Rotherham Council is getting closer to concluding negotiations with Tesco over the acquisition of Forge Island - the key site in the continued regeneration of Rotherham town centre.
Rothbiz reported first that the authority was preparing a bid to buy the 4.23 acre site that was previously the Rotherham Forge & Rolling Mills.
Currently home to an empty supermarket and a car park following the relocation of Tesco across town in 2014, it was identified as a suitable site for development of a town centre leisure hub as detailed in a council-commissioned planning document which placed bringing a cinema and leisure development to Forge Island as the first "key move" in the town's renaissance.
Commissioner Julie Kenny is being asked to approve the strategic acquisition and empower council bosses to negotiate terms with the vendors. Commercial property agents, Savills listed the Forge Island site in July with Tesco inviting offers from interested parties to purchase the site.
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Approval is also being sought for the funding for the acquisition and demolition to be drawn from the town centre allocation in the Council's capital programme and for a bid to be submitted to Sheffield City Region to seek Growth Fund money to assist with the acquisition and demolition.
The Council is set use its financial firepower to invest around £17m in key projects that have been agreed in principle as those that should be supported. These include a cinema, which in turn is expected to attract secondary restaurant, shop and bar developments. The pot includes provisional sums for the purchase of Forge Island and a "reverse premium" to incentivise a developer or end user to deliver a leisure scheme.
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed but it is known that the Council had an option to buy the site for £1.5m when Tesco vacated and moved across town to the a £40m store on the site of former council buildings on Drummond Street. Demolition costs are an estimated £251,000 and consultants at Jacobs identified in a 2013 study that around £6m would need to be spent to deal with flooding and ground issues on the site.
The authority will be hoping for a better response from the city region as a bid was knocked back last year for £6m of pubic sector funding via the Local Enterprise Partnership's investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF) when discussions were taking place over a potential 200,000 sq ft office development on Forge Island.
A report to the Council's decision makers states: "It is clear that Forge Island will be a major component of Rotherham town centre's regeneration and a catalyst for the regeneration of adjacent sites. The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) confirmed the suitability of the site for a leisure hub. Building from the SPD, Forge Island will feature as a major strand of the town centre masterplan."
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The Council has discounted letting the market decide what happens to the site due to uncertainties in terms of timescales and the prospect of development not coming forward in accordance with regeneration aspirations. It has also discounted using compulsory purchase orders (CPO) to acquire the site, again due to the timescales that would be involved.
The report concludes that the Council purchasing the site by agreement is the recommended option as it "provides certainty, subject to reaching agreement with Tesco, in terms of being able to control the future use of the site. Tesco is actively marketing the site and prepared to negotiate on a mutually acceptable price."
Private sector members of Rotherham Partnership's Business Growth Board have taken the view that the acquisition of the site by the Council "will send a clear message to the market that the site will be available at an early stage to deliver the town centre masterplan proposals. This will build confidence in Rotherham town centre as a place to invest and assist in bringing forward other regeneration opportunities. The Business Growth Board would encourage the Council to take all reasonable steps to negotiate the purchase of the site as soon as practicably possible."
With commissioner approval, council officers hope to exchange contracts next month, allowing for the sale to take place and demolition work to begin by the end of 2016.
A detailed development proposal and a delivery and implementation plan for the site will be prepared in tandem with the town centre masterplan which is due to be completed in Spring 2017.
Rotherham Council is preparing a bid to buy Forge Island, identified as the key site in the continued regeneration of Rotherham town centre.
Previously the Rotherham Forge & Rolling Mills, the 4.23 acre site is currently home to an empty supermarket and a car park following the relocation of Tesco across town in 2014. It was identified as a suitable site for development of a town centre leisure hub as detailed in a council-commissioned planning document which placed bringing a cinema and leisure development to Forge Island as the first "key move" in the town's renaissance.
It was advertised for sale earlier this year when it appeared that the Council had not taken up its option to buy the site for £1.5m when Tesco vacated and moved across town to the a £40m store on the site of former council buildings on Drummond Street.
A bid for the property is now being drawn up and a key decision on whether the Council should approve the bid is scheduled to be made in October. The decision would rest with commissioner Julie Kenny.
Rothbiz understands that the bid involves the acquisition of the Forge Island site and the demolition of the former Tesco store.
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A masterplan is currently being refreshed setting the strategy for investment in key town centre sites and the Council is set use its financial firepower to invest around £17m in key projects that have been agreed in principle as those that should be supported. These include a cinema, which in turn is expected to attract secondary restaurant, shop and bar developments.
ARUP's supplementary planning document states: "Forge Island will become a major new piece of the Town Centre, with a strong leisure and residential focus. Forge Island will be a new mixed-use leisure hub. Proposals should seek to incorporate a mix of residential units and leisure developments (including A3/A4/D2 uses [restaurants, pubs, leisure]), to help create a new and vibrant Leisure Quarter in the centre of Rotherham that complements the existing Retail Quarter.
"New linkages should be created across the river, to provide movement routes on an east-west and north-south axis, intersecting at a new public square."
The Council is also preparing a bid to buy further properties at the adjacent Riverside Precinct. The authority already owns a number of sites on Corporation Street, which has seen a decline in footfall and an increase in empty units since Tesco relocated.
The strategic acquisition of retail properties forming part of Riverside Precinct not already owned by RMBC would assist in the redevelopment of Forge Island.
In 2012, the Council's cabinet confirmed Forge Island as the preferred site for a town centre cinema and theatre development and developers and operators where sought. Rotherham town centre has been without a cinema for 25 years.
Last year, Rothbiz revealed that discussions were taking place with private sector developer, The Evans Property Group on a potential 200,000 sq ft office development on Forge Island. However, a bid was knocked back for £6m of pubic sector funding via the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership's investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF).
Current plans for Forge Island are thought to include a cinema-led leisure development with the potential for a residential element. Utilising the riverfront location, development is set to improve linkages to rest of the town and the revamped train station, as well as kickstart regeneration on nearby sites at Weirside and Corporation Street.
Previous plans discussed by the Council outlined a mixed used development including 25,000 sq ft cinema and a 20,000 sq ft theatre and 10,000 sq ft of High Street style retail, 10,000 sq ft restaurant / café use and a 80 bed budget hotel. Such a development could create 200 jobs.
Rotherham Council is calling for more comments on the latest plans for a series of initiatives that could transform Rotherham town centre.
Rothbiz reported first on the town centre masterplan in March which identified eight "key moves" to continue the regeneration of the award-winning town centre.
The first key move is the development of a leisure hub on Forge Island, others focus on further residential development, supporting "Making and Trading," redeveloping the bus station, improving gateways and pedestrian movement, opening up the riverside for development and creating a connected "Green Network."
Paul Woodcock, assistant director of planning, regeneration and transport at Rotherham Council, said: "We want the town centre to become a truly family friendly destination with a vibrant community that will sustain the success of the town’s independent retailers and market traders.
"These plans would see residents and visitors benefitting from an excellent cultural and leisure offer and an active night time economy to make the town centre once again the heart of the borough."
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Once finalised, the document will provide additional guidance to a number of Local Plan policies which can be taken into account when determining planning applications.
Following the consultation, the Council will publish a statement which summarises the main issues raised during the consultation period, the Council's response to these issues, and details of the changes to the Supplementary Planning Document as a result.
A report will then be taken to councillors regarding adoption of the Supplementary Planning document to support Rotherham’s Local Plan.
The consultation will run until May 16 2016. Documents can be viewed and comments can be submitted online.
Further requests have been made to consider redeveloping the bus station site in Rotherham town centre, with talk of a potential cinema.
The interchange in Rotherham town centre also includes a retail development covering 55,000 sq ft, consisting of 18 units and 750 parking spaces. It is owned by commercial property developers, Norseman Holdings, with the interchange and car park leased to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), the organisation that takes the lead to develop the region's transport network.
The car park requires £4m worth of repairs and so partners have been looking at the potential of a larger redevelopment of the important site.
Opened in 1971, the car park has since developed widespread defects and the existing tight spaces and drab appearance mean that occupancy levels only average approximately one third of its 678 capacity.
Plans have been approved for the detailed design of the renovation and re-cladding of the four-storey car park where highly durable anodised mesh panels will be used to replace the poorly implemented current cladding, with the junctions and recesses in the structure used to break the building into an appearance of three blocks.
The existing four bay parking layout will be replaced with a three bay parking layout. This is designed to free up significant space for manoeuvring, as well as allowing people to get in and out of their vehicle with greater ease. However, this will result in the number of parking spaces reducing down to 485.
The start date of the refurbishment was delayed following a decision to further investigate alternative development options on the site. The SYPTE, Rotherham Council and Norseman Holdings met to discuss potential alternative development options for the site and Norseman committed to review the options of a leisure facility at the site and report back on options.
A cinema and new interchange scheme proposal was developed however the funding to deliver the scheme could not be sourced.
A proposal was also considered to totally reconfigure the layout of the bus station, from a drive through operation to a Drive in Reverse Out (DIRO) interchange.
Tendering is underway for the refurbishment of the car park with the intention to shortlist contractors and issue tender documentation this month. A report to the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee states that: "However this is currently being reviewed following a further request to reconsider the development of the site."
The redevelopment of the important site has been mooted for a number of years. Back in 2007, a scheme was submitted in outline by Norseman Holdings with a partner developer, Hartshead, and SYPTE for the redevelopment of the entire Interchange. As part of Rotherham Renaissance it was planned to include replacement car parking of 750 spaces, new retail floorspace of 125,000 sq ft and new office floorspace of 85,000 sq ft.
Discussions continued into 2008 as the scheme involved using the adjacent site of the former council building, Crinoline House. The scheme was shelved when TCN UK, the developer with a five year exclusivity agreement on the council sites, secured the Crinoline House site for a new petrol station as part of the £40m Tesco Extra development.
Rotherham town centre has been without a cinema for 25 years. Rotherham Council had earmarked Forge Island as the preferred site for a town centre cinema and theatre development but has recently been in discussions with developer, Evans regarding a potential office campus that would bring 2,000 new jobs to the former Tesco site.
The redeveloped Rotherham Central Station has won a prestigious, national award for Station Excellence in the Rail Business Awards - celebrating innovation and best practice across the rail sector.
Work began on the £8.5m redevelopment in 2010 and contractors, Galliford Try were initially set to complete the development by Christmas 2010. The station opened in 2012.
International architectural firm, Aedas, produced plans to replace the old building with a modern, lightweight entrance structure with a new passenger waiting lounge, ticket office and retail area.
Extensive improvements to the platforms, access, car parking and CCTV also took place along with an impressive public realm scheme between the station and the River Don.
The number of customers using Rotherham Central Station has increased to over half a million a year since the works were completed, with patronage increasing above the level of that at other stations in South Yorkshire.
Led by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) together with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC), Northern Rail, Network Rail and the Department for Transport, the redevelopment was part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
A spokesperson for the winners said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award in recognition of the significant improvements made to Rotherham Central Station.
"The new station provides an attractive gateway to Rotherham, encouraging a boost to economic growth and providing a significantly enhanced experience for customers travelling to and from the town. This achievement is testament to the dedication of staff and partners involved in the project."
Rotherham station narrowly missed out on being named the Rail Station of the Year Award at the National Transport Awards last year.
The £40m forward funding acquisition of the Tesco development in Rotherham town centre is significant given the market conditions.
Private property investor fund Osprey Income and Growth 2 LP completed the deal last month with the backing of £16.9m of equity from private investors and £23.75m of debt from HSBC Bank.
TCN Renaissance, a UK-based commercial property specialist, will be developing the property on the former civic site after the land was acquired from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
Planning permission for a new 110,000 sq ft Tesco Extra superstore was granted last year which also include 540 parking spaces and a petrol filling station. Tesco has signed a pre-let agreement on a 30 year unbroken lease.
Work is set to get underway this month with required paperwork already submitted relating to the significant changes to the road network.
John White, director of Osprey Equity Partners, who arranged the funding, said: "We are delighted to be working with TCN, HSBC and Tesco on this project, which reflects our current focus on the forward funding of UK food superstores. This sector offers our investors unusually long, inflation-linked income from outstanding covenants and the forward funding entry point provides a discount to standing investment values, unused capital allowances and a state of the art building. As a result of the low cost of debt secured from HSBC, we are able to pay investors a coupon of 6% pa.
"This purchase coincides with the practical completion of a large Sainsbury's foodstore in Sunderland acquired last year from Terrace Hill by another of our high net worth investor funds, Osprey Supermarket Income and Growth 1 LP."
Nick Short, partner of Prime Retail, a retail property consultancy that advised on the deal, added: "This is a significant deal in the current market given the continuing mismatch between high demand from investors and occupiers for food stores and limited development finance.
"Our ability to support Osprey in this key transaction is important to us given our long-standing relationship with the team. Osprey is well placed to take advantage of future opportunities and we look forward to advising them further."
Rotherham experts, Ron Hull Demolition, has completed the project to tear down Crinoline House in Rotherham town centre in a race against time.
Because the work required the closure of both lanes of the town's busy Centenary Way, the specialist demolition team was allowed a window of just 35 hours to bring down the seven-storey former home of the Rotherham Borough Council's Social Services department.
The team began work at 7am on Saturday evening and operated round the clock to ensure that the road was re-opened at 6am on Monday morning.
David Wall, contracts director with Ron Hull Demolition, said: "Preparatory work has been underway for several weeks.
"The building is a seven-storey, eighty feet high, reinforced concrete structure. We brought it down by what's known in the business as progressive fragmentation, which is to say a top down demolition breaking up the concrete and cutting the steel as we go.
"In addition to all our own machines and equipment, we brought in two specialist long-reach demolition machines from the London area to help with the operation."
The former council offices were built in the early 1970s and were vacated in 2010.
The demolition was brought forward as the empty building had been a target for antisocial behaviour.
Anglo-Dutch developer, TCN is purchasing the council's 22,000 sq m Civic Site for £7m with Rotherham Council staff relocating to new offices, Riverside House on Main Street.
Plans have been submitted for a Tesco Extra store on the site of the Civic Building, Central Library and Norfolk House, plus a petrol filling station on the site of Crinoline House.
The majority of the demolished building will be recycled, with no waste going to landfill.
David explained: "In terms of a green operation, it is about as good as it gets. The concrete and brick rubble from the demolition will be crushed on the site in the coming days and used as hardcore.
"Meanwhile steel, wood and other materials will be moved to Mangham 80, the firm's multi-million pounds new recycling centre, which is just a mile and a half away."
The recently opened centre is one of the most advanced facilities of its type in the country.
Aspects of the redeveloped Rotherham Central Station have reopened in Rotherham town centre.
Work began on the £8.5m redevelopment in 2010 and last week, the new lifts, waiting room, ticket office and platforms all reopened.
International architectural firm, Aedas, produced plans to replace the old building with a modern, lightweight entrance structure which will include a new passenger waiting lounge, ticket office and retail area.
Extensive improvements to the platforms, access, car parking and CCTV are also taking place.
The new station has been designed to use as much natural light as possible, creating an air of openness and space to the whole building. Additionally, on the refurbished platforms there are new canopies to give better weather protection to the travelling public.
The investment required to deliver improvements of this scale and quality is pulled together from a range of sources, including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Yorkshire Forward, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Network Rail.
Contractors, Galliford Try were initially set to complete the development by Christmas 2010. The work is now due to be completed this Easter.
The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive apologised for the delays to this project. A spokesperson said: "Redeveloping the station has taken longer than we expected and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and our project partners apologise for the delays and thank you for your patience throughout the construction work."
Chris Jackson, general manager for Network Rail, added: "Passengers at Rotherham are starting to see the significant improvements which will make using the station easier and more enjoyable. We will continue to support a speedy conclusion to all the works."
Following the completion of the work on the station, a £1m project is planned to upgrade the Central Road area and make a better environmental connection between the town centre and the station. Tenders have been submitted with work taking place in 2012.
International management and construction consultancy, Gleeds, is working as project manager, quantity surveyor and CDM co-ordinator on the new 12,000 seat, multi-million pound stadium for Rotherham United in Rotherham town centre.
Stuart Senior, Managing Partner of Gleeds Nottingham who are responsible for the project said: "Gleeds will play a pivotal role in the delivery of the new stadium for the start of the 2012/13 football season and are working hard to ensure that the site complies with the rigorous safety and licensing criteria set by the Football Association and the police.
"Unusually, this project's greatest challenge is also its biggest asset. Being located in the town centre, the site is bounded by a railway line and the River Don so we have helped to assemble a project team familiar with dealing with such constraints, whilst continuing to deliver quality and value."
The stadium is being designed to accommodate future expansion beyond the original 12,000 capacity. In addition to the seating which has been designed to be as close to the pitch as possible, the new site will incorporate hospitality areas including facilities for match-day banqueting, non-match hospitality, conferencing, training and education areas, as well as refreshment stands and spectator amenities.
The site of the former Guest and Chrimes foundry was announced in January as the preferred choice for a new stadium by Millers chairman, Tony Stewart.
The managing director of successful Rotherham business, ASD Lighting took over the club in 2008 and the team have been playing home games at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield after leaving Millmoor.
Rotherham Council is in advanced negotioations to buy 10.85 acres of the site from Evans of Leeds.
Subject to the necessary planning consent, work will begin on site in early 2011 and the Millers aim to be able to kick off the 2012 season from their new home.
Plans for Rotherham United to create a new community stadium took a major step forward this week, after the Borough Council's Cabinet agreed officers' recommendation that the council buy the land needed, at the Guest & Chrimes site in the town centre.
The plans would see the council buying the 10.85 acres (4.39 hectares) from Evans of Leeds, which has cleared and prepared the site for development. The council and Evans hope to conclude the deal around early May, when the official scrutiny period expires. The acquisition is being funded by the Local Authority Reward Grant.
The club has said it will create an iconic stadium, with new design and new lighting technology, which will enhance the borough's status. The officers' report to Cabinet said the proposals would not just create a community stadium but provide high-quality buildings, public spaces and the opportunity for further facilities to be provided within the site , an enhanced vibrancy to the town centre, opportunities for learning and local employment during the construction period, community-based sports-learning and improved pedestrian links.
Karl Battersby, the council's strategic director of Environment & Development Services said: "It's a good deal all round. Good for the people of Rotherham, good for the club, and good for the future prosperity of the borough. Among other things, it could mean a lot more business for town-centre businesses.
"But most immediately it's good for Millers' fans – realising their dreams of bringing the club home. Having your home club on home ground – that's important to a community."
Plans for the 12,000 seater stadium were unveiled earlier this month and an outline planning application is to be submitted shortly.
The stadium will stand next to the council's own "New Civic" offices, now under construction at Guest & Chrimes, on Main Street.
Those, together with the recently announced deal with Anglo-Dutch developer TCN UK for the "old Civic", other council properties and Forge Island, represent massive progress for Rotherham Renaissance, which is regenerating the town centre.
Minerva Gallery, the recently opened latest addition to the "arts hub" in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre, is celebrating with a launch event on May 1.
Locally based artist and fine art graduate, Eve Flanagan opened The Minerva Gallery on April 3 and has been delighted by the positive responses to the gallery and to the concept of an "arts hub" in Imperial Buildings.
Local artists have taken up residence in units in and surrounding the internal central kiosk to offer a range of contemporary fine art and fine craft including textiles, jewellery, hand made books, painting and photography.
Eve said: "As a fine art graduate, there are relatively few jobs within the arts industry and all are highly competitive. After meeting with Karen Sherwood, Chief Executive of ROAR who opened her own gallery at the height of a recession in the face of enormous negativity and survived, I decided I might as well follow my passion and open an art gallery myself.
"The decision to open in Rotherham town centre was brought about due to the opportunity that presented itself at Imperial Buildings and the fact that there is nothing like it here.
"I dont want to be or stay in a place lacking in cultural presence and activity. I wished there was something like this when I was growing up here, so have decided to create something for others who may feel the same way."
Minerva Gallery is a relatively small space that is split over two rooms. Minerva shows high quality Fine Arts and Crafts sourced from across Yorkshire at a varied price range.
The Gallery has a high turnover of pieces in order to ensure it always has new, exciting, provocative and pretty objects of art on sale. Showing this week and at the launch event will be a number of artists including Lyn Hodnett, John Flanagan, Elenya Biney, James Kowacz, Matt Thomas and Jennifer Hunter.
Minerva Gallery opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and the launch event will include music by Sheffield talent Bex Marshall and others and a workshop run by Gemma Nemer in The Button Tin.
Karen Sherwood, Chief Executive of ROAR added: "For anyone who enjoys art and creativity I would encourage you to come to the launch and support Minerva and the Arts Hub. A beautiful space filled with creative people doing something different. A wonderful new offer for Rotherham town centre."
Images and plans for Rotherham United's proposed new community stadium in the town centre have been unveiled.
Consultants, Signet Planning have drawn up initial drawings and layouts of the 12,000 seater stadium on the site of the former Guest & Chrimes foundry in Rotherham town centre.
With a main stand at the side of Don Street and the river, the plans indicate that as well as a state of the art football stadium, features such as a concourse looking out on to the pitch, function rooms and lettable commercial space underneath the stands could make it into future plans.
Location plans show that the stadium would be sited on land at the Guest & Chrimes site next to the new civic buildings currently under construction, and the adjacent land that currently houses an empty warehouse, previously home to logistics company, Gloystarne.
The stadium is surrounded by car parking and landscaping and plans show that this would require the demolition of the warehouses and the former Guest & Chrimes buildings, some of which have listed building status.
The club has appointed a project manager, engineering consultants, planning consultant, architects and solicitors and all of their background works and investigations are progressing well.
Signet Planning are taking the opportunity to hear from people of the town on the plans before an outline planning application is submitted to the council in the next few months.
Plans will be exhibited this week at Rotherham Central Library and on the Rotherham United website.
Anglo-Dutch developer, TCN UK has announced major progress on a key £40m development at the heart the regeneration of Rotherham town centre.
Progress made with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has enabled them to reach agreement on several aspects of the company's developments as part of the town-centre Rotherham Renaissance programme.
In 2008, the developers secured a five year exclusivity agreement with the council to develop 101,722 sq m of vacant land following the disposal of council buildings and work is already underway on the new civic offices on the former Guest and Chrimes site at Main Street.
"We've taken a big step forward with the council as part of their plans for transforming the centre," said TCN director Stephen Holme. "Terms are now agreed between us and the council which will enable us to push ahead."
One major result is the agreement that TCN will purchase the council's 22,000 sq m Civic Site once Rotherham council relocate from it in 2012. That would see plans for a new retail store to be located on the site.
"We are already in advanced discussions with some major retail operators for the site including Tesco's" Says Stephen, "This is just the start of the town centre transformation and begins the organic regeneration using the vibrancy of this phase to facilitate the next phases including improvement of the Market Site."
The council's strategic director for Environment & Development Services, Karl Battersby, said: "TCN is a key partner in Renaissance. The company is bringing a genuinely exciting clutch of developments to the town centre. The whole Renaissance project is a 25-year vision that's being turned into reality, with some of the developments completed and occupied. We're looking forward to seeing TCN's add to that."
Stephen Holme added: "We're a step closer to delivering on our aim to play a major part in redeveloping Rotherham town centre. It's very satisfying to be bringing about changes that will improve people's quality of lives for generations to come. The programme is already making the town centre an exciting place to do business, live and visit."
It is TCN's second key project in Rotherham. In Manvers, its Waterfront development is well advanced, creating a new community of 400 homes, a retail centre and a business park on former coalfield land.
Rotherham Council are in negotiations to purchase land at the Guest and Chrimes site in the town centre for regeneration purposes including the construction of a new community stadium by Rotherham United.
The deal has been agreed in principle by councillors and officers are proceeding with negotiations to acquire the land owned by Leeds based developer, Evans.
They will then negotiate detailed terms with Rotherham United for the grant of a long leasehold interest in the site to include the construction and occupation of a community stadium.
The acquisition is being funded by the Local Authority Reward Grant and the deal is similar to that agreed in principle by the club and the council to lease land at Roughwood Road for a new training ground and Centre of Excellence.
A report to the council's Regeneration Scrutiny Panel last week stated that negotiations with the club are being conducted in parallel with Evans and the three parties will reach mutually agreeable terms within the next few weeks.
It also said that the club has appointed a project manager, engineering consultants, planning consultant, architects and solicitors and all of their background works and investigations are progressing well.
The site of the former Guest and Chrimes foundry was announced in January as the preferred choice for a new stadium by Millers chairman, Tony Stewart.
The managing director of successful Rotherham business, ASD Lighting took over the club in 2008 and the team have been playing home games at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield after leaving Millmoor.
When confirming the former Guest and Chrimes Foundry site, he said: "This is an ideal site for our new home back in Rotherham, it will also provide significant regeneration benefits and leave a legacy for the future, not just for the Football Club, but for our town.
"The Council have played a pivotal role in making this happen, and we are very grateful for all their continued help and support."
A key site in the £2bn Rotherham Renaissance programme, building work has begun on 172,000 sq ft of new civic office space for the council. This deal would be for the remaining 10 acres of the site.
Drawings and layouts of the stadium will be exhibited this week at Rotherham Central Library and in the matchday programme at tonight's game with Northampton Town.
Improvements to the High Street in Rotherham town centre continue, with work about to start on three further buildings.
Hamby's, the Little Coffee Shop and Zax hairdressers will all receive facelifts, including new shop fronts and other restoration works in the coming few months. The work will take place as part of the £3.5m Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) scheme which is supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Rotherham Borough Council and Yorkshire Forward.
The former Supercigs unit has recently been refurbished back to its former attractive state, with two one-bedroom apartments added, thanks to a THI grant.
A planning application has also been submitted this month for three flats on the first and second floors above the RSCPCA, which will also see architectural features refurbished or replaced.
The work complements the private sector investment being made in this area by Primark for example in the complete refurbishment to its High Street shop.
Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Yorkshire and the Humber region said: "Historic buildings tell the story of a town, they make it special and unique, and the best way to save and sustain these wonderful sites is to get them back into use.
"Rotherham town centre is an important place and deserves to be brought back to life. The THI scheme is a great way of using heritage as a springboard for regeneration and investment."
The Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation, Cllr Gerald Smith, said: "The scheme gives eligible property owners a cash boost to dramatically restore their properties, so that they can be more easily re-let. It's great to see property owners acting on this opportunity and seeing the THI scheme really making progress to put more life back into our High Street."
The THI scheme is also investing £700,000 into a landscaping improvement scheme for Minster Yard.
The project, which started on March 1 2010, will see extensive landscaping improvements to create a pleasant open green space with high-quality seating, planting and York stone paving.
The scheme will also extend the entrance steps and modify the boundary wall on Church Street to open out an approachable piazza creating a welcoming entrance to Minster Yard.
Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR) are making the finishing touches to their "mini arts hub" in the refurbished Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre as they host a launch event on March 6.
Local artists will be taking up residence in units in and surrounding the internal central kiosk. They will offer a range of contemporary fine art and fine craft including textiles, jewellery, hand made books, painting and photography.
Artists will be opening their units for the first time showing their work for sale alongside offering a number of free activities, workshops, exhibitions & demonstrations to celebrate the launch.
Visitors will be able to make beautiful textile objects whilst enjoying tea & cake with textile artist Gemma Nemer, enjoy free drop in origami workshops with Anne Russell, get their portrait sketched by Sam Galbraith, have a go at making a hand made card with Shahin Shah, enjoy some story telling with your children with Mary Passeri, browsing Vicky Hilton's "Vintage & Collectables" table top stall or visit the exhibitions from The Design Consortium, Point & Shoot Gallery, Divergent Images and the residents artists.
The project is supported by The Arts Council, RMBC and in particular the town centre management team and their town centre business vitality grants scheme.
Karen Sherwood, Chief Executive, ROAR (Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance) said: "I am delighted to be able to launch this initiative in such a fabulous building. The artists are very excited about this opportunity to have space to work, show and sell their unique pieces and services in such wonderful surroundings."
The arts hub will join the newly opened Boo boutique in the Imperial Buildings, along with The Jeweller's Exchange, and women's clothing and accessories boutique, Yella Brick Road.
Work will get underway this week on the £8.5m redevelopment of Rotherham station in the town centre.
Architects, Aedas, produced the plans that involve replacing the existing building with a modern, lightweight entrance structure which will include a new passenger waiting lounge, ticket office and retail area.
Extensive improvements to the platforms, access, car parking and CCTV will also take place. The architectural design focuses on creating a building of iconic character, incorporating a dynamic roof.
Plans were submitted last month for the demolition of the former warehouse next to the canal and significant landscaping works to compliment the new station.
A temporary station will be constructed and during this time the station will operate as normal with access to platforms 1 and 2 down the ramps from the main entrance.
David Young, Director of Customer Experience at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive said: "Passengers deserve state of the art facilities and the new station at Rotherham will provide a fully accessible, safe and secure environment for people to start and finish their journeys."
Councillor Gerald Smith, the councils Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation said: "Almost half a million people a year use the station so this project is a real boost for Rotherham town centre. The new improved gateway will complement a range of projects started, or soon to start, as part of the Renaissance programme.
"The innovative design for the station has the potential to be a landmark, a symbol of the Renaissance ambitions as well as a means of attracting more jobs to the centre and providing Rotherham people with a public transport facility they can be proud of."
The redevelopment is set to be completed early in 2011.
As a key project in the Rotherham Renaissance programme, the investment required to deliver improvements of this scale and quality is pulled together from a range of sources, including European funding, Yorkshire Forward, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and Network Rail.
Recently completed riverside developments in Rotherham town centre are proving a success, delighting Liverpool-based developer Iliad and Rotherham council.
The first phase of the £37m All Saints' Quarter is now complete and consists of the restored Imperial Buildings, award-winning Old Market and, most recently, Keppel Wharf.
Letting the apartments has proven to be a booming success – 15 of the 19 in Imperial Buildings are occupied and all 44 apartments in Old Market are gone.
Iliad director Bill Addy said: "We've been extremely pleased with the take-up of these apartments. In Rotherham we are fortunate as they are a first for the town centre.
"Keppel Wharf has only just completed but, with the enquiries received already – and with seven of the 53 already sold – we expect the development to be fully occupied by Christmas.
"With the national housing market as it is at the moment, we couldn't be more pleased with our investment in Rotherham town centre."
The council's Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation, Cllr Gerald Smith, said: "These apartments are achieving just what we hoped – people who work in the town centre now live in the town centre."
Ground floor retail space is also starting to see a boost with four retailers starting fit out next month to Imperial Buildings in time for opening for the Christmas Shopping period.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has featured Rotherham in a national report on how to maintain and strengthen the vitality and viability of our high streets.
The BRC's report - 21st Century High Streets: A new vision for our town centres - shows the impact the economic downturn is having and sets out a twenty-point plan for securing the long-term future of town centre retailing well beyond the end of this recession.
Rotherham was used in the report as a case study showing proactive action to attract new retail through its Business Vitality Grants Scheme.
"It is too early to gauge the impact," says the report. "However, it is clear that approaches like this have the potential to reduce the burden on retailers and make a valuable contribution to the viability of our High Streets."
Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation Cllr Gerald Smith said: "We've made some progress in helping our town-centre business sector, and we know we have more to do, but it's gratifying to see a national organisation holding Rotherham up as an example of how improvements can be made. It's also good to know that many of the BRC suggestions are already in place here."
These include help with parking with the launch of the Free after 3 initiative, creating attractive public spaces and working in partnership with South Yorkshire Police, business and others to reduce town-centre crime and nuisance behaviour.
Stephen Robertson, BRC director general said: "High streets are the heart of local communities and economies - providing jobs and essential services. They are a crucial part of our national retail mix but many of them are in trouble, facing difficulties that began well before the current recession.
"Some will flourish again as the economy recovers; others have to shape a different future as customers' needs change. But that cannot be left to chance. These processes have to be actively managed by local authorities with their retailers, other businesses and residents."
Information boards have been updated across Rotherham town centre showing all Renaissance projects and their completion dates.
People can also find latest news on up-and-coming town centre events as well as information about the regular specialist and daily local markets.
Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation Cllr Gerald Smith said: "By making information more accessible we are hoping that we maintain the support from Rotherham people who have consistently driven plans that will dramatically change the town for generations to come.
"Renaissance has by no means lost its momentum – we have achieved a lot in the last year and there is more to come, so by mapping this out we hope we not only inform but also maintain enthusiasm among our shoppers and other town-centre visitors."
The SYPTE Travel Information Centre is also making Renaissance information available for its customers and the Centre's staff are available to try to help with general queries regarding the redevelopment plans – people can also pick up a development map to take with them or information on how to access online discount shopping vouchers through the town centre website’s Click-Backs scheme.
Director of Customer Experience at SYPTE, David Young, added: "SYPTE is committed to making Rotherham a successful town and is pleased to be able to help promote the Renaissance programme as well as leading projects such as the Central Railway Station redevelopment."
In 2012, the Council's cabinet confirmed Forge Island as the preferred site for a town centre cinema and theatre development and developers and operators where sought. Rotherham town centre has been without a cinema for 25 years.
Aspects of the redeveloped Rotherham Central Station have reopened in Rotherham town centre. 
International management and construction consultancy, Gleeds, is working as project manager, quantity surveyor and CDM co-ordinator on the new 12,000 seat, multi-million pound stadium for Rotherham United in Rotherham town centre. 
Plans for Rotherham United to create a new community stadium took a major step forward this week, after the Borough Council's Cabinet agreed officers' recommendation that the council buy the land needed, at the Guest & Chrimes site in the town centre. 
Minerva Gallery, the recently opened latest addition to the "arts hub" in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre, is celebrating with a launch event on May 1.
Images and plans for Rotherham United's proposed new community stadium in the town centre have been unveiled. 
The council's strategic director for Environment & Development Services, Karl Battersby, said: "TCN is a key partner in Renaissance. The company is bringing a
The project is supported by The Arts Council, RMBC and in particular the town centre management team and their town centre business vitality grants scheme.
The project is supported by The Arts Council, RMBC and in particular the town centre management team and their town centre business vitality grants scheme.
Stephen Robertson, BRC director general said: "High streets are the heart of local communities and economies - providing jobs and essential services. They are a crucial part of our national retail mix but many of them are in trouble, facing difficulties that began well before the current recession.
Stephen Robertson, BRC director general said: "High streets are the heart of local communities and economies - providing jobs and essential services. They are a crucial part of our national retail mix but many of them are in trouble, facing difficulties that began well before the current recession.
The SYPTE Travel Information Centre is also making Renaissance information available for its customers and the Centre's staff are available to try to help with general queries regarding the redevelopment plans – people can also pick up a development map to take with them or information on how to access online discount shopping vouchers through the town centre website’s Click-Backs scheme.
