News: £7m Rotherham flood alleviation works complete

The latest works to protect homes and businesses from flooding have been officially completed at Ickles Lock in Rotherham.

Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2A (RRFAS 2A) aims to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including Rotherham Central Railway Station, are more resilient to future flood events.

Phase 2A provides flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre. It links to earlier phases such as the £15m Phase 1 that was completed in 2008 and comprised of 1.7km of flood protection at Templeborough and the creation of the Centenary Wetland.

A 125-metre-long concrete wall built between the railway and canal from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way will now better protect businesses and the railway from floods. Rotherham Council and its partners have invested £7m to complete this latest phase of works, which was due to be completed in 2022.

Cllr Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Rotherham Council, said: “We’re dedicated to delivering flood alleviation projects and work with communities and businesses to develop flood resilience measures in the worst-affected areas. This flood wall will protect another part of our town from flooding and the awful impact it can have on peoples’ homes and businesses.

“This is just the latest step in a Council Flood Alleviation scheme that is making great strides to protect our town, as we’ll be carrying out further works at six more locations as part of the scheme. We’re also working hard as a Council to reduce the carbon emissions that are widely seen as a cause of global warming and some heavy rains.”

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Flood defence works at nearby Forge Island, completed in 2020, are enabling the current regeneration of the site to go ahead unhindered. Around 400 businesses, railways, tram networks and main roads will be better protected by RRFAS when it’s complete. These include the A630, A633, A6123, Rotherham Central Station and Parkgate Station.

A colourful mural that pays homage to the town’s cultural and industrial heritage was officially unveiled at Ickles Lock by local representatives and the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jim McMahon MP.

Darren Blank, Project Manager at Jackson Civil Engineering said: “The project has been a massive challenge in both pre-construction and delivery. We have been working on the scheme for over three years so this really is the culmination of huge stakeholder engagement and collaboration and excellence from the site team and our supply chain. The final product is testament to all of this and I am proud to have been a part of it."

Artists Anthony Donnelly of Urban Canvas and Phil Padfield of AFFIX Art painted the flood wall and switch back cycle ramp next to Ickles Lock. The designs strike a balance between nature and offer a fitting nod to the past and Rotherham’s industrial heritage, while helping to communicate the ambition and pride of the town and its people. The colours and textures used also provide harmony to the design.

This project has received £4.37m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in addition to £2m of funding from South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) and £2m from Rotherham Council's Town Centre Investment Fund.

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News: Ceremony for canal barrier completion at Forge Island

Rotherham Council and partners have officially opened the new, state-of-the-art canal barrier at Forge Island in the town centre.

The barrier has added a new feature to the Rotherham skyline alongside the historic Rotherham canal, lock and towpath. The barrier is a single phase of the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme, which will reduce the risk of flooding to the town centre, businesses and Rotherham Central railway station.

Construction work began on the barrier in August 2021 and was completed in August 2022.

The barrier and associated works in this phase cost £4.45m and was funded by funding from the Levelling Up Fund, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, European Regional Development Fund, Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy, and Network Rail.

The construction of the barrier required around 50 tonnes of steel reinforcements and 1,000 tonnes of concrete. This included 450 tonnes of low carbon cement free concrete, which resulted in a saving of 44 tonnes of embedded Carbon Dioxide (CO2) compared to traditional cement concrete and supported the Council’s commitment to a cleaner, greener local environment, targeting the reduction of carbon emissions.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “The new canal barrier at the Rotherham Lock is a fantastic focal point of the flood alleviation works and showcases all of the hard work done by our Flood Risk Team and partners during the project. The canal barrier has already become an iconic part of the Rotherham town centre skyline, and will provide reassurance and protection for countless residents who live and work alongside the River Don.

“I am very proud to be involved in the opening of the Canal Barrier, especially as from Monday 7th November to Sunday 13th November is the Environment Agency’s Flood Action week. The canal barrier is a great example of what the Council and its partners are doing to prepare and act so that reduce risk to damage and to life from flooding in Rotherham.”

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The canal barrier is part of the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme (RRFAS) – a project which will construct new flood defences along a five kilometre stretch of the River Don through the Templeborough, town centre and Parkgate areas of Rotherham. The project also includes a section of flood defences in Kilnhurst.

Darren Blank, Project Manager at Jackson Civil Engineering, said: “The project has been highly challenging whilst proving rewarding in all aspects of Civil Engineering and teamwork. It has highlighted the importance of early collaboration and relationships throughout the scheme stakeholders. We as the Principal Contractor have tried to place these principals at the forefront whilst relying on the skills and expertise of our site teams to deliver a high standard of delivery. We are immensely proud of the final product and the innovations and sustainable solutions we found along the way. We look forward to continuing to deliver flood resilience projects in Rotherham in the future, thereby protecting the residents and businesses as we move into a changing climatic period.”

Recommended reading: Is this the end for Rotherham town centre?

Mark Duquemin, Head of Environmental Management & Sustainability for Pell Frischmann, said: “We are very pleased to see the canal barrier come to life, ready to protect the people and communities of Rotherham from flooding. It’s been rewarding working on the design and supporting the construction of this iconic structure with our design partners KGAL, providing mechanical & electrical services for the flood gate, and Ecus, providing landscape architecture services.”

By 2023, approximately £15m of works will have been constructed as part of the latest phases of the Flood Alleviation Scheme, providing a continuous line of defence over 1.6km. A further 1.9km is still needed on the north/west bank in order to reduce risk from the River Don between Forge Island and Parkgate. Further work is also required at Marsh Street/Sheffield Road and Effingham Street/St Anne’s near Parkgate.

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News: Council and club combine to shore up flood defences

A new pumping station and drain that will remove any surface water caused by heavy rainfall and discharge it into the River Don, are the latest flood defence works to be completed in Rotherham.

Pumps that can empty an Olympic-sized swimming pool in around 13 minutes have been installed by the Council, with support from Rotherham United Estates, on Don Street on the edge of Rotherham town centre. The partnership has also built an outfall chamber at Don Street Bridge, that will reduce the risk of flooding in an area that has seen people’s homes and businesses flooded in recent years.

One of the conditions linked to the construction of the AESSEAL New York Stadium was the construction of the drain and pumping station to ensure increased river levels do not cause flooding behind the flood barriers at the New York Stadium and Riverside House council offices.

Councillor Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “Our vision is to create a clean and welcoming environment across our borough, and in turn secure our natural environment for the next generation.

“Sadly, we’ve seen first-hand in Rotherham the negative impact flooding can have on people, and so the Council is delivering significant infrastructure improvements to reduce the risk of flooding."

Flooding in Rotherham is still a risk and may increase, as climate change predictions suggest increased rainfall volume and intensity in future. The £4m pumping station will work to protect the nearby community and people upstream. It does this by ensuring the drain does not become blocked by high river levels in the River Don and will work alongside other new flood defences installed as part of the New York Stadium development.

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Councillor Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “The new pumping station is part of a wider package of measures designed to protect the town centre from future flood events, including the new canal barrier and defences at Forge Island.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues at the Council and our partners at Rotherham United Estates for the completion of these engineering works, which will reduce the threat of flooding to homes and businesses in the town centre.”

The pumping station was developed as part of the multi-agency flood risk reduction plans for the surrounding areas. This plan has involved raising land levels by 2.5 metres, building retaining walls and embankments and installing new culverts and improving existing drains.

Rotherham United Chairman Tony Stewart, added: “We have always spoken about our responsibility as a football club to the people of the town and we felt it important to support the council in completing this project.

“The benefits of the works that have taken place at the Don Street pumping station will hopefully help to safeguard areas of the town that have been previously affected by flooding and provide another ring of steel to the defences already in situ.

“As a club that works closely with businesses within the town – many of whom support us through sponsorship and other commercial ventures – we felt it important for us to help RMBC and everyone involved in this project, which we believe will benefit an incredible amount of local people.”

The scheme was designed by 3E Consulting Engineers and delivered by main contractor Breheny Civil Engineering Ltd.

By 2023, approximately £15m of works will have been constructed as part of the latest phases of the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme. Providing a continuous line of defence over 1.6km, a further 1.9km is still needed on the north/west bank in order to reduce risk from the River Don between Forge Island and Parkgate. Further work is also required at Marsh Street/Sheffield Road and Effingham Street/St Anne’s near Parkgate.

Rotherham Council website

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News: Rotherham regeneration projects delayed as costs rise

A number of regeneration projects in Rotherham have been delayed.

The local council is citing issues linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising costs of materials.

Rotherham town centre is benefitting from over £60m of investment after funding from various government schemes was secured.

At Forge Island, flood defence work is currently underway in readiness for a new leisure scheme with an 8-screen boutique style cinema, modern hotel, food and drink outlets and car parking.

According to council papers, the delivery of the Canal Barrier at Forge Island will be completed in July 2022 and the Flood Alleviation project at Ickles lock has started with a planned completion in 2023.

Cabinet papers show that for a number of projects, delivery and expenditure has slipped into future years.

For the flood work at Forge Island, papers state: "The overall costs were increased due in the main to inflation on required materials (steel), these increases lead to a requirement for an additional funding package, that has delayed progress. An increased funding package is now in place and the project has been re-profiled and will be completed by August 2022."

It is expected that construction will start on the cinema and hotel in October 2022 allowing practical completion and handover to tenants for fitting out by January 2024. At the time of securing the approval of the planning board in 2020, developers, Muse, anticipated that construction would begin in autumn 2021.

Muse is currently working on detailed design in preparation for awarding a construction contract based on a negotiated price. Legal discussions are also ongoing regarding leases and funding.

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Alongside Forge Island there has also been delays with the demolition of Riverside Precinct and Chantry Building. F Hardwick Ltd secured a £87,800 tender for the work but "there have been delays securing a contractor to remove the pedestrian bridge with works due to commence in first quarter 2022/23. Preparations for the bridge removal are underway and will complete Q2 2022/23."

Rotherham Council is also leading on efforts to build more new houses in the town centre. Whilst all the houses have been reserved and the first residents have moved in at a new development on Wellgate, delays have been experienced "largely due to a variety of utility issues across all three sites. The project will be re-profiled to reflect a completion of November 2022" - pushed back from September 2022.

The markets revamp has now entered Rotherham Council's capital programme. A planning application was recently submitted for the redevelopment of Rotherham markets, complete with a new chapter for a central library. It has been given a total budget of £22,095,761 split between this year and next.

Finalising designs and funding agreements are singled out as causing delays to other projects, including the new home for Grimm & Co and the completion of the green space on the High Street.

Rotherham Council purchased the former Primark building on High Street in November 2020, secured planning permission and hired a demolition firm to take down the vacant building. The authority had set out to complete a pocket park by September 2021, and pushed this back to June 2022. Papers state that "final design amendments are in the process of being concluded ahead of tendering" but no new completion date is given.

Outside of the town centre, delays have also been reported on transport schemes at the Parkway (now expected completion of October 2022) and at Greasborough (The project now has a forecast completion date of first quarter 2023).

The cabinet paper concludes that capital expenditure (programme delivery) is higher than in previous years but adds that "the pandemic has significantly impacted the delivery of a number of schemes, in the main due to Covid restrictions impacting how works are undertaken as well as a knock on effect on the cost of materials and supply and demand in the market.

"The level of slippage on the Capital Programme is reflective of the delivery challenges that the Council faces due to built up demand in the supplier market due to Covid, inflation and the Council’s Capital Programme is the largest it has ever been."

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News: New canal barrier superstructure in place

An eye-catching new addition to the Rotherham townscape has been installed - a new multimillion pound canal barrier at Forge Island.

The Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme (RRFAS) aims to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including the central station, are more resilient to future flood events.

Work began last year on Phase 2C - a canal barrier at Forge Island where the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

The barrier now has a mild steel main gate with a large curved structure over the navigable canal at Brown's Cut (near Rotherham Lock), located close to where the canal separates from the River Don.

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Centregreat Engineering manufactured and installed the barrier for Jackson Civil Engineering, who are delivering the £3m scheme for the client Rotherham Council.

A spokesperson for Jackson Civil Engineering, said: "The installation of the arch is the culmination of eight months work.

"The structure will reduce the risk of flooding in the town whilst its stunning arch design will compliment town centre development."

Other work in the area includes 0.5km of new flood defences upstream of Rotherham United's AESSEAL New York Stadium, located along the canal side near Ickles Lock, the canal towpaths, Brinsworth Street and the railway.

Jackson Civil Engineering website

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News: Rising costs for Rotherham town centre flood defences

Further funding is being sought to continue a much needed flood alleviation scheme through Rotherham.

Work started at the end of last year and can't come soon enough for Rotherham Central station which was forced to close again this week due to flooding.

A new application for funding highlights cost overruns, upwardly revised cost estimates and an increase in material costs.

A new multimillion-pound canal barrier at Forge Island, flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre and the Forge Island Flood Wall and Public Realm works (already constructed) are central phases of the Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme that Rotherham Council (RMBC) is already delivering along 5km of the River Don.

Having previously identified a £4.5m shortfall in funding for the three phases, the council is now hoping to secure a £2m grant from the gainshare pot of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), along with £2.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) before it ends.

MCA papers show that "if this funding is not secured, Phases 2A and 2C would need to be stopped at a point in their construction."

The total scheme cost is £7.54m and work is due to be completed in the summer.

The paper adds: "There has already been cost overruns to Ickle Lock (2A), upwardly revised cost estimates to the design of the Canal Barrier (2C) and an increase in material costs. The responsibility for funding the project broadly lies with the RMBC and to provide additional funding where there is a shortfall. If either of the MCA Gainshare and ERDF funding requests are unsuccessful, RMBC will have to bid from its own capital funding programme. Even if successful, it cannot be allocated until March 2022, as part of the annual budget setting cycle, and drawn down until July 2022 at the earliest. Therefore, phases 2A and 2C would have to be halted.

"This OBC [outline business case] is requesting additional funds to support the higher cost of delivery of Phases 2A and the funding shortfall of Phases 2B and 2C combined, which will free up RMBC capital funds for pre-construction works on future phases, and thereby enable momentum to be maintained on these crucial future works."

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The rail link at Rotherham has been badly affected by flooding on several occasions with Network Rail set to contribute £400,000 towards the delivery of the canal barrier to provide resilience to this section of their network.

The station is set to reopen today (Wednesday February 23) after being overwhelmed with water during Storm Franklin – the third storm to hit the railway in a week.

The pre-emptive decision to close the station was made on Saturday February 19 based on the Environmental Agency's river level readings at the time. By acting before any flooding hit the station, Network Rail engineers were able to remove critical equipment from the ground, which has proved crucial to reducing the impact of flood damage.

Engineers have spent three days pumping water away from the railway between Aldwarke and Tinsley. As water levels reduced, further damage was uncovered and this has required additional repairs.

Matt Rice, North & East Route Director for Network Rail said: “Storms Franklin, Dudley and Eunice have brought relentless challenges for the railway over the last week, including significant flooding in Rotherham.

“Our teams have worked 24/7 to pump water away from the tracks and work towards getting the railway back up and running for passengers in South Yorkshire. I’d like to thank people for bearing with us as we deliver a safe and reliable railway.”

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News: £40m for levelling up in Rotherham and what it'll be spent on

Two of the three bids from Rotherham have been successful in securing money from the Government's Levelling Up Fund.

The competitive fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. The Government has committed £4 billion for England over the next four years (up to 2024-25).

Successful bids in the first round of the Levelling Up Fund were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the 2021 Spending Review and they included bids around Rotherham town centre and the local visitor economy.

The town centre bid has been allocated £19.5m and focuses on two key areas, the Riverside Residential Quarter (an £18.7m project) and the Leisure and Culture Quarter (a £19.5m project).

The Riverside masterplan focuses on the creation of a new mixed-use community, bringing footfall and activity 24 hours a day. This includes a major drive to repopulate this area and to address longstanding vacant buildings. The first phase of the residential project is being delivered bringing 171 new homes into the town centre.

£11m from the Levelling Up Fund will provide a new pedestrian bridge across the river between the new residential development and Guest & Chrimes and New York Stadium, the route of this bridge will culminate in new public realm at the end of Water Lane close to where new housing is being built on the site of the former Sheffield Road swimming baths. A Riverside Walk will also be developed to open up the River to the new residents and people walking into the town.

A land assembly strategy would also see the Council taking ownership of further sites within the town centre to continue its regeneration.

£8.5m from the Levelling Up Fund will contribute to this by supporting enabling works such as the completion of flood defences in the form of the Canal Barrier, and continuing the River Walk, creating a key pedestrian gateway to the development.

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The Government has also awarded £19.9m for a number of connected projects which aim to build a new leisure industry that responds to the challenges of economic recovery and health and well-being. It brings together a package in two parts which will kickstart the leisure and visitor economy, drive inclusive growth and new job creation at the heart of communities across the borough.

To the north, Grade I Listed Wentworth Woodhouse would transform its Riding School and Stables to create new hospitality and visitor centres. £4.6m is required from the Government where the total project costs are £5.1m.

Also in the northern part of the borough, a £2.5m project would see Thrybergh Country Park benefit from a new destination waterside café and improved parking.

Close to the town centre at Templebrough, Magna would create a suite of new exhibitions, which will focus on science, nature and natural materials. The charity would need £1.9m for the £2.1m project.

In the south of the borough, Rother Valley Country Park would see a new ‘Village Centre’ created with a café, there will be new outdoor play and an educational centre. £5.5m is required here.

A second part of the bid is a skills package that will underpin the development of the major attractions through the creation of a new Skills Village (£1m required for the £1.6m project) at Gulliver's Valley Resort focusing on training, development, and accreditation within the hospitality and leisure sector.

Bridging the gap between school and employment, Maltby Academy Trust would invest £4.5m of Government funding in the £6.3m redevelopment of the former Maltby Grammar School to create an incubator space for training, apprenticeships, and start up support in the leisure and hospitality sectors.

Over 300 bids were submitted with over 100 successful in the first round. Absent from the first list is the third Rotherham bid which focussed on levelling up Wath and Dinnington.

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News: Work begins on new Rotherham town centre flood defence

Works to install a new multimillion-pound canal barrier at Forge Island are now underway as part of a key milestone in the Forge Island flood defence and enabling scheme.

These works form the central part of the Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme that the Council are already delivering along 5km of the River Don.

Rothbiz reported in June on the new canal barrier that joins the flood wall that has recently been constructed on Forge Island, which together will help reduce the risk of the River Don overtopping into the canal and flooding Rotherham town centre and the Central Railway Station.

Since June 2007 the Council has invested over £17m delivering flood defence schemes along the River Don corridor.

As well as being an integral part of the town centre flood defence, the canal barrier will add an impressive aesthetic element to the area, sitting alongside the Forge Island leisure development.

The flood defence scheme on and adjacent to Forge Island also includes improvements to the adjacent towpath, high-quality landscaping and new amphitheatre seating overlooking the lock.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “The threat of flooding causes a great deal of stress and upset to both residents and local businesses, as well as potentially causing havoc to the transport infrastructure. We saw with the flooding of 2007 and 2019 the amount of devastation it can cause, having lasting effects for years to come.

“We are committed to preventing a repeat of the flooding we’ve seen in recent years and the installation of the canal barrier will help protect our vital town centre business and Central Train Station.”

The rail link at Rotherham has been badly affected by flooding on several occasions with Network Rail set to contribute £400,000 towards the delivery of the canal barrier to provide resilience to this section of their network.

Matt Rice, North and East Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We saw the significant impact that severe weather can have on the railway earlier this year when Storm Christoph brought heavy downpours across the North, flooding sections of track in Rotherham. At the time, we were able to keep passengers moving by diverting services but installing this new canal barrier will help reduce risk from future floods and reduce the impact on the railway.

“We’re delighted to be contributing towards the funding of the canal barrier as we continue to work closely with Rotherham Council and other partners to reduce the impact of severe weather on the railway, the town and the surrounding area.”

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Work is due to be completed next summer. Until then the canal-side footpath and cycle route will be closed until August 2022 and a signed diversion is in place. Part of the Trans Pennine Trail will also operate with a diversion. The Statutes car park will remain open.

After a successful bid Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd has been awarded the construction contract following completion of the design by consultants Pell Frischmann.

A spokesperson for Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd commented: “Jackson is delighted to be delivering this exciting project and providing local residents and businesses in Rotherham with a vital piece of flood alleviation infrastructure.

“This scheme further bolsters the relationship we have with Rotherham Council and the good works we have already delivered on the wider Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme.”

Mark Duquemin, Head of Environmental Management and Sustainability for Pell Frischmann said: “We are very pleased to have carried out the design for this iconic structure with our design partners KGAL, providing mechanical & electrical services for the flood gate, and Ecus, providing landscape architecture services.

“We look forward to working with the Council and Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd during the construction of the canal barrier which, when finished, will reduce flood risk to the people and communities of Rotherham from flooding.”

Construction follows approvals by the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency to carry out the works to the canal and surrounding area.

Sean McGinley, director at the Canal and River Trust Yorkshire & North East, said: “We are delighted to be working with Rotherham Council on this project to protect the town from flooding.

“As a charity, we are always willing to work with partners to improve the infrastructure of our waterways, and we are pleased to have liaised closely with the Council during the concept and design of this project.”

Dave Ferguson at the Environment Agency commented: “This innovative new flood defence, combined with the new flood wall on Forge Island, will help reduce flood risk to homes, businesses and key transport infrastructure in Rotherham and improve resilience to the effects of climate change.

“We can never completely eliminate the risk of flooding, but people can ensure they are ready this autumn and winter by preparing a flood plan and signing up for free flood warnings.”

Images: RMBC / Pell Frischmann

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News: £36m still needed to plug funding gap for flood schemes

Despite a number of schemes making it onto a national list of future flood alleviation investment, Rotherham Council has still estimated that there is a funding gap of £36.5m.

Rothbiz reported recently on the Government announcing that there would be £860m invested in 1,000 flood defence schemes this year as part of its Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan.

A number of Rotherham schemes were included such as the the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme being down to receive an indicative contribution of £15.1m for 2021/22-2026/27. £488,060 is the Government's indicative investment to the scheme.

Other Rotherham schemes on the funding list include the Eel Mires Dike Flood Alleviation Scheme at Dinnington and Laughton Common (an indicative contribution of £1.45m) and Lake Outfall Pumping Station Refurbishment in the north of the borough (£725,000). Some Rother Washland Optimisation is also in line for funding.

Not on the list were Whiston Brook and Catcliffe.

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Last year, it was identified that £51m was needed to implement all of the region's flood-related schemes and, despite the confirmed Government funding, there was still a £125m gap in the South Yorkshire Flooding Priority Programme.

An update to Rotherham Council's Improving Places Select Commission states that as at August 2021, £15.5m of funding has been secured against the overall £52m initial estimated cost, leaving an estimated funding gap of £36.5m.

Rotherham Council's six key schemes are:

- Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme (£24m)
- Parkgate & Rawmarsh FAS (£14m)
- Whiston Brook FAS at Whiston (£4m)
- Eel Mires Dike FAS at Laughton Common (£3m)
- Catcliffe permanent pumping station (£5m)
- Culvert renewal programme (£2m)

£5.8m of council funding is being used to get the projects "shovel ready" for when funding does come on stream. The most advanced are the Rotherham to Kilnhurst FAS and the Parkgate & Rawmarsh FAS. Pre-construction work could take until 2024.

£5.7m of the Council's Town Centre Investment Fund has been put towards flood projects in the area. Other sources of funding include the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - £1.6m, Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority (Local Growth Funds) - £1.3m, Environment Agency - £0.7m, and Network Rail - £0.4m.

Upcoming phases around the town centre include flood defences at Ickles and a canal barrier is planned at Forge Island where the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

A council report states: "Significant funding is needed to deliver the six priority FAS [flood alleviation scheme] projects to completion. To support that £5.8m of capital budget was approved by Council in March 2021, to enable all the priority FAS projects to be brought to a ‘shovel ready’ state, to support future investment in the schemes and provide certainty in terms of the work that is required and the detailed costs.

"The Council continues to ask Central Government for support in funding all six priority FAS projects to enable them to be completed."

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News: Rotherham flood schemes on funding list

A key Rotherham flood alleviaton scheme looks set to receive £15m, newly published Government data shows.

Rothbiz reported at the start of 2021 that a number of Rotherham schemes were expected to benefit from an £80m Government investment in South Yorkshire flood defences, following sustained pressure and cooperation with local leaders and the Environment Agency in response to the November 2019 floods in the region.

Having earlier been included in Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee's plans, the Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme is down to receive an indicative contribution of £15.1m for 2021/22-2026/27. £488,060 is the Government's indicative investment to the scheme.

The Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme requires some £24m and includes downstream phases from Forge Island to Parkgate, and Kilnhurst.

The most recent work on the scheme is the £3m Phase 2A which provides flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre. It links to earlier phases such as the £15m Phase 1 that was completed in 2008 and comprised of 1.7km of flood protection at Templeborough and the creation of the Centenary Wetland.

£3m Phase 2C is for a canal barrier at Forge Island where the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

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Other Rotherham schemes on the funding list include the Eel Mires Dike Flood Alleviation Scheme at Dinnington and Laughton Common (an indicative contribution of £1.45m) and Lake Outfall Pumping Station Refurbishment in the north of the borough (£725,000). Some Rother Washland Optimisation is also in line for funding.

Last year, it was identified that £51m was needed to implement all of the region's flood-related schemes and, despite the confirmed Government funding, there was still a £125m gap in the South Yorkshire Flooding Priority Programme.

Not on the list are Whiston Brook, where £4m is needed to create large storage areas upstream of the village, and Catcliffe, an area synonymous with the 2007 floods, where council officers have identified that £5m would be required to create a permanent pumping station.

This year will see an extra £250m spent on flood and coastal defences in 2021/22 compared with last year - the highest ever annual investment. It includes an extra £40m compared with last year for schemes in Yorkshire and the Humber, a region that has suffered from repeated flooding in recent years.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: "We have seen some devastating flooding around the world so far this summer. No one can prevent all flooding and climate change means the risk is increasing, but we can reduce the risks.

"Having completed the government’s previous six year capital programme on time and on budget, better protecting more than 314,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion, this year we began the government’s new £5.2 billion flood programme."

Images: RMBC

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News: £3m flood barrier planned for Rotherham town centre

The next key piece of flood protection for Rotherham town centre is a new multimillion pound canal barrier at Forge Island.

The Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme (RRFAS) aims to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including the central station, are more resilient to future flood events.

Rothbiz reported recently on Phase 2A that provides flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre.

Now plans are being progressed for Phase 2C - a canal barrier at Forge Island where the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

Construction of the Forge Island flood wall and associated public realm works was completed in 2021.

Rotherham Council has now awarded a tender worth £3m (with a £500,000 contingency) to Jackson Civil Engineering Group Ltd for a canal barrier within the navigable canal at Brown's Cut (near Rotherham Lock), located close to where the canal separates from the River Don.

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A planning application, drawn up by consultants, Pell Frischmann, states: "The proposed works described as the "Flood Wall at The Statutes and Canal Towpath works" consist of the piled flood wall and abutment for the pedestrian towpath flood gate, a pipe to provide a feed to the canal when the Canal Barrier is closed, a crane pad to enable future maintenance of the Canal Barrier, the western towpath extension for inspection and maintenance of the Canal Barrier as well as enhancing the public realm, signs on gates at the Don Street entrances to the towpath and a sign at Ickles Lock to the south."

Images submitted with the plans show a mild steel main gate with large curved structure over the canal.

The sheet piles on the abutments and new flood defences will be clad with weathering steel to match materials used around Forge Island. Other landscaping details will also tie into the completed schemes.

The construction work means that the canal will need to be closed and the desired period is between July 2021 to June 2022. This window is being pursued to maximise the likelihood of the canal barrier being delivered before construction works on Forge Island are started (i.e. hotel, cinema and leisure facilities), which is planned for Summer in 2022.

Rotherham Council has recently commissioned a video showing the work done around the Forge Island site.

Dan Needham, development director at Muse Developments, who is leading on the Forge Island leisure scheme, said: "We are excited at bringing a cinema, a hotel, much-needed food and beverage facilities, and real family and community facilities, back into a quality environment overlooking the canal and the river that will be a real asset for Rotherham for years to come."

Forge Island website

Images: Pell Frischmann / RMBC

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News: £3m flood scheme aims to protect town centre and station

Plans have been submitted for the next section of a crucial flood alleviation scheme in Rotherham - a section which aims to keep services on track at the central station.

Undergoing a £10.4m redevelopment and re-opening in 2012, Rotherham Central station was severely affected by floods in November 2019 and as recently as January 2021, heavy rain closed the railway line in Rotherham.

Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2A (RRFAS 2A) aims to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including Rotherham Central Railway Station, are more resilient to future flood events.

Phase 2A provides flood defences from Ickles Lock to Centenary Way on the edge of the town centre. It links to earlier phases such as the £15m Phase 1 that was completed in 2008 and comprised of 1.7km of flood protection at Templeborough and the creation of the Centenary Wetland.

A lack of adequate public sector funding has meant that only few projects have taken place on the stretch of the river up to Parkgate since, until work began linked to the Forge Island leisure development.

The application, drawn up by consultants at Pell Frischmann, said: "Flood events in November 2000, June 2007 and more recently, in November 2019 have all demonstrated the scale of flood risk in Rotherham town centre. The floods have adversely affected key transport infrastructure, key utility infrastructure and a significant number of commercial, industrial, and retail properties.

"The aim of this scheme is to provide flood defences to ensure that Rotherham town centre, including Rotherham Central Railway Station, are more resilient to future flood events."

Works include sheet piled flood walls, concrete walls, replaced railway embankments, raised highways and an improved drainage pipe to prevent backflows during flood conditions onto Network Rail infrastructure. Resurfacing tow paths and replacement planting are also in the plans.

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The Trans Pennine Trail route runs through the site, and will be closed for part of the duration of the works.

Work is due to start in Winter/Spring 2021 and is due to be completed in 2022.

The overall cost of phase 2A is approximately £3.2m. This is being joint funded using £1.6m of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £1.6m from the Council's Town Centre Investment Fund.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year that Rotherham was set to benefit from an £80m Government investment in South Yorkshire flood defences. £52m of which is required to deliver the Rotherham projects, including the Council-led Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme that has a total cost of £24m.

A £9m investment from the council is already being delivered, including a new flood wall on Forge Island, a new Canal Barrier and new flood defences upstream of the New York Stadium. £5.8m has also been allocated from Council's 2021 capital programme for flood work.

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News: £860m "new deal" for South Yorkshire regeneration

The fate of future of economic development and regeneration projects in Rotherham and the rest of South Yorkshire could no longer be decided by a formula and London-based government staff and ministers, under ambitious plans set to be approved by the region's Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).

Through devolution, the MCA in South Yorkshire has been granted some borrowing powers and is set to use them to create a ground-breaking stimulus, worth up to £860m, to revitalise South Yorkshire’s economy and transform the region.

The Mayor said he and local leaders were "rewriting the rule book" to meet the seismic economic challenge posed by COVID.

The investment heralds a "New Deal for South Yorkshire", which will unleash South Yorkshire’s potential, and deliver recovery and renewal for the region after the pandemic.

It will invest hundreds of millions into schemes to protect, create and attract thousands of jobs, train workers and apprentices, back businesses to locate and grow in the region, and transform infrastructure – building South Yorkshire’s transport network and revitalising its high streets and towns.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Despite the challenges COVID throws at us, our plan sends a crystal-clear message of ambition and confidence: that South Yorkshire is open for business and ready to prosper. The Government may not be willing to back our region, but local leaders and I will not stand by and let our potential be squandered.

“That’s why we’re rewriting the rule book, using powers and resources secured from Westminster, to invest in our people, our businesses and our towns and high streets. This is the power of devolution: it means we can deliver on the priorities of our people: jobs, apprenticeships, better buses, new flood defences, stronger transport links and revitalised high streets and town centres.

“We’re working to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire for all – delivering not just recovery, but renewal. Not just a bigger economy, but a better one. We know South Yorkshire’s people and industry rightly have enormous pride in our story so far. We’re reinforcing our reputation as the heartland of British industry and innovation, and we’re making our region an even better place to live, work and invest.

“We’ve started to transform South Yorkshire and we believe that our best days lie ahead of us. That’s why we’re creating the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund – a comprehensive plan to unlock the potential of our people, businesses and places, so everyone can have a stake in our future prosperity. We will deliver a New Deal for South Yorkshire.”

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The South Yorkshire Renewal Fund will be considered for approval by the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority at its meeting on Monday 22 March.

The £860m investment is made up of £358m MCA funding for South Yorkshire’s recovery in 2021/2022. This includes the MCA’s first year’s use of its £30m a year "gainshare." From 2022, and following agreement with HM Treasury, the MCA will borrow against its gainshare to create the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund, worth up to £500m. This will roughly be split between: £300m of investment in our places, including infrastructure and transport; and £200m of funding for jobs and skills in South Yorkshire.

Direct support is expected for; jobs and apprenticeships, and helping people find them; helping businesses to survive and thrive; revitalising high streets and building homes; getting people moving with better transport, by foot, bike, bus, tram and train; protecting the planet – retrofitting homes and improving flood defences.

Investment is also expected in infrastructure, flood defences, buses and active travel.

Rotherham schemes already in line for funding include investment in town centre housing and money for strategic acquisitions, funding for the extension at Century Business Centre, the Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme, and active travel around Broom and the town centre.

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News: Funding levels rise for Rotherham flood schemes

Rotherham Council is attempting to accelerate plans for major flood alleviation projects to protect hundreds of homes, businesses and infrastructure in the borough’s worst flood-hit areas.

In budget proposals to be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet next week, it is recommended that £5.8m is allocated from the capital programme to carry out pre-construction design and approval work for six flood alleviation schemes in the borough.

Rothbiz confirmed last month that Rotherham was set to benefit from an £80m Government investment in South Yorkshire flood defences. £52m of which is required to deliver the Rotherham projects.

Council led schemes (total costs):
- Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme (£24m)
- Parkgate Flood Alleviation Scheme (£14m)
- Eel Mires Dike FAS at Laughton Common (£3m)
- Catcliffe permanent pumping station (£5m)
- Culvert renewal programme (£2m)

And Environment Agency led schemes:
- Don Catchment Regulators
- Nature Based Solutions Programme in Mid Don

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Cllr. Emma Hoddinott, Cabinet Member for Waste, Roads and Community Safety at Rotherham Council said: “The threat of flooding continues to create great anxiety and stress for many communities across Rotherham. The flooding of 2007 and 2019, and several ‘near misses’, have left people traumatised, with some households and businesses unable to insure their properties.

“To design and plan major schemes like these is very expensive, but it has to be done before physical work can take place. By making this further investment locally we reiterate our commitment to prevent a repeat of the flooding we’ve seen in recent years – but we still really need the government to step up to and make the full delivery of all these schemes possible.”

Rotherham Council has invested over £17m delivering flood defence schemes since the June 2007 floods along the River Don corridor. Future investment of a further £9m is already being delivered, including a new flood wall on Forge Island, a new Canal Barrier and new flood defences upstream of the New York Stadium.

As well as reducing flood risk to people, property, businesses and infrastructure, the schemes are supporting economic development and regeneration in the town centre and nearby employment areas.

Since the winter storms of 2019, the Council has also delivered small and medium sized works in 48 locations where flooding has occurred to homes, businesses, and strategic roads. The works, totalling £100,000, have included the installation of new road gullies, cleansing to watercourses, CCTV, cleansing and repairs to culverts and highway drains. These schemes have all been delivered by in-house staff to reduce flood risk and this work will continue for a further 12 months.

Rotherham Council’s funding for the pre-construction and design work is part of its £295m capital programme up to 2023/24.

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News: £80m for flood defences with Rotherham to benefit

A number of Rotherham schemes are expected to benefit from an £80m Government investment in South Yorkshire flood defences, following sustained pressure and cooperation with local leaders and the Environment Agency in response to the November 2019 floods in the region.

Combined with other public and private funding, this means that almost £93m has been secured for flood risk investment over the next six-year period.

The funding was confirmed at the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee meeting in January, who considered the new Medium-Term Plan.

It marks a three-fold increase in the scale of investment to South Yorkshire and comes after the Mayor, local authority leaders and the Environment Agency worked together on plans to respond to the November 2019 floods.

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The funding marks a significant step towards the delivery of 27 priority projects identified by the Mayor and local leaders to protect more homes and businesses.

Rotherham schemes in the initial 27 projects set out in 2020 include the Council led schemes:

- Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Parkgate Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Catcliffe Pumping Station
- Eel Mires Dike Flood Alleviation Scheme Flood Alleviation Scheme
- Rotherham Culvert Renewal Programme

And Environment Agency led schemes:
- Don Catchment Regulators
- Nature Based Solutions Programme in Mid Don

The schemes will protect 860 homes across South Yorkshire, as well as ensuring that infrastructure, including Rotherham railway station which was closed again due to flooding recently, is resilient to flooding in the future.

The Rotherham To Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation Scheme requires some £24m and includes downstream phases from Forge Island to Parkgate, and Kilnhurst.

Rothbiz reported last year that £51m was needed to implement all of its flood-related schemes and, despite the confirmed Government funding, there is still a £125m gap in the South Yorkshire Flooding Priority Programme.

Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, Dan Jarvis, said: "Just this week Storm Christoph has shown how a lack of action has left our region exposed.

“It’s therefore incredibly welcome that the Environment Agency’s Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has approved substantial new investment for South Yorkshire, following extensive work by local leaders to develop a plan which will help protect our region from harm in future.

“Local leaders and I have put forward almost £6m of our own funding to kick start the works and alongside this funding boost, we can go a long way to delivering our plan, which will help keep our communities and businesses safe.

“I’m determined we see the South Yorkshire catchment plan delivered in full, and that’s why the onus is now on Ministers to step up and fill the remaining £125m gap in the South Yorkshire’s Flooding Priority Programme. People in South Yorkshire cannot afford any more sleepless nights. Local leaders have acted decisively, now Ministers must do the same.”

Images: Northern Rail / Twitter

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News: Further funding set to flood in for Rotherham regeneration

Without the flood alleviation scheme in Rotherham town centre, the new cinema and hotel developments would literally not get off the ground.

Work is now at an advanced stage on the flood defence, enabling and public realm improvements on Forge Island, where a leisure-led regeneration scheme is proposed under plans approved earlier this year.

An update to councillors shows that works include the installation of sheet metal piled flood defences along the west side of the site and a flood gate on the north (Bridge Street) side, forming part of the ongoing Rotherham Renaissance Flood alleviation Scheme (RRFAS), which will eventually run from Templeborough to Kilnhurst.

A further £2.8m via the Sheffield city region is due to be approved for the project.

New 3.75 metre high retaining walls are set back from the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal to allow maintenance of this historic feature, and this has created an opportunity to create very high-quality public open space, which will enable the public to enjoy this previously neglected section of the water course.

The canal footbridge adjacent to Rotherham Lock has been restored, new footpaths are being created in the form of re-used cobbles from the previous towpath.

The highlight of these works will be the construction of a terraced amphitheatre adjacent to Rotherham Lock which as well as providing a seating area will also provide access to the upper deck of the wider leisure development that is being developed in partnership with Muse Developments. A piled basement car park is set to raise the development platform above flood water levels.

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An additional scheme on the site has seen the introduction of a fish pass at Masbrough Weir and future elements include a flood barrier at the confluence of the River Don and canal at Browns Cut. Pell Frischmann engineering consultancy has been appointed to work on the Canal Barrier scheme.

Council papers add that later this month, the Sheffield city region (SCR) is set to discuss an application for Local Growth Fund (LGF) funding of £2.8m to contribute towards the delivery of the Forge Island enabling works. The costs of the scheme are currently supported by a £1.5m LGF loan which was awarded in 2016 to fund the purchase and clearance of the site.

The latest application requests approval to convert the loan into a grant and to secure a further grant of £1.3m to contribute towards the construction of the flood defence works critical to unlocking the site as quickly and efficiently as possible.

LGF funding will contribute towards the costs of safeguarding the development and surrounding areas, providing a capital contribution towards the total cost of the site acquisition and enabling works specifically the flood wall, with the council and other stakeholders funding the canal barrier.

£2.1m has already been secured from the "Getting SCR Building" fund for public realm works around Forge Island.

Images: PWP Design / Twitter

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News: First showing for new Rotherham cinema plans

Details of the proposed new Rotherham cinema have been premiered with the submission of a planning application for the wider Forge Island regeneration project.

The application sets out in detail that the site of the former Tesco store in Rotherham town centre is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

Adjacent sites are set to feature a new café on the site of the current Riverside precinct with land by the river and on the former courts building earmarked for future residential phases.

Contracts were exchanged at the end of 2019 between urban regeneration specialist, Muse Developments, and Rotherham Council, for the leisure-led mixed use development which is designed to act as a catalyst for the town centre.

A 340 space car park, to be operated by the council, is to be created on the main Forge Island site with the new buildings on a podium above taking them higher than the 1 in 100 flood risk level. Entry to the car park is to continue from Bridge Street and Market Street as it does currently.

The plans, submitted by WYG consultants, state: "The development of Forge Island is an opportunity to improve the social fabric of Rotherham. The creation of a major destination will not only attract new visitors to Rotherham town centre but boost local employment through retaining footfall.

"Key to this new leisure offer will be the provision of a new cinema, aligned with family orientated restaurants and a hotel and a new café that will re-position Rotherham town centre as a vibrant evening and weekend destination, lengthening dwell times and creating a more active evening economy.

"High quality new public space will be delivered at the heart of the development providing an area of public realm that can be used for a range of events which broaden the cultural offer of the town centre."

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Rothbiz reported earlier this month that the cinema would be larger than previously anticipated.

Described as "a keystone to the masterplan" the cinema is the largest building in the scheme at 25,000 sq ft and is positioned at the south of Forge Island. Either side of the cinema's foyer are two restaurant units (2,500 sq and 3,000 sq ft), which have the potential for mezzanine levels. Plans show five screens with between 125 and 143 seats and three smaller screens of between 50 and 83 seats.

The design approach developed by FaulknerBrowns Architects looked to the strong industrial heritage of the site which was historically home to a foundry and an iron works. The cinema design incorporates a saw-tooth roof profile with a metal cap and a robust brick podium base.

The four storey hotel at the north of the site has also been designed with a metal top and brick base in grey giving it a separate identity to the cinema. The top element is also clad in metal. The hotel building includes a foyer which connects through to a 40 cover café/bar area plus a separate 2,500 sq ft restaurant unit.

A separate building adjacent to the hotel is a further 5,400 sq ft restaurant in a prime position close to a new pedestrian bridge to connect Forge Island with the rest of the town centre.

The podium also creates a new area of public realm to form the heart of the new leisure destination. The podium and buildings are coordinated around a central area to be called "Forge Square" complete with crankshaft and steel roller seating. A landscaped area called "Riverside Approach" is also planned.

Movement through, and around the site, is designed to offer views to key landmarks, including Rotherham Minster, and provide legibility and promote greater connectivity with the River Don and Canal. Flood alleviation works are already underway and Rotherham Council's plans include a terraced amphitheatre relating to Rotherham Lock.

The application confirms that the Council-owned Riverside Precinct and the Equity Chambers building on Corporation Street are to be demolished to make way for a 1,500 sq ft café in another open area called "Millgate Place."

The proposed foot / cycle bridge connecting Millgate Place and Forge Square is also set to nod to Rotherham's industrial heritage and play homage to Donald Bailey and the Bailey Bridge.

Submitted as a hybrid application, the developers have included outline plans for later phases - 50 riverside residential units on land known as the abattoir site behind Market Street and 70 residential units on the site of the former courts buildings.

The cleared site off Main Street is set to be used as a temporary car park to enable a phased approach to construction. The cinema and two restaurants, plus the Millgate Place site could be brought forward before the hotel and large restaurant.

Forge Island website



Images: Muse / RMBC / FaulknerBrowns

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News: £51m needed to protect Rotherham homes and businesses from flooding

Rotherham Council has identified a pipeline of projects that are required to protect the borough from flooding. It just doesn't yet have the £51m needed to implement all of them.

With households and businesses still mopping up after flooding caused by heavy rainfall in November 2019, cabinet members are due to receive an update on its Major Incident Plan (MIP) and on future flood alleviation projects.

Several flood alleviation projects have been completed and funded since the June 2007 floods, most notably around Templeborough and the town centre, but future phases have stalled due to a lack of funding.

To support regeneration in Rotherham town centre, flood works are well underway at Forge Island. £4.1m of council funding has been ringfenced already for this work which is necessary to help deliver the full Forge Island scheme, which will include a cinema, food and drink outlets, a hotel, and a car park, with the new leisure facilities set within an attractive public space and a new pedestrian bridge connecting to the wider town centre.

Another project progressing is around the New York Stadium and council offices at Riverside House, but budgets have risen. A condition of the stadium construction is the construction of a sluice gate and pump station to ensure that increased river levels do not cause flooding to occur behind the flood barriers.

The work should protect areas such as the railway (Rotherham Central was closed again due to flooding in November), Centenary Way and sites adjacent to the canal, including electrical supplies to central Rotherham.

The total cost of the project, on the books since 2012, has gone up to £2.62m from initial estimates of £1.7m, with the Council expected to foot the bill for a further £1.1m. The need to replace the adjacent highway bridge has also been identified to an estimated value of £934,076. A canal barrier at Forge Island is also required.

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The council has begun lobbying the Government for funding and town centre projects could be included in the bid for the Government's Future High Streets Fund.

Cllr. Emma Hoddinott gave an update at the recent full council meeting, saying: "There was a number of areas around the borough that did flood [in November 2019] and indeed there are schemes that we want to put in place in terms of flood defences to protect those places in the future.

"Both the leader [Chris Read] and the mayor of the city region [Dan Jarvis] have been raising this. We need the funding from the Government to put these flood defences in place. The ask from Rotherham is £51m. We know the works that need to be done. We need that funding in Rotherham now in order to start those works."

To complete the the £24m town centre flood alleviation scheme, the next area, which does not yet have any funding, includes downstream phases from Forge Island to Parkgate, and Kilnhurst.

Specifically at Parkgate, which also suffered flood damage where flooding comes from multiple sources (e.g. River Don, watercourses and Yorkshire Water systems), around £10m would be required to create large upstream storage areas in rural areas on Wentworth Estates land and localised capacity improvements in urban areas. An additional £4m is required to address flooding issues on the main road network.

At Catcliffe, an area synonymous with the 2007 floods, council officers have identified that £5m would be required to create a permanent pumping station.

Another badly affected area, Templeborough, needs £1m to upgrade the road network and improve drainage.

Another key area is Whiston Brook where £4m is needed to create large storage areas upstream of the village. £3m is also required to address flooding issues around Dinnington and Laughton Common at Eel Mires Dike. Smaller scale work at the Pit House West site has already earmarked £50k of council funding to alleviate a potential high flooding risk for an adjacent housing estate and main railway line.

A council report states: "Several flood alleviation projects have been completed and funded since the June 2007 floods. Several more projects have been identified utilising the current levels of Council funding that is available to the Drainage team, and these are at various stages of development, including some at inception stage, some in their pre-construction stage and one at construction stage.

"Significant funding is needed to deliver the high priority projects which the Council believes are required, with initial estimates being that £51m of external funding is needed."

Images: Don Catchment Rivers Trust / twitter

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News: Forge Island flood works continue

It used to be the sound of a drop hammer ringing out from Forge Island, now its the sound of new flood defences being hammered into place.

Work continues on the first phase of works to bring a cinema development to Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported that works had got underway at the end of 2019 and that the flood defence and enabling work on the Forge Island site includes retaining walls, terrace seating and high-quality public spaces. Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd had been selected to carry out works with a value of around £2.5m.

The contractors have been busy driving sheet metal pile into the ground to form the new flood defence walls. This will form part of the next phase of the flood alleviation works along the north and west boundaries of Forge Island. The flood defence wall will also form a backdrop to improved open spaces adjacent to the Canal.

The works are necessary to help deliver the full Forge Island scheme, which will include a cinema, food and drink outlets, a hotel, and a car park, with the new leisure facilities set within an attractive public space and a new pedestrian bridge connecting to the wider town centre.

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Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: "People may notice more activity and noises on the site as the plans to transform Forge Island continue to move forward. We know residents are keen to see the area develop and it’s great to see work progressing on a project which will bring a boost to the whole of the town centre."

Due to the flood alleviation works the footbridge over Rotherham Lock will be closed until further notice. Alternative routes to Forge Island Car Park are available via Bridge Street, Corporation Street (over the footbridge) or Market Street.

Urban regeneration specialist, Muse Developments, has exchanged contracts with Rotherham Council regarding the landmark mixed-use destination. A planning application is currently being prepared, with a view to being submitted in the coming months. Following consent and exchange of agreements with the main anchor occupiers, it is anticipated that construction will begin in late 2020.

Forge Island website

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News: Phase one works start on Forge Island

Work is underway on the key the flood defence works at Forge Island - the first phase of works to bring a cinema development to Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported last month that Eric Wright Civil Engineering Ltd had been selected to carry out works with a value of around £2.5m.

The flood defence and enabling work on the Forge Island site includes retaining walls, terrace seating and high-quality public spaces.

The enabling works are necessary to deliver the full Forge Island scheme, which will include a cinema, food and drink outlets, a hotel, and a car park, with the new leisure facilities set within an attractive public space and a new pedestrian bridge connecting to the wider town centre.

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Diane Bourne, managing director of Eric Wright Civil Engineering, said: "This is a significant project which will complete a further section of flood protection for the town centre and forms part of the enabling work for the leisure-led Forge Island development. As part of the works, we will also be creating a high quality landscape setting adjacent to the Canal and a pedestrian link on to the main Forge Island development. With the project now very much underway, we are scheduled to complete next spring."

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Borough Council’s cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, added: "It's great to see works onsite at Forge Island, bringing us another step closer to the exciting cinema and leisure scheme that is planned. I'm delighted that Eric Wright Civil Engineering will be carrying out the flood defence and enabling works to help make these plans a reality."

Muse Developments was chosen as Rotherham Council's preferred partner for the scheme and a detailed agreement for lease has been signed.

The cinema development will be built on a podium to lift the area out of the flood plain with parking underneath.

Forge Island website

Images: RMBC

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