News: Newest Rotherham burger joint opens

Visit Rotherham reports on the opening of a Rotherham branch of a popular burger joint in Sheffield that specialises in high-quality 100% Irish Angus smash burgers, 16-hour smoked beef ribs, and loaded munch boxes.

Maison de Burgers has operated on London Road in Sheffield for a number of years and recently secured planning permission to open in a vacant unit on Main Street in Rotherham town centre, adding to the vibrant food scene create in the area.

2 Main Street was previously part the former Tryst / Bar One unit and has been converted into a restaurant.

The grand opening is scheduled for Monday April 27.

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The menus includes juicy chicken burgers, perfectly smashed burgers, delectable wraps, flavorful shakes, succulent brisket, and perfectly cooked ribs.

Burger fans can get 50% off on the opening day to see if Maison de Burgers really does offer the best smash burgers in town!

The new eatery is part of the £10m Westgate Chambers development, which has quickly become a foodie destination in Rotherham with the openings of burger and milkshakes specialist, Munchies, and Cali's - a specialist in chicken burgers, wraps, wings and tenders. The outlets on Main Street were then joined by Dessert Time - the home of indulgent desserts.

Planning permission comes with a condition on opening hours - 10:00 until 23:30 Sundays to Thursdays, and 10:00 until 02:30 (the following day) Fridays and Saturdays. Other conditions relate to the installation of an extraction system.

The developers behind Westgate Chambers, HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, has recently submitted plans to tweak the new build element of the scheme with the floor plan of the proposed building on Domine Lane reduced in size to avoid building over an adopted sewer.

Maison de Burgers website

Images: Maison de Burgers

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News: Council set to help Chambers conversion complete

Rotherham Council is being asked to give up potential further income from selling a building in Rotherham town centre so that regeneration can continue.

The developer is having difficulty in securing further funding against the part-completed scheme.

Rothbiz reported in April on progress at Westgate Chambers - the largest private-led regeneration project currently ongoing in Rotherham town centre.

Renovation plans for the block of buildings, by Peter Hill of developers HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, were approved in 2018.

A £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involves the conversion of the first and second floor offices to provide a mix of 1 and 2 bed apartments, alterations to the existing ground floor shop frontages, demolition of Nos. 2-26 Domine Lane and the construction of a new 4-storey building to provide retail/leisure space on the ground floor and a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments on the first, second and third floors.

The developer has now achieved practical completion on the first phase of the development, that being ten apartments with four commercial units below. Phase II is currently ongoing and demolition of 2-26 Domine Lane is now completed. This phase will bring about a further 19 apartments to the market. The final and third phase will be the new build part of the project and a new 4-storey building will deliver a further 32 no. apartments.

Unable to take the project forward itself, Rotherham Council agreed to sell the Westgate complex in 2014 at a reduced price. As part of the sale, a number of clauses were inserted in the contract including a clause for the Council to buy back the property if sufficient progress was not made.

The council went on to approve the removal of this clause, as it was hindering the developer's attempts to secure further finance for the development.

Now Rotherham Council's cabinet is being asked to remove an overage clause so that work can continue.

An overage often sees purchasers make a further payment to the seller once a specified "trigger event" occurs – for example, where the developer increases the value of the land by obtaining planning permission.

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A report states: "Included in the sale was a number of overage provisions to provide extra security to the Council in the event that there was a significant upturn in the market and scheme viability was no longer an issue.

"The developer is now having difficulty in securing further funding against the part completed scheme, a number of lending institutions have been approached and none are prepared to release any funds against schemes where overage provisions are in place. This is causing serious financial issues as it was always the developer’s intention to secure borrowing on the completed first phase of the development to then continue and complete the full scheme.

"The developer has now approached the Council to see if they will consider the removal of the overage provisions to allow the additional funding to be secured and the full redevelopment of the site will then be completed in a timely fashion."

Removing the overage would enable the development to be completed in full and council officers believe that even if the clause remained in place, "there does not seem to be any realistic prospect of any overage being payable."

The report adds: "Completion of the development will lead to an additional 51 apartments being brought to market. This will enhance the regeneration of the area and lead to additional council tax receipts for the Council.

"Given the current property market in the town centre, and the increased build costs as a result of inflationary pressures, the current position is that the Council will not benefit from the existing overage provisions, so there is minimal financial risk to the Council if the recommended option is approved."

Renovation includes work on the historic listed part of the complex on Main Street that was originally constructed in 1794 by local architect, John Platt as a residence for himself.

Images: Self Architects

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News: Westgate Chambers work continues

The largest private-led regeneration project currently ongoing in Rotherham town centre is coming into view.

Renovation plans for Westgate Chambers were approved in 2018. A £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involves the creation of a showcase commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings that surround a landscaped internal courtyard, including a superb Georgian Grade II listed building, one of the oldest surviving historic structures in Rotherham town centre.

The buildings, close to the important regeneration site of Forge Island, were bought by the Council in 2006 but the authority's own redevelopment efforts were hit by the economic downturn and a removal of Government funding. Having sold the properties, the current scheme, by Peter Hill of developers HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, is providing high quality retail, leisure and commercial space at street level with contemporary apartments above.

The development site originally contained six buildings which surrounded an enclosed service yard. Three buildings fronting Main Street, and the fourth listed building, has frontages onto Main Street and Westgate. Two buildings in a dilapidated condition fronting Domine Lane have been demolished.

The renovation part of the development involves the renovation, repair, and reorganisation of four existing buildings with an individual character. The New York View Apartments comprises of 29 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, many benefiting from their own private outside space.

On the first building (previously home to Planet and a taxi rank) new sympathetically designed shopfronts and a new entrance foyer now front Main Street. At the rear, the previously awkward roof geometry has be updated with simple pitched and flat roofs behind a new parapet. The old patchwork of brickwork to the southern elevation has gained a crisp render finish, inset with new windows in a contemporary dark grey.

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Parisian-style attic accommodation in the roof space of the next building (Body-Tec) has created penthouse flats with roof terraces hidden from street level by the existing parapet wall, giving valuable outside space (pictured, below).

Work continues on the "Westgate Centre" building on Main Street where a third floor is being created with the use of dormer windows.

On Domine Lane, work is underway on the new building that will create Westgate City View Apartments. The development "brings high-quality contemporary architecture, which will lift the street scene and continue the recent contemporary development" at the adjacent Old Market building.

Finally, on the corner of Main Street and Westgate stands the remains of a handsome Grade 2 Listed Georgian building, originally a fine residence built-in 1794 by the architect John Platt and occupied by him until his death in 1810.

Self Architects, who have submitted updated plans for the development, said: "We propose to reinstate that handsome Georgian façade by fitting appropriate 9 and 12-panel double glazed timber sash windows to the Main Street and Westgate facades and renew the shopfronts in a style complementary to the building."

New cladding, brickwork and a replacement roof are part of the plans. The red brick stairwell serving the back of the listed building, will be reinvented to form an attractive secure entrance foyer and stairwell. Some internal changes are being proposed.

The plans conclude: "The result of the proposed renovations would reinstate the buildings own identity as a handsome Georgian building, when viewed from Main Street and Westgate, and provide high-quality residential apartments with their own outside space, overlooking the courtyard.

"A new sympathetically designed roof will ensure the structural integrity for many years to come."

Images: Atollie Property Management

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News: Council cancels clause so Chambers conversion can continue

Rotherham Council has agreed to remove a buyback clause from its disposal deal for Westgate Chambers so that the new owners can carry on with the town centre regeneration project.

Renovation plans for Westgate Chambers were approved in 2018. A £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involves the creation of a showcase commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating six buildings that surround a landscaped internal courtyard, including a superb Georgian Grade II listed building, one of the oldest surviving historic structures in Rotherham town centre.

The buildings, close to the important regeneration site of Forge Island, were bought by the Council in 2006 but the authority's own redevelopment efforts were hit by the economic downturn and a removal of Government funding. The new scheme, by Peter Hill of developers HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, is providing high quality retail, leisure and commercial space at street level with contemporary apartments above.

Rotherham Council agreed to sell the Westgate complex in 2014. As part of the sale, a number of clauses were inserted in the contract of sale including a clause for the Council to buy back the property if sufficient progress was not made.

Council documents show that Hill has asked for the removal of this clause, as it is hindering his attempts to secure further finance for the development.

An executive decision was recently made to remove the clause which "should allow the developer to deliver the regeneration of Westgate Chambers more quickly."

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Peter Hill, director of HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, said: "We are entering a new phase of works as part of the planned five-year build programme. We are looking forward to the development moving forward with the additional regeneration of Rotherham town centre, bringing in new restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities to help new residents to live, work, rest and play and most importantly creating new town centre jobs."

With previous work concentrating on the 29 apartments in the Main Street/Westgate section, the next phase of works includes the demolition of two 1960's buildings on Domine Lane to make way for a modern block of 32 new apartments.

Simon Moss, assistant director for planning, regeneration and transport at Rotherham Council, said: "Regeneration of the town centre not only means constructing new buildings, it is also important to remember our heritage by restoring historical buildings like Westgate Chambers so that they continue to be used by residents.

"One of the Council's key priorities is to help local people and businesses benefit from a growing economy, with a thriving town centre and more people living, working and spending their leisure time here."

The historic listed part of the complex was originally constructed in 1794 by local architect, John Platt as a residence for himself. Platt sold the house in 1808 but remained in occupation until his death in 1810. Part of the house was demolished when Main Street was constructed.



Images: Self Architects

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News: Westgate Chambers redevelopment given planning OK

Plans for the long-awaited revamp of a prominent building in Rotherham town centre have been approved and developers are hoping to attract new restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities to the £10m scheme.

Rothbiz reported last week that the planning application for the 0.275 hectare property, which includes a Grade II Listed Building, was being recommended for approval.

The planning board at Rotherham Council approved the plans, despite a number of concerns and objections over the impact on the conservation area, the loss of a historic building and the relationship between residential and leisure uses.

Sheffield-based HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd is leading on the latest scheme, which has an estimated gross development value of £10.7m and includes two interrelated developments.

For the existing building, the plan is for the addition of new shopfronts, in keeping with the heritage-led development of the nearby High Street, with three floors of contemporary apartments above.

A brand new building containing retail space and flats on Domine Lane is set to bring "high quality contemporary architecture, which will lift the street scene and continue the recent contemporary development."

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61 apartments are set to be created with the basement and ground floors to contain the uses suitable for retail, drinking establishments and the first and second floors for residential.

The existing courtyard entrance will be moved to the bottom of the street, which will potentially allow the Council to pedestrianise Domine Lane as detailed in the Town Centre Masterplan.

The site, close to the important regeneration site of Forge Island, was bought by the Council in 2006.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "One of the Council's key priorities is to help local people and businesses benefit from a growing economy, with a thriving town centre and more people living, working and spending their leisure time here.

"We are already seeing new developments in the town centre – including housing developments on Ship Hill and High Street, a new bar within Westgate Chambers, and restaurant close by – and these developments reflect the growing confidence investors have with our town centre regeneration plans."

Peter Hill, director of HMP Bespoke Construction Ltd, added: "These are exciting times ahead for all concerned with this prestigious scheme. We now look forward to it moving forward with the additional regeneration of Rotherham town centre, bringing in new restaurants, entertainment and leisure facilities to help new residents to live, work, rest and play within the town centre and most important of all creating new town centre jobs."

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Concerns were raised over the firm's plans to demolish un-listed buildings on Domine Lane - a block of 1950s offices which is considered not be of special interest and a further block of "rather fine" Victorian commercial buildings.

The planning board heard that officers have been in discussions with the developer for a number of months to arrive at a scheme that is considered to be acceptable and of benefit to the town centre. The demolition would make the scheme viable and the prospect of the refurbishment and reuse of the listed building on the corner of Main Street and Westgate was considered justification for the proposals.

Historic England objected to the plans but the Council considers that the loss of the buildings would lead to less than substantial harm to the Town Centre Conservation Area.

Speaking at the planning board meeting, Mark McGrail, the owner of the adjacent 1915 Bar, raised concerns over the problems with approving residential use next to late night licensed venues.

McGrail said: "The scheme itself is fantastic. It looks brilliant. My only objection is the pulling of the Victorian building and the design.

"We are licensed to 4am in the morning and privacy wise and noise wise you are guaranteed that, on the first day of that opening, it's going to be a non-stop environmental nightmare. I wouldn't want to live there. I'm proud of the club but I wouldn't want to be woken up at two o'clock in the morning because of people coming out."

Having renovated the former pub close to the town's old Post office, and well underway with converting the historic George Wright Building into a boutique hotel and bar, McGrail added that he could have easily led on a renovation of the Victorian building on Domine Lane without the need to knock it down.

Council planners conclude that the proposed building would not impinge of the privacy of the patrons of the 1915 Bar. Additional studies submitted with the application make clear that noise from existing leisure venues should not be a problem provided that the suggested noise mitigation measures are put in place by the developer.

Images: HMP Bespoke Construction / Self Architects

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