteering project for RNN students was facilitated by Esh Construction as part of its social value commitment to the Rotherham Riverside project. Located mere metres from Lighthouse Homes, the £4.1m public realm improvement scheme will support riverside development in Rotherham town centre.

Megan Roberts, Social Value Manager for Yorkshire at ESH, said: “The facilities at Lighthouse Homes are incredible. Their work to help young men in the local community is invaluable, and the new garden will provide them with the opportunity to further enhance the support that they offer.

“Esh is committed to delivering social value initiatives like this one in the local areas where we are operating. The work that we do is long-term, to create a legacy, and we hope that the new garden will provide support to the residents for many years to come.”

Cllr Sarah Ann Allen, Cabinet Member for Housing from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “Lighthouse Homes, as evidenced by this particular project, is really important to us. We have a rough sleeper and homelessness strategy for the borough, and Lighthouse Homes make an important contribution to this. We are extremely grateful for the work that Esh Construction and the RNN students have completed for the residents at Lighthouse homes, as the benefits that they will gain from the new garden are endless.”

Esh Construction pledged the funding as part of its commitment to YORhub’s YOR4Good Fund, a community grant initiative supporting economic regeneration projects on schemes awarded through the YORhub construction frameworks.

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News: Business community comes together to champion social value in Rotherham

An event highlighting social value in Rotherham inspired community collaboration at Wentworth Woodhouse.

More than 100 people from South Yorkshire businesses came together as Esh Construction delivered a networking event to lead the conversation on meaningful social value delivery in Rotherham.

Esh’s Social Value Manager for Yorkshire, Megan Roberts, was joined by Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Carrie Sudbury to host the event at Wentworth Woodhouse, which enabled conversations to go past the discussion of social value, with representatives from the South Yorkshire Careers Hub, Rotherham Hospice, Skills Street and the Work-wise Foundation, among others, coming together to celebrate successes and focus on ‘doing the doing.’

Megan opened the conversation by discussing Esh’s Constructing Local strategy which has been built around six key E’s – economy, education, engagement, employment, even greener and employees. Alongside, guest speakers Carole Foster, Fundraising Manager at Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and Simon Hartley, Skills Consultant for RNN Group UK shared aligned values throughout the morning.

Megan said: “It was incredible heading down to the main networking area to see all our exhibitors in deep conversation and many of our visitors gaining new contacts. I am so grateful to our key speakers and exhibitors for getting involved and making the event a success.”

In Rotherham alone, Esh Construction has delivered £2.1m worth of social value return on investment across its schemes since 2023. With community engagement being built across employment, education and the third sector, Chamber Chief Executive Carrie acknowledged there are always opportunities for more businesses to capitalise. She said: “The Chamber would encourage all businesses – any shape or size – to always collaborate and have those conversations. Events like today are so important to the borough, its people, the voluntary sectors, to service providers, to retail and to hospitality – the golden thread, through all of this is collaboration and conversation.

“Esh have done an incredible job already for the local region. And Megan has done a wonderful job in her role, not just today but on a long-term basis and she shared some incredible stories through the event.”

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Working as a Skills Consultant at RNN Group, which supports 10,000 students across five colleges at any one time, Simon Hartley urged businesses to up their game on social value, explaining that it takes a two-way street for a real impact to be made. He said: “At RNN our aim is to get students into the industries they want to work in so it’s about matching the employee with the right class to get that support.

“Events like today not only raise awareness of the great things happening in Rotherham and South Yorkshire but they showcase how businesses can benefit too. Social value isn’t just about charities doing something to help learners, it can also aid businesses – it’s a two-way street.”

The historic setting for the networking session wasn’t lost on the 100+ businesses present, but it was sobering to hear from fundraising manager at Wentworth Woodhouse Carole Foster, who highlighted that hosting the community event would help the charity attract further business support.

She said: “Bringing different organisations and businesses together is vital, especially for a charity like ours. We are just at the beginning of our journey – to create a thriving community hub and restore a heritage site for future generations. While visitors see a grand building, they often don’t realise that three-quarters of it, hidden from view, is still in urgent need of restoration.

“What stood out from the event is the strong desire to collaborate, which is something I truly love about Rotherham. Having worked in the town for many years across various charities and community organisations, I’ve seen firsthand how people come together to support one another—and that’s what makes this community special.”

A key message of togetherness and collaboration resounded through the Grade I listed country house on the outskirts of Rotherham, from the outset, with a heartfelt round of applause paying homage to Dame Julie Kenny, who passed away earlier this week after a short illness – Dame Julie played a key role in charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage buying and restoring Wentworth Woodhouse and has been a prominent community champion across Yorkshire.

Attendees were invited to sign up for Esh’s first Constructing Careers programme in the region, through which businesses can offer interviews for candidates to help provide positive destinations.

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News: RNN Group builds with Esh Group on construction programme

RNN Group (made up of campuses including Rotherham Campus, Dearne Valley Campus and University Centre Rotherham) is partnering with Esh Group to deliver a bespoke construction course that will help deliver on the future skills needed in the sector and support South Yorkshire residents who are currently unemployed to kickstart their career in the construction industry.

Starting late February, the three-week course taught at the College between staff from Rotherham Campus and Esh Group will focus on Health and Safety (COSHH, PPE, Signage, Legislation and manual handling), Employability Skills (interview techniques, skills qualities and attributes), construction skills, onsite practical training and CSCS Testing.

The course will conclude with interviews undertaken by Esh Group and its supply chain as well as other companies in the region, with the potential for candidates to secure a work placement or employment if they successfully complete the course.

Esh has secured conrtacts worth millions of pounds in Rotherham, including work on regeneration and transport schemes around Rotherham town centre.

Esh has been successfully working with the RNN Group for 18 months now starting out as an Employer Partner and supporting the construction department since September 2023. After winning key RNN Employer awards in November last year for New Business Partner of the Year and ‘Skills for Employment’ Business of the Year, they have now further entrenched the partnership with this exciting and innovative course designed to help adults in the local community into jobs.

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It comes on the back of Rotherham Campus’s multi-million-pound new Construction Centre in the heart of Rotherham, built to generate the future skills needed for our region including T Levels and key adult skills courses.

Megan Roberts, Social Value Manager at Esh Group, said: “Our strong partnership with RNN provided the perfect opportunity to bring this programme to the Yorkshire region. We are really proud of this offer, it will directly benefit local residents by helping them gain important employability skills and sector specific training that directly corresponds with our construction sites in Rotherham.”

“We hope to see our supply chain and local businesses hiring through this programme, which will in turn support their recruitment needs.”

Jason Austin, CEO and Principal, RNN Group, added: “This partnership with Esh is going from strength to strength and we are thrilled to be working with them on this innovative programme to support adults into work.”

“Our brand-new construction centre will play a huge part in this, which is one of the many reasons RNN Group worked to gain the government money needed to develop this facility knowing the importance of developing skills in our region and in this sector to support employers, our community and our local economy.”

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News: Piling works complete on £4.1m Rotherham Riverside project

It will have sounded like something reminiscent of the thumping of the old Rotherham Forge and Rolling Mills and now more than 250 sheet piles have been installed as part of a project to open up a riverside area of the town centre for development.

Esh Construction commenced public realm improvement works in the Water Lane area earlier this year. £4.1m of upgrades on land just off Westgate are creating a new access road a new walkway along the River Don into the town centre to complement the new housing developments and leisure scheme at Forge Island.

Specialist techniques have been employed and a total of 127 pairs of piles, weighing up to six tonnes each, have been installed with varying lengths between 14-18m through a five-week period. A temporary piling mat, which extends to 170m long, 8m wide and 550mm deep and equating to 1,500 tonnes of capping was also constructed to support the heavy plant and machinery that will be used throughout the piling works.

Esh has already carried out remediation and repair work to the river walls.

Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager at ESH, said: “In our investigations into the designs for a new pathway, we discovered that the existing brick wall would not support the new footpath, so we had to provide a new piled foundation that had a 100-year design life and that’s where the sheet piling construction comes in.

“These are about as long a sheet pile you are likely to use along a section of riverbank like this and the sections being installed are some of the heaviest available on the market.”

The logistics of getting the 18m sheet piles to site brought challenges with police escorts and movement orders, as well as getting the crane and the rig to site too.

It is anticipated that as the existing riverbank erodes, the new piled foundation to the footpath, with accompanying balustrade would become the new exposed river wall in time, futureproofing the river bank and maintaining the footpath at the same time.

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Esh Construction worked closely with piling experts Sheet Piling UK during this key phase in the project. Emirates Steel Arkan (EMSTEEL) GreenSheetPile™ low carbon sheet piles were used to create the lowest amount of embodied (embedded) carbon within the required sheet piles.

The manufacturing process behind GreenSheetPile™ – the Electric Arc Furnace method – results in much lower amounts of embedded carbon within the finished steel products produced than is the global steel industry norm. Where a typical amount of embedded carbon with global steel sheet pile is 2,300kg per tonne of finished product, the GreenSheetPile™ sheet piles have an embedded carbon value of 708kg per tonne of finished product.

Sheet Piling UK’s director, Andrew Cotton, said: “We are delighted to have worked in a collaborative manner on the Rotherham Riverside project with Esh Construction to ensure the complex sheet piling works were delivered safely, on programme, and within budget. The sheet piling works represented a key element of the project and having a reliable supply chain partner to deliver such works is key to the overall success of the project.”

Other works on the Riverside have included cut and fill operations, deep drainage works and Japanese knotweed removal, with gabion baskets planned to create a retaining wall feature along the new pathway.

The next phase of the works, moving into 2025, will see the piling mat removed and the area between the wall and deep piles back filled, with the capping beam and balustrades to be fitted, enabling the team to proceed with the construction of the new pathway.

Having acquired the land in the area in 2022, Rotherham Council has identified Riverside Residential Quarter Phase 2 in the next phase of regeneration for the town centre, working up the first stages of planning and feasibility for more housing.

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News: Contractor celebrates completion of Rotherham transport schemes

Esh Construction has completed two key active travel projects in Rotherham that are designed to make it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and around the town centre.

Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor and delivered on behalf of Rotherham Council, the £6.4m scheme will provide Rotherham’s residents with more opportunities to undertake journeys by bus, walking and cycling in line with the active travel initiative.

The Sheffield Road Cycleways project has delivered over 2km of new cycle routes on the A6178 Sheffield Road and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. The route will provide a near seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area.

Rothbiz reported how Rotherham Council was forced to explain the new road layout on Westgate and Sheffield Road which has introduced a single carriagway with cycle lanes that are not mandatory and instead indicate to drivers the distance they should leave when passing cyclists.

Maltby Bus Corridor has seen the installation of 2.8km of new bus lanes and new signalised junctions with pedestrian crossings along the 8-mile route from Rotherham to Maltby. The bus corridor will bypass areas of congestion on the A631 route into the town centre and enable faster and more reliable services, particularly those linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield city centre, Magna and Meadowhall.

Esh’s Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, said: “We are pleased to bring another two schemes to successful completion in collaboration with Rotherham Council, in line with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s active travel targets.

“These types of projects require extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes. Having already completed the Wellgate and Broom Road active travel project, we have created the foundations for better connectivity to the town centre and the surrounding areas.”

Councillor Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: “It’s so important to consider the needs of all highways users. The Maltby Bus Corridor scheme improves journey times for bus users on the A631 corridor between Maltby and the Bramley Roundabout for the M18. The Sheffield Road Cycleways scheme gives cyclists new cycle tracks between the borough boundary and Westgate in the town centre, and improves conditions for pedestrians. Two exciting schemes completed to a high standard giving Rotherham residents improved transport options.”

As part of its Constructing Local strategy, Esh re-invested £1.3m in the South Yorkshire region through responsible procurement on the Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor project.

Esh Construction also provided 479 hours of school engagement through its partnership with Better Learners Better Workers and RNN Academy. A total of 97 apprentice weeks were delivered and seven local residents were employed to work directly on the scheme.

Funding for the Sheffield Road Cycleways project and the Maltby Bus Corridor was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with monies from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

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News: Water Lane work will open up Rotherham's riverside residential quarter

Esh Construction has commenced public realm improvement works which will support further riverside development in Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported last year on plans at Westgate and Sheffield Road to address the river wall and carry out work to Water Lane that will enable future phases of housing where, as part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter.

Procured through YORhub’s YORcivil2 framework on behalf of Rotherham Council, Esh will deliver £4.1m of upgrades on land just off Westgate, while highway upgrades will be actioned on Water Lane.

A new carriageway will be constructed at Water Lane to improve existing vehicular access and provide a link to a new riverside footpath which will reconnect Water Lane to Rotherham town centre. Cut and fill operations, deep drainage works, Japanese knotweed remediation, pavement construction and new fencing is required, while gabion baskets will be used to create a retaining wall feature along the new pathway.

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Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager at Esh Construction, said: “We look forward to bringing our expertise to this project which will play an important role in improving and facilitating the connectivity of Rotherham Riverside for the future development of the town.

“Esh has vast experience in delivering public realm projects and we are thrilled to continue our working relationship with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.”

Esh’s civil engineering division will also carry out repairs and remedial works to the existing river walls, with 180m long sheet piles up to 18m in depth being installed to strengthen the river wall. A capping beam will also be added on top to secure the wall structurally and support a guard rail, while cosmetic repairs will be carried out to the existing masonry river wall by rope access trained personnel.

The project builds on the success of Esh’s recently completed active travel schemes for Rotherham Council, which include Wellgate and Broom Road, as well as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor.

Having acquired the land in December 2022 the project forms part of the Council’s continued investment into the town centre, bringing new homes, leisure uses and improved public realm.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Robert Taylor said: “The access road and creation of a new walkway into the town centre will really complement the new housing developments and leisure scheme at Forge Island. The route will support us to continue to breathe new life into this side of the town by helping facilitate new housing developments in the future.”

The council confirmed last year that the project had been delayed after it was "rescoped" in order to remove the proposed new bridge that would have joined to the Guest & Chrimes site and the New York Stadium.

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News: Council explains new Rotherham active travel scheme

Four hundred metres of advisory cycle lanes on Westgate have been completed to help extend the existing cycle route from the Sheffield boundary near the Magna Science Adventure Centre, through to Rotherham town centre.

Rotherham Council says that it "was working well."

To support affordable and environmentally friendly travel, £9.74m, including money from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, was secured for the Sheffield Road Cycleways as part of wider regeneration bringing improved transport links, more jobs and better housing to the town centre and Templeborough.

Delivered by ESH Group, phase 3 is focused on improved conditions for walking and cycling between Westgate and the A6178 Sheffield Road where the council has begun fulfilling its ambition of increasing the residential units in the area.

The new cycle lanes are not mandatory and instead indicate to drivers the distance they should leave when passing cyclists. Motorists in both directions use a single carriageway down the middle of the road, moving into the advisory cycle lanes when passing vehicles approaching in the opposite direction.

The scheme also brings enhanced features for pedestrians such as new paving and better bus stops and improved provision for businesses with easier customer parking and loading. A 20mph speed limit was part of the plans.

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A spokesperson for Rotherham Council said: "The layout was developed to provide cycling infrastructure proportionate to volume of traffic with reference to national guidelines, whilst prioritising space for walking and maintaining access to businesses, which were highlighted to us during scheme development as priorities for Ward Members and the local community.

"Whilst new to Rotherham, the layout has formed part of Department for Transport design guidance since at least 2008, and successful similar schemes have been in place in the UK for as long as two decades. Observations undertaken to date indicate the layout was working well (notwithstanding an increase in traffic associated with displacement from the ongoing Centenary Way viaduct works).

"The scheme will be monitored post implementation, including being subject to a Stage 3 Road Safety Audit. The latter audit has been commissioned and we expect to receive the audit report within weeks."

The works were also raised at a recent council meeting.

Cllr. Robert Taylor, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: "The scheme has been designed with reference to relevant guidance and underlying research; and there was very good forward visibility throughout for the design speed and speed limit.

"The layout implemented has been an option allowed for by Department for Transport guidelines since at least 2008, with such layouts having existed on the ground for at least two decades – it was not an experimental or innovative layout.

"If people could not drive safely down a road then it would be a matter for those involved and relevant agencies to determine liability between them – the Council would not be liable as it had complied with the design regulations and codes."

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that initial proposals, including new traffic management measures to deter people driving through the town centre, had been scrapped. Rotherham Council's u-turn came after designs to reduce traffic on Westgate "received significant local opposition."

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News: Contractor celebrates completion of Rotherham cycle scheme

Esh Construction has completed the first of three key active travel projects in Rotherham that are designed to make it safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and around the town centre.

A £3.6m project on Wellgate and Broom Road – on behalf of Rotherham Council – has delivered 1,600 metres of dedicated cycle tracks, along with signal-controlled crossings and associated junction improvements. An online roundabout on a busy commuter route was upgraded, incorporating the new cycle lanes to provide a safer solution for cyclists and those using mobility scooters in accessing the town centre.

Esh’s Divisional Director, Steven Garrigan, said: “This type of project requires extensive logistical planning while working across online travel networks and commuter routes, therefore we are pleased to bring the first of three active travel schemes to completion.

“At Esh, we pride ourselves on building and maintaining strong working relationships with our clients and through our work with Rotherham Council we are building on an extensive portfolio of experience, while supporting the active travel targets outlined by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.”

Funding for the scheme was secured by the Council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS).

Rothbiz revealed when the scheme was proposed in 2021 that it would reduce the capacity of Clifton roundabout, making queuing longer at busy times. Further work is now being carried out on extending the scheme along Broom Road to the Stag roundabout, and on possible schemes in the adjacent areas.

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Matthew Reynolds, Head of Transportation Infrastructure Service at Rotherham Council, recently updated councillors on the completed scheme. He said: "It looks impressive. From our expectation it is functioning how we want it to do.

"We need to be mindful of the messaging around the scheme. It is a cycle scheme, but actually, what we are seeing here is a much safer use of this roundabout. Before you could go round the roundabout without having to brake - "flythroughs" on a very fast roundabout with people not driving appropriately. The new kerbing makes people slow down, assess and look around the junction, before they make the turns. And that, from what I have seen, has been very good in terms of its compliance and getting people to drive a lot more safely.

"To be honest, it would be good to have few cyclists on there, and we'll get there in time I think, once we build the network, but it is a good piece of infrastructure."

To the west of Wellgate and Broom Road, two further active travel projects being delivered by Esh are nearing completion. Known as Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor, the schemes are expected to be finished later this year, providing Rotherham’s residents with more opportunities to undertake journeys by bus, walking, and cycling in line with the active travel initiative.

The Sheffield Road Cycleways project will connect Sheffield and Rotherham, with over 2km of new cycle routes being introduced on the A6178 Sheffield Road at Templeborough and Westgate between the town centre and the borough boundary at Tinsley. Over time and alongside other investments the route will provide a nearly seamless connection for cycling from beyond Meadowhall through to the Broom area.

It is due to complete in July 2024.

Maltby Bus Corridor will feature 2.8km of new bus lanes and new signalised junctions with pedestrian crossings along the 8-mile route from Rotherham to Maltby. The bus corridor will bypass areas of congestion on the A631 route into the town centre and enable faster and more reliable services, particularly those linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield city centre, Magna and Meadowhall.

It is due to be completed in April 2024.

Funding for the Sheffield Road Cycleways project and the Maltby Bus Corridor was secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with monies from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

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News: Plans to enable more Rotherham riverside housing

Plans have been submitted for a range of enabling works to support further riverside residential development in Rotherham town centre.

A key part of the town centre masterplan places the focus on more leisure and residential uses and a diversifying of the high street from being retail focused.

Rotherham Council is looking ahead having completed housing projects as part of the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise.

At Westgate and Sheffield Road, plans have been developed to address the river wall and carry out work to Water Lane that will enable future phases of housing where, as part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter.

Esh Group, one of the North of England’s largest privately-owned construction businesses, has secured the conctract for the public realm improvement works which include "remedial works to sections of an existing river wall, earthworks, cut and fill, retaining walls, drainage works and public realm improvements."

Esh secured a stage 1 award worth £483,842, with the option to progress to stage 2 works, with an estimated 10 months programme in the region of £5.2m.

However, a recent update from the council confirmed that the project has been delayed after it was "rescoped" in order to remove the proposed new bridge that would have joined to the Guest & Chrimes site.

The application includes a new riverside footpath, new sheet pile to the existing river wall, the repair of the existing river wall, new retaining walls and an upgrade of Water Lane to include the construction of new highway and footpaths.

One issue is how the riverside path will link to Main Street and talks have been underway for a land swap deal for a parcel of land between the Royal Mail sorting office and the river.

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The plans, drawn up by ELG Planning Consultants, state: "The current application proposals relate to a range of enabling works that will support the delivery of the future residential development of the site, which will deliver high quality housing that embraces the riverside setting within a highly accessible location relative to the wider town centre.

"The proposals will build upon the recent housing led regeneration that has taken place within this part of the town thereby helping to support the LPA’s [Rotherham Council's] overarching objectives in relation to the delivery of new housing and supporting the vitality and viability of the town centre."

The new riverside walk is expected to improve connectivity and "enhance the role of the River Don as a key asset within the town centre by re-opening this part of the riverside to pedestrians."

Masterplanning in the area has been undertaken by AHR Architects showing up to 200 high quality residential units, to include a mix of apartments and houses. The site to the west of Westgate has an indicative capacity of 143 dwellings.

Rotherham Council has already purchased further properties and plots of land for housing in the area. The authority has acquired all land and properties owned by Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd which includes the 200 space Westgate Car Park and the two pubs including the derelict Alma Tavern, which has been under the threat of demolition.

Council documents show that £4.1m was set aside to purchase the land and properties.

Rotherham Council is also now responsible for the business rates for other properties in the area which is a hint at ownership. This includes commercial properties closer to Ickles Roundabout such as the former car showroom on Marsh Street.

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News: Rotherham transport scheme underway

A £2.4m scheme to improve bus journey times between Maltby and Rotherham town centre is underway, with Rotherham Council awarding another contract to the Esh Group for the work.

New bus lanes along the A631 between Addison Road in Maltby and the Bramley Roundabout/M18 Junction 1 will improve bus times and reliability, as well as benefitting other road users.

Work started on the new bus lanes this week, and will take 14 months to complete. Traffic management on the A631 will be used throughout the works, and signage announcing roadworks will be displayed in advance.

The bus lane, which will be an addition to existing lanes for general traffic, will run between Addison Road in Maltby, and Denby Way at Hellaby, and there will be an extension of the existing bus lane at Wickersley School towards the water works.

Buses will spend less time queuing and pulling into traffic flows, making services more punctual, particularly the X1, X7 and X10 services linking Maltby to Rotherham and onwards to Sheffield City Centre via Magna and Meadowhall.

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The scheme is being delivered by funding secured by Rotherham Council from the Department for Transport’s and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “Bus services in our area have been going through a really difficult time since the pandemic and it's important that we do all we can to try to ensure they're sustainable for the future. One of the ways that the Council can help in this case is by helping to improve the reliability of services by making these improvements, funded by the government grant that we have secured. The route between the centre of Rotherham and Maltby is a key part of the bus network and I hope the passengers will soon be benefiting from this additional investment.”

The council has recently awarded a £6.9m contract to the Esh Group for the detailed design and civil works for the Maltby Bus Corridor and for Sheffield Road phase 2 and 3 Cycleways.

Rothbiz recently reported that multiple projects have been secured in the borough through the YORcivil2 framework, with Esh recently commencing work on a cycle lane project known as Wellgate and Broom Road. Other work includes early contractor involvement (ECI) work for a design and build contract on Rotherham’s Riverside Residential Quarter.

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News: Esh Group celebrate contract success in Rotherham

North of England contractor, Esh Construction, has secured £15m of new civil engineering contracts as the firm continues to target growth within the Yorkshire region.

With bases in Durham and Leeds, Esh Group is one of the North of England’s largest privately-owned construction businesses and operates throughout the North East, the Tees Valley, Yorkshire and the Humber.

Public realm, highways, infrastructure and enabling works are among the projects secured since the start of the year, representing a 100% uplift in pipeline from the same time in 2022. A number of recent contracts have been in Rotherham.

Multiple projects have been secured through the YORcivil2 framework, with Esh recently commencing work on a cycle lane project known as Wellgate and Broom Road on behalf of Rotherham Council. The scheme will include 0.7km of cycleway construction, along with associated works at junctions, signal-controlled crossings, drainage works and resurfacing.

While another contract, in excess of £6m, which will deliver cycleway and bus lane facilities to promote active travel into Rotherham town centre is due to start in June.

Other work includes early contractor involvement (ECI) work for a design and build contract on Rotherham’s Riverside Residential Quarter. Site investigations have commenced as part of the design phase which includes Esh working closely with the Environment Agency due to the site being located next to the river Don.

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Previous Esh projects in the borough include the £5m housing development at Broom Hayes (pictured) and the soon to open, £5.4m business incubation hub at Manvers. Esh also worked on the £1.4m contract to change the road layout on the B6089 through Greasbrough from a mini roundabout to a signalised junction.

Steven Garrigan took the helm as Divisional Director for Esh’s civil engineering division in 2022. He said: “The strong start to 2023 in the Yorkshire and Humber region follows several director and senior-level promotions which were made in the division to drive forward organic growth plans. As a result, we have seen the pipeline double from the same time last year which has enabled us to double the delivery team in the region.

“These recent awards represent a number of repeat contracts with established clients which builds on the success of previously delivered schemes and is testament to the hard work of our delivery team and sub-contractors.

“Throughout each contract we will deliver a bespoke package of social value initiatives which are designed to maximise the social and economic benefits for the local community. This will include employing a local workforce, procuring a local supply chain, delivering employability and engagement sessions within schools and colleges, as well as offering work experience and T-Level opportunities for those keen to gain an insight into the industry.”

Esh Construction is appointed to YORhub’s YORcivil2 framework for projects worth up to £10m. Since securing a place on the framework in 2017, Esh has secured more than £26.7m of projects procured through YORcivil2.

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News: Rethink for Rotherham riverside residential regeneration scheme

Plans have evolved for a key regeneration project that aims to bring more houses to Rotherham town centre.

At Westgate and Sheffield Road, a bridge over to the football stadium is no longer in the plans and the condition of the river wall is presenting a problem.

As part of the £31.6m Town Deal programme, government funding is being used to continue the development of a Riverside Residential Quarter. Following on from Council-led projects in the area such as Westgate Riverside and Millfold Rise, masterplanning has been undertaken for up to 279 high quality residential units, to include a mix of apartments and houses.

Rotherham Council has purchased further properties and plots of land for housing in the area. The authority has acquired all land and properties owned by Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd which includes the 200 space Westgate Car Park and the two pubs including the derelict Alma Tavern, which has been under the threat of demolition.

Council documents show that £4.1m was set aside to purchase the land and properties.

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Satnam Urban Regeneration Ltd has been a significant landowner in the area but had been unable to realise development including a proposed food store on the Royal Mail site that was turned down in 2009.

Regarding the prominent sorting office site, Royal Mail has previously asked that the re-provision / relocation of its operations would be required prior to redevelopment. Royal Mail have now engaged with the council and are in negotiations.

Council documents also show that a potential footbridge has been removed from the scheme now that work on regenerating the former Guest & Chrimes site was no longer proceeding as part of the Town Deal.

Despite £4.5m being set aside for a scheme to repurpose the former foundry as an National / International music venue, the council was unable to reach an agreement with the landowner, Rotherham United Football Club. It is now looking at other sites within the town centre.

To progress the riverside residential project, Esh Construction Ltd has recently been awarded a contract for the enabling works. Project officers had been looking at the river wall which is "in poor shape" with sheet piling needed to steady it prior to work on a Riverside Walk.

A council report on the £483,842.47 contract states: "As part of Rotherham’s continued diversification of and investment in the town centre this scheme contributes to the delivery of a new residential quarter in the town centre. This contract will facilitate the progression of the Riverside Residential Quarter through the development of an engineering design solution and delivery strategy for a new riverside walk and realignment and infrastructure works to Water Lane."

Esh, who have also been awarded the council contract for the scheme to connect the cycle route created through Templeborough to the town centre along Sheffield Road and Westgate, have the option to progress to stage 2 works in the riverside area which has an estimated 10 months programme in the region of £5.2m.

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News: Work continues on £13m travel schemes in Rotherham

Work is now underway on an active travel scheme on the edge of Rotherham town centre, with funding confirmed for another to make it easier to walk and cycle from Sheffield.

At Wellgate and Broom Road a £3.6m scheme sees Rotherham Council introduce 1.4km of dedicated cycle tracks on Wellgate between Hollowgate and Boswell Street, along with three new signalised junctions, one new road crossing, two improved road crossings and associated connecting works.

The funding was secured by the council through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Active Travel Fund (ATF), Gainshare and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The rationale for the scheme is to encourage a mode shift away from private car use and to enable cycling in an area identified as a priority in the Rotherham Cycling Strategy.

Clifton Roundabout, along with its approaches, will be narrowed to a single lane to control vehicle speeds, provide space for cycle tracks, separate from traffic and pedestrians, all the way around, and improve the refuge areas for pedestrians and cyclists crossing each arm of the roundabout.

The proposals mean that the current bus lane on Broom Road would end before the roundabout where two lanes will merge into one, with the cycle track alongside. The existing westbound bus lane will be kept, and goods vehicles will be newly allowed to use the bus lane.

Esh Construction secured a £1.9m tender related to the scheme in February.

During works there will be traffic management closures on Broom Road for approximately 25 weeks, Wellgate for approximately 25 weeks and Clifton Roundabout for approximately 14 weeks.

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£8.6m of funding has also been secured by the council from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for the £9.74m Sheffield Road Cycleways scheme which aims to support affordable and environmentally friendly travel with new segregated cycle tracks extending the existing route from the Sheffield boundary near to the Magna Science Adventure Centre at Templeborough, through to Rotherham Town Centre.

Original proposals for the third phase have been change after they "received significant local opposition." Plans to close the junction of Centenary Way onto Main Street to private vehicles have been dropped, as has the proposed “no left turn” restriction from Westgate onto Main Street, and other changes to junctions with Canklow Road and Old Sheffield Road, and restrictions to vehicles on Coke Hill and Wilfred Street.

These changes, agreed with Active Travel England, follow new data showing the need for traffic reduction was not as originally thought, and address the main concerns of local traders.

The revised plans are also expected to increase the number of parking bays along Sheffield Road and Westgate above the current level of provision.

A new 20 mph limit will be implemented along Westgate to help to make the stretch between new housing developments and the town centre more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists.

Approximately 400 metres of Westgate leading to the junction with Main Street will incorporate 2 metre-wide advisory cycle lanes on either side with a single carriageway down the middle (as used in the Sheffield scheme pictured). This will provide space for motor vehicles to pass using the full width of the road when required whilst indicating to drivers the distance with which they should pass cyclists. The layout follows similar schemes already successfully implemented across the country, in Hull, Sheffield, East Yorkshire, Norwich and London.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “We listened to residents and business feedback and have made substantial changes to the original proposals for this stretch of cycle route. This proposal means a minimal impact on motorists, while still meeting the need to ensure that the new housing developments along Sheffield Road are not entirely dependent on cars for travel, and putting the government’s funding for cycle routes to good use.”

“Completing the latest phases of Sheffield Road Cycleways will be a great achievement as it provides a safe and pleasant cycling environment and connects developing communities along the route, reducing air pollution, congestion and supporting healthy lifestyles.”

Monies for the scheme were secured by Rotherham Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor Combined Authority from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. Construction will take place in two phases, starting in the spring and expected to last for 15 months.

The council said that it wants to extend the Meadowhall to Broom route as more funding becomes available in the future.

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