News: Infrared workout studio coming to Rotherham

A new concept gym looks set to strengthen a Rotherham regeneration scheme.

A prominent brownfield site at Eastwood was transformed by a scheme centred around new food retail units. The vacant site at Mushroom Roundabout was previously home to a D.C. Cook car dealership but was empty since 2008 following demolition. QFM has pioneered the scheme which is currently home to Taco Bell and KFC. A Toby Carvery pub also operates on the site.

A gym was previously on site above the food outlets but closed during COVID.

Now QFM is hoping to reintroduce a gym at the site following the relocation of Taco Bell to the purpose-built drive thru unit.

J.I.M - Joy In Movement is the UK’s first fully automated infrared fitness studio. A new concept involves "30-minute, low-impact classes in 40° heat, set to fresh DJ-produced beats, designed to help people sculpt, stretch, strengthen, and feel good in their bodies."

The Australian firm opened its first studio in 2023 and now has 35 studios. It signed a franchise deal to expand to the UK and is targeting ten studios in the next 12 months, with 100 the target over the next five years.

QFM brought the franchise to Sheffield earlier this year and is rolling it out across the UK. It offers 100+ classes per week and is open 365 days a year - designed to fit real life.

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The Joy In Movement mission is to create a fun, non-intimidating, group training experience that leverages technology and infrared heat for more results - in less time.

The state of the art infrared technology helps create a detoxifying sweat that stimulates blood circulation, improves flexibility, and accelerates weight loss. Each J.I.M. class offers short and effective workouts that incorporate aspects of popular and effective exercise methods, such as Pilates, Yoga and Functional Training.

The business model has been successful because it is a member only, subscription-based model that aims to maintain 150 members in a small studio, with a studio manager and no staff.

An application for signage has been submitted and recruitment is underway for a studio manager for the Rotherham location.

Joy In Movement website

Images: Joy In Movement

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News: Consultation continues on £27m active travel schemes in Rotherham

More public consultation has been launched as Rotherham Council is set to spend a further £27.2m on active travel schemes where new cycle lanes are set to be a key component.

Rothbiz has previously reported on a £16.5m scheme that includes bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre. A similar £10.7m cycle lane and roundabout scheme is proposed for Stag Roundabout and Wickersley / Broom Road.

The schemes follow on from the the £6.4m Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor schemes and the £3.6m Broom Road Cycleways scheme.

The majority of funding for the latest schemes is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a government funding stream.

As Rothbiz has previously reported, the funding is conditional on increasing active travel (hence the new cycle lanes) and increasing bus patronage and reducing bus journey times (hence the new bus lanes).

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The most significant change is at St Ann's Roundabout. The consultation explains: "We propose to retain all arms of St Ann's Roundabout, replacing the subways with signalised crossings, with cycleways incorporated along with increased greenery and improved street lighting. The existing roundabout would be filled in."

New street level pedestrian and cycle routes would then be created with new traffic lights with cyclist and pedestrian crossings.

On Fitzwilliam Road, new cycle lanes would be created all the way from St Ann's Roundabout to the fire station. A new bus lane would also be created on the approach to the roundabout.

Neighbourhood streets are also set for investment, including new cycle lanes and speed humps on Doncaster Road and Badsley Moor Lane and new raised crossings on Middle Lane.

At Stag Roundabout, segregated cycle routes and controlled crossing facilities would be introduced on each arm of the roundabout, replacing the current zebra crossings.

For the main roads, cycle lanes and bus lanes are planned, with the council still considering a number of options for Broom Road and Wickersley Road.

The consultation states: "The first of these proposals would create a combined bus and cycle lane to be shared by bikes and buses which would split on the approach to Stag Roundabout.

"The second proposal would introduce a separate bus lane and a separate cycle lane along Wickersley Road, from the junction with Middle Lane South to Stag Roundabout.

"The third proposal would only introduce a cycle lane, with no bus lane."

For the second option, some trees would need to be removed.

Neighbourhood streets are also set for investment in this area too, including Broom Lane where a zebra crossing close to Sitwell school is proposed to be replaced by a controlled traffic signal crossing.

Consultation on the Rotherham East proposed network improvements closes on June 5, and consultation on Broom Road / Wickersley Road proposed Extension Corridor closes on June 22.

A consultation event is being held at Broom Methodist Church on May 26 from 2pm to 6pm.

Rotherham Council consultation website

Images: RMBC

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News: More consultation on Rotherham £24m active travel schemes

More public consultation is required as Rotherham Council is set to spend a further £24m on active travel schemes where new cycle lanes are set to be a key component.

Rothbiz has previously reported on a £16.3m scheme that includes bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre. A similar £8m cycle lane and roundabout scheme is proposed for Stag Roundabout and Wickersley / Broom Road.

The schemes follow on from the the £6.4m Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor schemes and the £3.6m Broom Road Cycleways scheme.

The majority of funding for the latest schemes is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a government funding stream.

Earlier consultation backed the authority's idea for St Anns roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming. Consultation results also showed a clear preference for keeping all arms of the roundabout open, discounting an idea to close St Ann's Road to motor traffic and install bus gates.

At Stag Roundabout, segregated cycle routes and controlled crossing facilities would be introduced on each arm of the roundabout.

Funding has also been set aside for neighbourhood improvements.

Recent decisions by Rotherham Council have been made to undertake further stakeholder engagement on both schemes.

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A council report states: "Approval is granted for RMBC to engage with stakeholders, including residents, business owners and Ward Members on the updated designs for the active travel corridor, as well as allocated neighbourhood streets investment," with the report adding that the consultation is to "comply with required engagement process involving stakeholders as per funding requirements."

The report adds: "No significant consultation and engagement has taken place with the public since the end of July 2025. In addition, although previous consultation and engagement included reference to the Eastwood & Herringthorpe Active Travel Neighbourhood element, no designs of actual interventions have previously been shared with the public.

"In developing the scheme designs, consideration has been given to aligning with the Council’s objectives to listen, inform and work in partnership with its residents. With this in mind, further public engagement and consultation will now be undertaken."

Rothbiz reported last year that the Council had confirmed that if it wants to use government money to make multimillion pound investments in strategic transport routes in the borough, they will need to include cycle lanes.

For Fitzwilliam Road between St Ann’s Roundabout and Mushroom Roundabout the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

On the other scheme, bilateral unidirectional cycleways and bus priority measures are expected from the new Broom Road layout to Brecks Roundabout, as well as associated improvements to crossings and junctions.

Rotherham Council website

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham Opportunities College unveils major expansion plans

Rotherham Opportunities College has secured planning permission to transform a former industrial facility into a new state-of-the-art education hub, and the college is planning to give businesses from across the region an exclusive sneak preview of its exciting future plans.

Located on Sycamore Road, Eastwood Trading Estate, the new premises will double the size of the college’s existing site and will include purpose-designed teaching spaces, purpose-designed classrooms and breakout spaces, vocational learning areas, training kitchens, integrated therapeutic facilities, an outdoor learning space and a multi-use games area (MUGA).

The decision to relocate from its existing premises was made to expand its provision and better meet the needs of young adults with special educational needs and disabilities across Rotherham and South Yorkshire.

With the new venture set to welcome its first students later this year, the college expects the site to become fully operational by 2027, and to realise its ambitions, a new fundraising campaign has been launched, with the aim of raising £500,000 to complete the planned renovations.

To mark the launch of its new site, Rotherham Opportunities College is also hoping to collaborate with local businesses, by hosting a special drop-in networking event at its new site. The event will provide a chance to find out more about its exciting plans, make new contacts and discover more about the college’s supported internships programme – an initiative that helps young adults prepare for life after education.

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Dr Perdita Mousley, Principal of Rotherham Opportunities College, said: “The need for special education provision, particularly for young adults, has never been greater, and as demand for our services continues to rise, relocating to our new site forms a vital aspect of our future growth plans. Moving to our new Sycamore Road site is an incredibly exciting moment for our students, staff and the local community. Our new home will provide a blank canvas to create the right environment to help young people with special educational needs to unlock their full potential.

Our networking event aims to showcase some of the truly unique work we are delivering at Rotherham Opportunities College, and we are inviting local businesses to come along, find out more about the unique work we deliver and get involved – whether that’s working in partnership with the college, contributing towards our charitable aims or providing supported internship work placements for our students.”

Launched in 2018, Rotherham Opportunities College supports young people aged 16–25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to develop independence, wellbeing and employability skills. The college was rated ‘Good’ in its most recent OFSTED inspection and secured an outstanding rating in two areas. Last year the college became a registered charity.

The Rotherham Opportunities College business networking drop-in event will take place on Wednesday 28th January between 10am-2pm and is free to attend.

Rotherham Opportunities College website

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News: Major food retailer sets sights on Rotherham retail park

One of Britain’s fastest-growing and most innovative retailers is looking set to open one of its large format stores in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in March on the owners of Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham submitting plans for Units 17 and 18 with the talk of new tenants.

The approval of the plans has enabled TUI to take a smaller unit next to its Holiday Superstore and move its Rotherham operations.

One of the world's leading integrated tourism business has taken over the former One Below / One Beyond discount store. Launched by Poundworld founders, One Below opened its first Rotherham store in the former Maplin unit at Parkgate Shopping in April 2019. It still operates in Rotherham town centre.

The application at Parkgate was for the reconfigurement of the internal layout, including the mezzanine, a new trolley bay and new solar panels.

Following TUI's relocation, commercial property agents are now showing that The Food Warehouse is taking the former TUI unit next to Morrisons.

The Food Warehouse is part of the Iceland Foods Group and is revolutionising the way that people shop in stores. It takes the same product lines as Iceland and extends them in a warehouse space, giving customers the ability to buy in bulk and take advantage of the savings.

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With a new mezzanine level, Unit 18 at Parkgate would provide 13,600 sq ft of space which will allow for The Food Warehouse's super simple store layouts with wider and fewer aisles.

The retailers have a huge range of exclusive brand products across some of the best-known names in the UK, including Slimming World, Greggs, TGI's, Chiquito's and more. It also offers multi-buy deals, including 5 for £5, 3 for £10 and 8 for £10 deals whilst homeware and seasonal specials are also available in larger stores.

Having launched in 2014. a major milestone for The Food Warehouse was reached last month with the opening of the 200th store.

Iceland currently operates in Parkgate already, and at Eastwood. Its products are also available through partnerships with the likes of Wilko and The Range.

Agents, Morgan Williams and CSP Retail list The Food Warehouse as a new letting in the last 12 months at Parkgate Shopping alongside Footasylum, Starbucks, Pavers, Superdrug and My Dentist. Just two large units remain vacant.

An opening date for the new Food Warehouse in Rotherham is not yet known.

Rothbiz also reported in January on approved outline plans for another new unit at Parkgate, on land next to Matalan which was previously used as a Park & Ride for the tram-train. No tenant has been announced here but the proposal is for a 20,000 sq ft rectangular unit "that is the required format of food retailers in order to provide linear aisle for convenience goods shopping."

The Food Warehouse website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: The Food Warehouse

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News: Selective licensing set to be extended across Rotherham

A scheme designed to improve housing conditions, crackdown on anti-social behaviour and protect tenants and communities from poor property management is set to be considered by Rotherham Council.

Selective licencing began in Rotherham in 2015 for properties in Eastwood, Masbrough, Dinnington and Maltby. It was later expanded to Parkgate and Thurcroft. The aim is to tackle the low housing demand and significant and persistent levels of antisocial behaviour related to the private rented sector.

The five year designations require landlords in specific areas of Rotherham to apply for a licence before renting out properties, funding proactive inspections and helping ensure homes meet essential safety and management standards.

The Council’s Cabinet will be asked to consider the introduction of new Selective Licensing designations later this month and, if approved, the new scheme will be introduced next year and run until 2031, covering areas including Rotherham town centre, Eastwood, Clifton, Boston Castle, Masbrough, Kimberworth, Thurcroft, Dinnington, Brinsworth, and Parkgate - all identified as having poor property conditions or high levels of deprivation.

The previous designation in Maltby is not proposed to be renewed after significant improvements were seen in the area during the 2020-25 period.

The cabinet paper explains: "Both previous schemes have delivered significant improvements to the condition and management of private sector rented properties in the designated areas. However, the latest information available from the 2020 to 2025 scheme also demonstrates that landlord behaviours in the majority of cases have not changed sufficiently to achieve the desired goal.

"The lack of a behavioural change in both landlord and tenants in all areas, in some cases over 2 periods of Selective Licensing shows that many landlords are still not proactively managing their tenancies, only becoming involved when the Council highlights issues. Some use this continuing non-compliance to illustrate previous schemes have failed. However, it is likely that without the 2020-25 proactive Scheme, 1,470 households would still be living in hazardous or poor living conditions."

Despite the first scheme which ran from 2015 to 2020, the second 2020-25 scheme saw over 2,300 properties inspected, requiring landlords to address more than 8,000 hazards. 13% of properties (1 in 7) were found to have the most serious Category 1 hazards. 155 Emergency Prohibition Notices were issued in circumstances where properties were unsafe for habitation.

More than 2,000 cases of anti-social behaviour and nuisance were addressed, and £40m worth of illegal cannabis grows were seized. 15 successful prosecutions were undertaken, while a further 23 cases are ongoing.

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The boundaries of proposed designations have been reduced so as not to cover areas unnecessarily. The overall Standard Licence Fee, made up from a Part 1 and Part 2 charge will be marginally reduced to £975, while landlords with a track record of providing good quality properties will be entitled to significant discounts on fees.

The council will also offer training opportunities to assist landlords and is setting out area plans to help bring further improvements to affected areas.

For 2020 – 2025 the licence fee income to the council was £1,161,093 with the total scheme cost of £1,294,898 for administration and maintenance. The estimated cost of the maintenance element is £2,968,163 over the next five years.

Cllr Linda Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing at Rotherham Council, said: “The simple truth is that in some parts of the borough, too many private tenants are living in unsafe and poorly maintained properties. Dangerous electrical connections, damaged walls and ceilings, even on one occasion a property with everything including the toilet in just one room - no one should have to live like that. Poor housing has knock on effects for people’s health and the state of the wider community. There are honourable exceptions, but too often landlords in these areas have been too slow to step up and meet their responsibilities.

“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from landlords and residents, particularly around concerns about cost - both to landlords and the potential impact on tenants.

“So our plans include significant discounts for proven responsible landlords. The worst case scenario for tenants living in these properties, even if the full cost is passed on to them, is an increase in rents of less than £1 per week. But the flip side of this is that the costs of the scheme will fall disproportionately on those who try to opt out of their legal responsibilities.

“We also heard from residents who felt we had not got the boundaries quite right, so we’ve looked closely and made changes as a result.

“In the end though we won’t resile from our obligations to tenants and communities who are left at the sharp end of poor housing. Ultimately this is about working together to create safer, healthier communities.”

RMBC website

Images: RMBC

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News: Why are new cycle lanes being created across Rotherham?

If Rotherham Council wants to use government money to make multimillion pound investments in strategic transport routes in the borough, they will need to include cycle lanes, the authority has confirmed.

With Rotherham Council set to spend a further £24m on active travel schemes, the issue was raised in a recent full council meeting.

Consultation is currently being carried out on a £16.3m scheme that includes bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre. A similar £8m cycle lane and roundabout scheme is proposed for Stag Roundabout and Wickersley / Broom Road.

The schemes follow on from the the £6.4m Sheffield Road Cycleways and Maltby Bus Corridor schemes and the £3.6m Broom Road Cycleways scheme.

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. Rothbiz reported how Rotherham Council was forced to explain the new road layout on 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.

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The majority of funding is coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a government funding stream. The funding requirements dictate that designs must promote decarbonisation by providing improved options for public transport, walking and cycling although Rotherham Council has earmarked funding for ideas proposed by the community for addressing isues in the neighbourhoods.

Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, told the meeting: "Any decision on funding is ultimately a decision for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Department for Transport.

"If we only delivered the neighbourhood streets element of the scheme then potentially that would not be meeting the government's requirements for the funding. I should be clear that that requirement was set by the previous government and that requirement is to deliver a strategic route to enable people to walk, to cycle more and to help improve the speed and reliability of buses, to help people get about the borough.

"It is most likely, therefore, that if we to only do the scheme without the cycle lanes then it wouldn't be meeting that requirement"

Images: RMBC

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News: Contractors appointed for Rotherham Council housing developments

Prominent housing developments led by Rotherham Council are a step closer with the appointment of construction firms for the multimillion pound contracts.

The council says that it is on track to fulfil its promise of delivering 1,000 new homes across the borough by summer 2027.

At Eastwood, the prominent council-owned former car park on York Road is set to be transformed with 12 new affordable house on what is considered to be a gateway site into Rotherham town centre. Here four 2-bedroom accessible flats, six 3-bedroom dwellings and two 2-bedroom dwellings are being built.

At the former Netherfield Court care home nearby, 19 affordable dwellings (a mixture of 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom housing) are planned.

With planning permission secured, Scunthorpe-based GS Kelsey Construction Ltd has been appointed using a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) so that they can engage early in the construction phase. The value of the PCSA stage 1 contract is worth £236,413 with the total contract valued at £7.9m.

The appointment follows on from RH Fullwood & Co Ltd being appointed as partners to bring forward council projects in the north of the borough, and through another PCSA at Thornhill, and O&P Construction working on council schemes at Canklow.

£432,000 in Brownfield Housing Fund grant funding has been secured via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to support the delivery of 27 new Council homes across the sites. Grant funding has also been secured from the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme (AHP), managed by Homes England.

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On the site of the former Ship Inn in Swinton, a £787,000 contract covers four, one-bedroom, semi-detached bungalows. In neighbouring West Melton, building work is taking place at pace on two separate developments which will see the area benefit from six, two-bedroom, semi-detached houses and four, one-bedroom apartments on a contract worth £1.7m.

Pontefract-based RH Fullwood is using modern methods of construction here to enhance the speed of the builds, meaning that the new homes will be ready for occupation sooner, helping to mitigate against the impact on the local community during construction.

To boost numbers further, Rotherham Council's Cabinet approved this week a development to build 18 two and three-bedroomed homes in Denman Road, Wath. This site is one of three sites earmarked for Council homes in the area – with a further ten homes planned in Bushfield Road and Valley Drive. All are subject to the planning process.

Cllr Linda Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The Council is committed to supporting our residents with their housing needs – and I’m delighted that we’re on track to fulfill our promise of delivery 1,000 additional homes for local people by summer 2027.

“However, with over 7,000 households currently on our housing register and the level of demand continuing to rise, it’s vital that we continue to work quickly to ensure more residents have a safe, secure place to call home.”

Images: RMBC / Race Cottam

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News: Rotherham Council gives update on £16m sustainable transport corridor scheme

Rotherham Council has provided an update on an active travel scheme that will see £16.3m spent on bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported last year that consultation had begun on "Rotherham East network improvements" in the area along the A630 Fitzwilliam Road, at St. Ann Roundabout and the neighbourhoods of Eastwood and Herringthorpe.

The biggest change proposed is for St Anns roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming.

Two options were put out to consultation - maintaining the layout but with new pathways and cycleways added to link the town centre and Eastwood replacing the subways, and a more substantial change involving closing St Ann's Road to motor traffic at its junction with St Leonard's Road and installing a bus gate at the junction.

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An update from Rotherham Council states: "We had previously proposed two options for St Ann’s Roundabout, whilst replacing the subways with signalised crossings was popular for both options, there was a clear preference for maintaining all arms of the roundabout open.

"Respondents also highlighted that increased greenery and street lighting in the area would be beneficial. We’re also exploring the opportunity to provide allotments for the local college’s lunch time gardening club.

"Consideration is also being given to improving access and egress into Eastwood Village from St Ann’s Roundabout.

"Designs are still not finalised, and we are exploring how to include as much community feedback as possible whilst still ensuring the design is compliant with best practice guidance."

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is providing £16,348,500 through the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). SYMCA's Active Travel Implementation Plan sets out how, by 2040, a fully connected network of walking and cycling routes will link the region, transforming communities and ensure that people have the means and the confidence to leave their cars at home, and choose to travel on foot or by bicycle.

For Fitzwilliam Road between St Ann’s Roundabout and Mushroom Roundabout the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

£4.6m of the funding will support community-driven solutions aimed at improving transport infrastructure and accessibility in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Feedback has so far related to keeping Grosvenor Road open to traffic and businesses identified a need for customers and delivery vehicles to safely access and park.

More focus groups are planned and consultation remains open until August 1 2025.

Consultation website

Images: RMBC

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News: CMD launches latest beautiful product

Rotherham manufacturer, CMD, has launched Miro, an innovative, dynamic monitor arm made in the UK. It has already received the prestigious Red Dot award for product design.

Eastwood-based CMD is a designer and manufacturer of power distribution and ergonomic solutions in the workplace and makes products such as workstation hardware and power track systems for use in the commercial office, retail and hospitality sectors. The company, thought to be the UK’s largest manufacturer of desk-based electrical products, employs 158 people and has been a market leader of award-winning products and services since 1988.

Miro is a sustainably designed dynamic monitor arm that enables precise and effortless adjustment of flat and curved screens. With increasing screen sizes and desk space at a premium, Miro’s unique True Vertical Movement, small desk footprint, and 180° stop mechanism prevent tangled cables and colliding screens for a healthy and productive workspace.

Crafted from energy-efficient materials, Miro contains up to 30% less embodied carbon than competitor products.

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It is the latest innovation from Andrew Wills, the renowned ergonomic designer behind some of the world’s best-selling monitor arms. In developing Miro, he set out to create a more sustainable arm that also offers a new kind of movement.

Andrew Wills, Designer of Miro, said: “Every other monitor arm on the market currently moves in an arc. So when you move a screen up and down, the path of the arc also moves it sideways, making it difficult to position your screen exactly where you want it. I’ve always wanted to create an arm that moves completely vertically to give you that precision adjustment. So with Miro, we said let’s do it, let’s get True Vertical Movement.”

The distinction “Red Dot” has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design.

With its manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Rotherham, CMD has its design studio in London. At the upcoming Clerkenwell Design Week, Miro is taking centre stage, as CMD opens its showroom to celebrate the award.

CMD website

Images: CMD

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News: Doughnuts are good to go, but tacos, no

Operators of a doughnut shop in Rotherham have been denied the opportunity to convert it into a hot food takeaway with council planners concluding that it would "fail to promote a healthier community."

Approved as part of a wider regeneration scheme close to Mushroom Roundabout at Aldwarke, the seperate drive thru unit has been occupied by Dunkin’ Donuts on Sycamore Road.

Sheffield-based franchise specialists, QFM Group, applied last year to make changes at the unit, admitting that Dunkin' had not traded optimally since moving in.

However, Rotherham Council has refused the change of use application that would enable a hot food takeaway to operate in the unit instead.

The application explained: "The proposed development relates to an existing unit, which has a drive-through facility optimally located near the junction of a busy radial and orbital route. However, the brand currently operated from the unit (Dunkin') has not traded optimally in this format and location and so does not make full use of the facility.

"Current operations could easily transfer into a unit in a nearby retail and leisure building owned by the same operator. Similarly, a brand in that building (Taco Bell) would benefit from the drive-through facility to attract further custom and create economic growth. It serves relatively healthy food, (rice dishes, etc.), but it is hot food."

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Refusing the application, planners point to the proximity of High Greave Junior School, 500 metres away on foot, and the Hutton Park campus of Rotherham Aspire Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) at 650 metres. Rotherham Council has a supplementary planning document that restricts hot food takeaways within 800 metres of a school or college, unless it is in within a defined town or district centre.

Applicants argued that: "trade is unlikely in respect of a primary school because its pupils are accompanied to and from school by their parents or guardians and are not generally allowed to leave at lunchtime because they are too young. In the applicant’s view, Inspectors at examination tend to amend similar development plan policies to exclude primary schools. High Greave Junior School is a 500-metre walk away across two busy roads, one a dual carriageway and the Council concurs that its pupils are unlikely to be allowed to make that journey."

Planners acknowledge that there is already a Taco Bell on the site but concluded that the proposal "is in direct conflict with adopted Supplementary Planning Document SPD5 ‘Equal and Healthy Communities’ along with paragraph 97 of the NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework]" which was updated in 2024 and is now "significantly more critical" of takeaway applications.

National planning guidelines state: "Local planning authorities should refuse applications for hot food takeaways and fast food outlets: a) within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate, unless the location is within a designated town centre."

Images: Google Maps

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News: £26m allocated for new Rotherham cycle schemes

The latest schemes aimed at improving options for public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling in Rotherham will cost around £26m, according to the latest update from transport bosses at Rotherham Council.

Consultation for a scheme in the Eastwood area began in October with the proposals for the installation of new bus lanes and cycle lanes to create a sustainable transport corridor incorporating Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout.

Last month, consultation began on a similar scheme for the Moorgate and Broom area which is also set to address issues at Stag roundabout.

Matthew Reynolds, Head of Transportation Infrastructure Service at Rotherham Council, recently updated elected members on the new projects, saying that £16m had been allocated for the Eastwood scheme and around £10m allocated for the Moorgate and Broom Network Improvements.

The funding is coming from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), £570m from the government to the region to bring significant improvements to South Yorkshire’s transport system.

For the Eastwood scheme, the biggest change proposed is for St Ann's Roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming. For Fitzwilliam Road the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

£4.6m has been set aside for additional ideas proposed by the community for improvements in the neighbourhoods - streetlighting, road resurfacing, new crossings, addressing parking issues around the local schools.

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The Broom Road / Wickersley Corridor Sustainable Transport Scheme includes work at Stag roundabout, sustainable travel measures on Wickersley Road, the extension of the recently completed Broom Road cycleway, and an Active Travel Scheme in the Moorgate area.

A segregated footway and cycle route is planned from the existing scheme at Clifton Roundabout, through to Brecks roundabout.

Matthew Reynolds explained that the cycle scheme at Eastwood was a very difficult scheme. He said: "It is probably going to be more difficult to deliver than any other scheme we have on the books at the moment."

The council confirmed that there are issues at St Ann's Roundabout such as the subways and for bus operators. There are also some "considerable implications" in the area such as utilities in the middle of the roundabout and that run down Fitzwilliam Road. Flooding and disruption during the works were also being taken into account.

Reynolds added: "We are working really closely with the community, as much as we can, to understand what the concerns are and how we can improve the project. We are at the absolute first stage of feasability - there is plenty of time to shape it and plenty of time to work with people. Ultimately, we want to do that because we want something that everybody understands and buys into, and can see the bigger picture as to why we are doing these kind of schemes."

The funding deadline for the £16m project is March 2027 and Galliford Try Construction Ltd is working on the scheme.

For the other scheme, Reynolds discussed the issues with the zebra crossings at the Stag roundabout adding that: "It is an opportunity to bring improvements to the Stag - we can do some public realm work for example, bring some planting and greening, benches - that neighbourhood focus on the shops and amenities that are there."

The completion deadline in the current programme for the £10m project is January 2027. Esh Councstruction has signed up to deliver the scheme.

Reynolds added: "Again we are at the very early stages of consultation and engagement so we want to hear everyone's views on this."

RMBC consultation website

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News: £12.2m on bike lanes, bus lanes and a built up roundabout - Rotherham Council's latest active travel scheme

Further details have been revealed for the creation of a sustainable transport corridor incorporating Fitzwilliam Road and St Ann's Roundabout at Eastwood, on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz revealed last month that contracting was underway for two new active travel schemes in the borough and now Rotherham Council has launched a consultation on its ideas for what the authourity is calling the "Rotherham East network improvements."

Galliford Try Construction Ltd has been awarded the contract for stage 1 (Design and Pre-Construction) of the project which is expected to be completed within 12 months, with an option to extend into stage 2 works for an estimated 18 months and a total contract price of £12.2m.

The biggest change proposed is for St Anns roundabout, where the council is proposing to bring the crossings up to ground level and fill in the subways to make the space feel more welcoming. Previously mentioned in 2020 and based on community feedback, the move echoes the work undertaken a decade ago at Pool Green roundabout (Liquid roundabout) on the other side of the town centre.

Two options for St Ann's have been designed. The first would maintain a roundabout, adding traffic light crossings to ensure pedestrian safety. The subways and centre of the roundabout would be filled in with new pathways and cycleways added to link the town centre and Eastwood.

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Option two would see St Ann's Road closed to motor traffic at its junction with St Leonard's Road and a bus gate introduced from Fizwilliam Road to Centenary Way, significantly altering the road layout. Like option one the subways and centre of the roundabout would be filled in with new pathways and cycleways added with new traffic light crossings.

The consultation states: "We have created two options. Based on early traffic modelling we expect the flow of traffic to be similar for both options. These are early-stage designs and we want your feedback to ensure we get it right."

For Fitzwilliam Road between St Ann’s Roundabout and Mushroom Roundabout the plan is to provide bus priority and separate cycleways.

A bus lane in the Rotherham-bound direction would make bus services faster and more reliable and the bus lane at Mushroom roundabout would be extended to Chesterton Road. Painted cycle lanes are set to be replaced with dedicated cycle tracks to separate cyclists from motor traffic and improve safety and new designated parking spaces are also included.

Proposals also aim to "maximise useful road space" by removing central islands and adding traffic light-controlled crossings.

A number of Local Neighbourhood Improvements are also proposed to address issues such as pavement parking blocking footways, cars not observing the speed limit and children not having safe routes to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

The consultation is open now and runs until November 29.

Funding is coming from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS), £570m from the government to the region to bring significant improvements to South Yorkshire’s transport system.

SYMCA's Active Travel Implementation Plan sets out how, by 2040, a fully connected network of walking and cycling routes will link the region, transforming communities and ensure that people have the means and the confidence to leave their cars at home, and choose to travel on foot or by bicycle.

Rotherham Council consultation website

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News: CMD acquired again

Rotherham manufacturing firm, CMD Ltd, has been acquired by another manufacturer, Luceco plc, two years after it was bought by industrial private equity investor, Rubicon Partners.

Eastwood-based CMD is a designer and manufacturer of power distribution and ergonomic solutions in the workplace and makes products such as workstation hardware and power track systems for use in the commercial office, retail and hospitality sectors. The company employs 158 people and has been a market leader of award-winning products and services since 1988.

Rubicon has already bought and sold CMD, a company it first acquired in 2000. CMD was the subject of a management buyout in 2008 and was acquired by American firm, IDEAL Industries Inc., in 2017.

Luceco plc is a supplier of wiring accessories, EV chargers, LED lighting, and portable power products and has its UK manufacturing and distribution centre in Telford.

The acquisition of CMD comes with the purchases of its ultimate parent company, Baltic Topco Limited, from Rubicon Partners and management for cash consideration of £30m, on a cash and debt-free basis.



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It was confirmed that CMD has an experienced senior management team which will remain with the business, continuing to operate from its headquarters in Rotherham.

For the audited 12-month period ended 31 December 2023 CMD reported revenue of £23.1m and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £4.0m. Luceco said that the acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in its first full year of ownership.

John Hornby, Chief Executive Officer of Luceco, said: "Luceco has a well-established position as a leading supplier of wiring accessories to the residential market in the UK so CMD, with its leading position in the commercial wiring accessories market, is a very natural fit. The Group's expertise in product development, manufacturing and sourcing will enable us to accelerate range innovation and improve margins for CMD. We also see an opportunity to offer Luceco's professional lighting range to CMD's customer base of specifiers and contractors. The acquisition is in line with our M&A strategy and follows the successful acquisition of D-Line earlier in the year."

Jon Holding, Managing Director of CMD, added: "CMD has been successful over many years thanks to its hard-won reputation for consistently delivering excellent customer service. The management team and I are excited for the next chapter and look forward to growing the business with Luceco behind us."

CMD website

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News: Backer to the future

A planning application has been submitted that would see the redevelopment of the former Backer Electric building in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported at the end of 2023 that the Eastwood company was acquired by Heatrod Elements at the same time as a move to new premises accross Rotherham to Dinnington.

The manufacturer of heating elements supplies products in high volume to the majority of household brand names, producing domestic electrical appliances, spares to distributors and specialist elements for use in industrial, catering and commercial applications.

The previous premises at Chesterton Road have a distinctive art deco look and the new proposals for the site include alterations and part-subdivision of the existing site into 19 individual commercial units, predominantly for individual storage.

With limited demolition at ground level, the plans, drawn up by Urbana planning consultants for applicant Mr K Khan, add: "Importantly, the shell of the existing building structure will be used and there will be numerous physical changes to the exterior of the building with new window and door openings provided."

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The building is currently part-used and part-vacant and has undergone a number of alterations approved in the 1980s. In 2004 and 2007 the site had an outline approval for a hotel/restaurant/hot food takeaway and petrol station. However, this was never implemented and the applications have expired.

The plans conclude: "It is clear from the above discussion that the development of the site is therefore asserted to be sustainable environmentally, socially, and economically. The proposals will yield benefits on these fronts through the transformation of a significantly underperforming site that currently does little to make a positive contribution to its locale, to one that will extend the ongoing revitalisation of its surroundings.

"Social sustainability will be derived from supporting the employment opportunities in Rotherham and beyond. The sustainable central location minimises the need for motorised travel and therefore also has considerable environmental sustainability credentials."

Work to update the adjacent dilapidated Peck House has taken place.

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News: Investment continues into new council housing across Rotherham

Rotherham Council has committed £126m for hundreds more Council homes by 2026.

It comes at the same time as planning applications are submitted for council-led housing developments and the authority makes moves to purchase homes built by commercial developers.

Despite the council owning 20,127 homes, which puts it in the top 20 local authority stock owners in England, there were over 7,000 individuals and households on the Council’s Housing Register.

The Right to Buy initiative has also seen 956 Council homes sold between January 2018 and November 2023 with just over 500 affordable homes delivered by the council in that time and 104 acquired from developers. The aim is to deliver over 1,000 homes by 2026.

Plans are being advanced for a number of construction projects across the borough including Canklow, Eastwood, and Maltby, with £430,000 of funding secured to redevelop brownfield land owned by the council. Future sites could also inlcude Boswell Street near Herringthorpe Playing Fields and the site of the former Thornhill School, both of which are in the pre-planning stage.

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Reaching planning application stage are proposals for former council care home sites at Addison Road in Maltby, where 27 dwellings (a mix of flats, houses and dormer bungalows) are planned, and at former Netherfield Court in Eastwood, where 19 affordable dwellings (a mixture of 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom housing) are planned (cgi, below).

Also at Eastwood, the prominent council-owned former car park on York Road is set to be transformed with 12 new affordable house on what is considered to be a gateway site into Rotherham town centre. Here four 2-bedroom accessible flats, six 3-bedroom dwellings and two 2-bedroom dwellings are planned (cgi, top).

Plans for residential developments have also been submitted by the council for the site of the former Parkhill Lodge care home and at Elm Tree Road in Maltby, the site of the former Ship Inn in Swinton, and on land at Princess Street / Albert Road and Princess Street / Winterwell Road in West Melton.

With only limited land in council ownership, homes have been bought in developments such as Harron's "The Paddocks" in Wickersley and Redrow's "Poppyfields" in Ravenfield. Acquisitions are expected at Brecks, Parkgate and Waverley.

Cllr. Sarah Allen, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Neighbourhood Working and Acting Cabinet Member Housing at Rotherham Council, updated councillors on the completed developments, a mix of sizes and tenures, saying that she would be proud to live in any of the houses she has had the privelige to see.

Looking ahead Cllr. Allen said: "We do still have a high demand for council homes, with around 7,000 people on the housing register. Our ability to meet that demand is still being eroded by the Right to Buy initiative. We have, however, just bought back our "first refusal" on a Right to Buy property but one house is only the start of that initiative."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council called the first refusal scheme "completely nonsense," adding: "The Council were forced to sell Council housing stock under the Right to Buy Scheme at a massive discount. Although the receipts were kept by the Council, they do not cover the cost of replacing those properties. Further, buying those same properties back later, at an inflated value from a private owner, is a waste of public money."

Cllr. Read said that the Council was doing the things possible within the legal framework but stated that the legal framework had to change.

Images: RMBC / Race Cottam

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News: Backer Electric Company acquired

Historic Rotherham company, Backer Electric, has been acquired by Heatrod Elements.

It comes at the same time as a move to new premises accross Rotherham to Dinnington.

The manufacturer of heating elements, founded in 1938 with premises at Eastwood, supplies products in high volume to the majority of household brand names, producing domestic electrical appliances, spares to distributors and specialist elements for use in industrial, catering and commercial applications.

Greater Manchester based Heatrod Industrial is the UK’s leading manufacturer of heating elements and associated process heating equipment required for industrial heating applications. Heatrod Elements is part of NIBE Element, the world's largest heating element manufacturer, and represents NIBE in the UK.

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Simon Ellam, managing director at Heatrod, said: “The NIBE Element group shares it’s roots with Backer Electric and many of our manufacturing sites across the world carry the Backer name. Christian Backer, originally founded both Backer Electric in the UK as well as our group’s own beginnings in Sweden. To bring such a wealth of history and knowledge back together is a proud moment for all of the team at Heatrod and the wider NIBE Element Group.”

Paul Daffin, general manager of Backer Electric, added: “The acquisition of the assets of Backer Electric by Heatrod Elements Ltd represents a return to it’s original Swedish roots as part of The NIBE Element Group and heralds the start of a new and exciting chapter for Backer Electric. The acquisition allows the ‘Backer Electric’ name and history to be globally preserved. Combined with the additional knowledge and support resources available within the whole NIBE Element Group, this can only be beneficial to our Customers, whom we look forward to servicing from our new premises in Rotherham.”

Norwegian Christian Backer patented the modern day tubular heating element back in 1921 and went on to establish a separate, wholly owned company called Backer Electric Ltd. in Rotherham in 1938. He set about establishing a business in Sweden after World War II.

Backer Electric will become a trading name of Heatrod Elements, operating from the new site in Rotherham. The production of Backer Electric’s product range will move to Heatrod’s purpose built manufacturing facility in Bolton.

Backer Electric website

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News: Boost for new brownfield housing in borough

Rotherham Council has been granted further funding from the Government to support the building of new homes on brownfield land.

Nearly 100 regeneration projects across the country will receive £60m from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Rotherham has been earmarked £431,746 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund. This follows on from £430,000 granted in the first round that was used on projects to deliver housing at Rothwell Grange & Copewell Lodge, and for Place Based Transformation.

Minister for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean MP said: "We know we need to build more homes, but this cannot come at the expense of concreting over our precious countryside.

"That is why we are doing all we can to make sure we’re making use of wasteland and unused brownfield land, so we can turn these eyesores into beautiful and thriving communities.

"This is all part of our long-term plan for housing – making sure we deliver the homes we need across the country.

Cabinet Office Minister, Alex Burghart MP added: "This funding will unleash the much-needed redevelopment of brownfield sites: stimulating growth and helping local areas reach their full potential.

"It’s fantastic news for business, and even better news for local people who will now see new investment, job opportunities, and family homes in their communities."

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Rotherham Council has continued to identify brownfield sites for new housing - not least in the town centre where 171 units have been completed.

Looking ahead, contractors R H Fullwood, broke ground over the summer on ten new affordable, energy saving homes in East Herringthorpe supported by a Brownfield Housing Fund grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), provided as part of the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

£92m has been identified for housing growth in the borough, with hundreds of new homes planned through to 2025/26.

Since January 2018, the Council has delivered 484 new homes for Council rent or shared ownership, with a further 61 currently under construction or in the process of being purchased.

This month, the council's cabinet are due to discuss plans for new homes for council rent on brownfield land in Eastwood and Maltby.

At Eastwood, a £7.905m project includes the site of the demolished Netherfield Court care home, and the former Council car park on York Road, that could be redeveloped with 31 new homes in total, comprising 2-bed, 3-bed, and 4-bed houses, along with some provision for older people.

At Maltby the council-owned Addison Road and Larch Road sites could be redeveloped to build a projected 43 new homes for council rent in a scheme costing £10.965m. A mix of apartments and houses, some units would be wheelchair user dwellings.

The Council says that its Delivery Programme is critical to supporting families who are on the Housing Register. This numbers more than 6,000.

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News: Discount supermarket takes on former Rotherham Aldi

Farmfoods has moved into a Rotherham commercial unit vacated by Aldi at the end of 2022.

Rothbiz reported in September that, despite being Britain's fastest growing grocer, the German discount retailer had informed staff that its Eastwood store would close in October.

Farmfoods is a frozen food retailer that saw a large increase in sales during the COVID pandemic. Founded in Scotland, the company started in 1955 as a meat-processing business and now has 300 stores (including one at Parkgate) and four distribution centres nationwide. It posted turnover of £872.5m in the year to January 1 2022.

Farmfoods has announced that the new Rotherham store will open on January 14.

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The 15,080 sq ft unit was built on the former Matthewman's car showroom with work starting in 2011. Despite Aldi's sales growth and expansion, Rothbiz revealed in 2021 that Lamb & Swift had been instructed to advertise the store on Fitzwilliam Road as being for sale and to let.

The modern retail unit, which is on a site with an area of 1.7 acres and has 78 car parking spaces, was made available by way of a new lease or for sale with asking prices only available on application.

In 2019, rival discount chain Lidl, opened a 23,000 sq ft store on the site of the former Dalton Progressive Working Men's Club, just over a mile away. The Eastwood site is also located between large Tesco and Asda stores, as well as being close to Iceland and Heron Foods outlets.

Farmfoods website

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News: Rotherham transport investments detailed

Over £50m of investment in Rotherham transport schemes has been detailed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Rothbiz revealed in August that a number of transport projects in Rotherham had secured funding from a Government settlement with South Yorkshire.

The City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) investment is on its way and £570m will bring significant improvements to South Yorkshire’s transport system, enabling people to make public transport and walking and cycling their first choice for travel.

Rotherham projects include:

Roundabout improvements - £22.38m
At the roundabouts at Ickles (£7.5m), St Anne's (£5m), Worrygoose (£4.88m) and Stag (£5m), new junctions are proposed with bus priority and improved pedestrian and cycle crossings. The aim is to deliver "bus passenger journey time savings, improved bus journey reliability, better walking & cycling journey ambiance and mode shift."

Fitzwilliam Road - £6.6m
Also at Eastwood, widening and improvements are planned for Fitzwilliam Road between St Anne’s Roundabout and Mushroom Roundabout to provide an inbound bus lane and separate cycleways.

Active Travel / Cycle schemes - £6.4m
Active Travel neighbourhoods are to be developed in Eastwood, Herringthorpe (£3.5m) and Moorgate (£1.4m) with the provision of measures to manage traffic volumes, traffic speeds and parking. More cycleways are proposed for Broom (£1.5m).

Wickersley Road - £2m
On Wickersley Road, a new bus lane and cycleways are set to be created along 2km of existing highway space as part of a Sustainable Travel corridor.

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Mainline Station - £1m
The SYMCA is being allowed to only spend up to £1m from the pot between now and 2027 to "develop the Outline Business Case (OBC) for an integrated mainline and tram-train station." £7m is being held back due to uncertainties regarding the timing of the full station scheme that emerged following the publication of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan and the ongoing HS2 Leeds Area Study.

Waverley Station - £1m
At Waverley, a contribution from the CRSTS is for business case development work up to 2026. Work has been underway for a number of years through the Restoring Your Railway "Ideas Fund" for a new railway station on the Sheffield to Lincoln line at Waverley serving the new community and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Local and Neighbourhood Transport Complementary Programme - £6m
Each local authority is to recieve funds for a broad range of the smaller scale interventions required to complement the CRSTS scheme allocations and provide efficiency and effectiveness across the network upon which the regional strategic objectives and investments can be delivered. Also delivering localised investments within communities to open up the network to all users and encourage sustainable access to leisure, facilities and employment.

A number of projects are on standby including the mainline station, 1km of bus lane along the A633 Warren Vale, the provision of cycleways in Hellaby and creating active travel neighbourhoods in Maltby and Brecks.

Business cases are in development for the schemes with the funding to be spent between now and 2027. The settlement consolidates funding from previous allocations of the Highways Maintenance Block, Potholes Fund and Integrated Transport Block.

Images: Google Maps

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