News: Vistry submits plans for 785 more homes in Rotherham greenbelt

A planning application has been submitted for the largest single development yet for so-called "safeguarded land" in Rotherham.

Rothbiz has reported on a number of recently proposed developments in Rotherham that are for sites in the local plan that were designated as "safeguarded land" rather than sites designated for housing. The 2018 plan set out that they may be needed in the future and taken out of the greenbelt after the end of the plan period in 2028.

Planning consultants are hoping to convince the local planning authority that the land should be used now to address the borough's housing needs.

Rothbiz reported last year that Vistry Group, the company that builds more UK homes than anyone else, had engaged with agents to begin planning enquiries with Rotherham Council on a large parcel of farm land near Dinnington.

Now an application has been submitted for up to 785 dwellings on 26.28 hectares of agricultural land at Oldcotes Road.

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Savills listed the site near Throapham for sale as development land. Historically in arable use, it is next to a smaller residential development site to the west which is owned by Harron Homes and is under development.

Rotherham Council is no longer able to demonstrate a Five-Year Land Supply given the changes at a national level that have increased housing targets. The target for new house building per annum in Rotherham has increased from circa 560 dpa (Dwellings Per Annum) to 1,111 dpa.

Savills, the agents for Vistry, said in the plans that "speculative planning applications for residential development in sustainable locations represent the only way to realistically meet this clear need for housing.

"The proposed development will make contributions necessary to mitigate impacts on infrastructure that places it above capacity. This would be in addition to payments required via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

"Due to the scale of development, there will be a material increase to the use of local services. There are no services where this effects of this would be severe and mitigation measures are possible. Such increases where they exceed the capacity of existing services will be funded through the Section 106 agreement and through the Community Infrastructure Levy."

With two main access points, one via Heathrush Drive onto Oldcotes Road, and one via Leys Lane, plans show a range of house types and sizes with at least 25% affordable housing. The application also includes details of play areas and open space and a SUDS (Sustainable Drainage System) attenuation basin.

Vistry Group website

Images: Vistry / Google Maps

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News: £400,000 for prominent Rotherham pub

The freehold of a public house in Rotherham has gone up for sale following a period of inactivity.

Occupying a prominent spot on Kimberworth's High Street, the large, imposing pub comes with restaurant dining to the rear and first floor function room.

According to CAMRA, the pub was acquired by national operator Stonegate and was extensively refurbished before reopening in August 2022. It closed before reopening again in 2024 alongside Maisha Spice, which specialised in Indian style cuisine. It is currently closed.

Stonegate's parent company, TDR Capital, had £2.6 billion of debts, even before it made a £250m shareholder contribution into the pub co last year. GMB Union had been warning that the financial sitaution at TDR could lead to Stonegate’s collapse that would put 4,400 pubs and thousands of jobs at risk.

Savills was appointed to help dispose of a portfolio of 20 pubs last year.

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The marketing for the Green Dragon states: "The property comprises a detached, two storey public house of brick elevations, partially rendered, set beneath a pitched tile covered roof. To the side and rear, there is a large single storey flat roof extension.

"Externally to the rear, there is a beer garden with a children’s play area. Beer patio to the side and single storey out building. To the front, there is car parking for approximately 20 vehicles.

"Overall, the property extends to 0.57 acres."

The property includes a public bar with a games area and open plan lounge with a dining area in the single storey extension. To the rear, there is a former restaurant, which provides an open plan dining room with bar servery. The restaurant has both separate external and internal access. The private living accommodation on the first floor provides two bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and a bathroom.

Unconditional offers over £400,000 plus VAT are being invited.

Whilst being up for sale, Stonegate is still advertising the pub as part of its Retail Partnership Tenancy scheme with operators expected to pay a reduced rent of £12,000 per annum. with the pub's forecasted annual turnover of £245,491.

Stonegate's ad says: "The Green Dragon occupies a prominent position on the main through road of Kimberworth. Benefitting from a good-sized car park and secure beer garden, the pub has historically been at the heart of the local community.

"Internally the décor is clean and well maintained throughout, and the pub has recently benefited from a full external redecoration and new signage scheme. The two function rooms can also cater for business meetings and private parties and the main bar area has a number of TV screens where you can keep up to date with all the major sporting events."

Stonegate website

Images: Savills

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News: Work completes on high spec Rotherham industrial unit

Work is complete on a new state of the art industrial unit and modern office space, that has been built next to the M18 in Rotherham and is now ready for immediate occupation.

The 72,685 sq ft unit, known as Focus 72, has been built by Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter, at Hellaby Industrial Estate, on behalf of Vinter Estates. The unit is now being marketed by joint commercial agents Savills and Heaney Micklethwaite.

Vinter originally secured planning consent for Focus 72 in July in 2021 with ammended plans approved in October 2022.

The self-contained building offers 69,685 sq ft of warehouse space and 3,000 sq ft of office accommodation, with a substantial yard and parking area, within a fully fenced and secure 4.1 acre site. The unit also benefits from 12.5m eaves, seven loading dock levellers, two ground level drive in access doors and a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

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Joe Booth, Business Development Director, from Hobson & Porter, said: “We’re very pleased to complete work on Focus 72, working in collaboration with our dedicated local supply chain. It’s been well-publicised that there is a shortage of new and speculatively built mid-sized industrial units in the region, and this unit is built to an exceptional standard and will help to address the lack of supply in the market.

“Crucially, the project also reaffirms our reputation as a specialist in the construction of high-quality industrial sheds and distribution units up to 200,000 sq ft.”

Tom Asher, from Savills, added: “Focus 72 is a superb, high quality warehouse unit, manufacturing site or distribution centre. It also benefits from immediate access to the national motorway network and is located right next to junction 1 of the M18, as well as being just five miles from Rotherham town centre and approximately nine miles from Sheffield city centre.

“It will therefore suit a wide range of occupiers looking for a modern, landmark facility in a central South Yorkshire location and we’re already generating strong levels of interest in it.”

Other neighbouring occupiers at Hellaby Industrial Estate include Clipper, Stanley, Acorn Industrial Services and KP Snacks.

Hobson & Porter website

Images: Hobson & Porter

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News: New retailer revealed for former Rotherham M&S

The former Marks & Spencer unit at Parkgate looks set to go the same way as its former Rotherham town centre counterpart - taken on by a discount retailer.

Rothbiz reported in 2019 that the national retailer was closing its large Parkgate store when it confirmed plans to close over 100 stores in total by 2022 in order to "radically reshape M&S's Clothing & Home space" alongside relocations, conversions, downsizes and the introduction of concessions.

Marketed by agents, Savills, and empty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the 32,185 sq ft unit is now under offer.

A new planning application shows that national retalier, Poundland, is eyeing up the space for expansion. The new Rotherham store would become one of the brand's largest stores.

Already on the popular Parkgate Shopping Park since 2014, Poundland continues to undergo an expansion push. The end of 2022 saw a "super Saturday" with the brand opening a number of relocated, expanded and new stores.

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A recent move has seen Poundland open new "supersize" stores, often out of town, which offer a selection of everyday essentials such as groceries, drinks and snacks that shoppers love, as well as revamped health and beauty, entertainment, stationery and craft ranges, so customers can do more of their shopping in one trip.

There are also wider ranges of chilled and frozen food and PEP&CO clothing and homewares, with the larger stores providing the choice and shopping experience customers would expect from the big grocers.

The planning application is for new signage at the prominent unit which is alongside Primark. The move across the park would see Poundland more than triple its space from its current 9,900 sq ft unit.

M&S made the decision to relocate its store on College Street in Rotherham town centre to Parkgate Shopping in the early 2000's. The historic building is now home to discount retailer, OneBelow. Since M&S left town, the unit was Hitchens before becoming Discount UK, a brand operated by Poundworld.

Poundland website

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News: Speculative build starts on Rotherham industrial scheme

Construction has started on site for a 72,685 sq ft warehouse/distribution unit at Hellaby Industrial Estate in Rotherham. The speculative delivery responds to continued growth in demand for high quality accommodation in the region.

Vinter Estates originally secured planning consent for "Focus 72" in July in 2021 with ammended plans approved in October 2022. Hull based construction firm Hobson & Porter has been appointed to deliver the project. The scheme replaces the former Bensons for Beds unit on the well-established park which is located strategically at Junction 1 of the M18. Other occupiers on the estate include Clipper, Stanley, TNT, and KP Snacks.

The high specification unit, which will be available for occupation by the second quarter of 2023, is to offer warehousing space with 3,000 sq ft of office integral office space at first floor level. The institutionally acceptable design includes sustainable and efficient space with a 12.5 metre eaves height, seven loading dock levellers, and two ground level, drive in access doors. The building is situated in its own private and secure gated yard with a large car park and loading/circulation areas.

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Savills and Heaney Micklethwaite are instructed jointly to market the unit to prospective occupiers.

Tom Asher, director in the industrial team at Savills Leeds, said: “We continue to see a significant lack of supply for new, high quality, mid-sized industrial accommodation across Yorkshire but demand remains at an all-time high in our digital age. It is encouraging to see Vinter Estates committing to this speculative venture and testament to the strength of location and connectivity.”

Focus 72 is located just one mile from Junction 1 of the M18, five miles from Rotherham town centre and just nine miles from Sheffield.

Savills website

Images: Savills

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News: Permission secured for new Rotherham warehouse unit

Planning permission has been secured for a new 72,685 sq ft warehouse development in Rotherham to replace commercial space on an established business park.

Vinter Estates submitted updated plans for the speculative redevelopment of the site at Hellaby Industrial Estate earlier this year.

Formerly occupied by Benson for Beds, the approved proposals are for an industrial / warehouse unit for B2 / B8 use, including air conditioning units, modified site access, car parking, vehicle service area, landscaping and associated works. Vehicular access would be from Bramley Way to the south of the site.

Savills and Heaney Micklethwaite are agents for the scheme which is being marketed as a "Focus 72" - a high specification warehouse / distribution facility on a site of approximately 4.1 acres.

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Plans were updated to enable owners to extract some 900 cubic metres of coal from the site in between demolishing the old building and erecting the new facility.

The new development will replace the 46,068 sq ft Rosedale House, a bespoke unit for Bensons Beds, which included both warehousing and manufacturing facilities. It was vacated approximately two years ago, despite numerous options being considered for bringing the site back into occupation, none of these were successful, with the site remaining unoccupied.

In approving the plans, council officers said that "It is considered that whilst larger than the building it replaces it would not result in the site being overdeveloped, furthermore it would not appear at odds with the immediate surrounding given the similar sized buildings within this particular industrial estate."

Objectors raised issues around traffic and air quality but officers are not concerned as any increase in traffic is considered negligible.

Images: Heaney Micklethwaite

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News: Historic house sold as Huthwaite moves on

Huthwaite International - the global training provider and behaviour change specialist – has relocated the company's UK headquarters from Rotherham to Sheffield.

Perhaps better known around the world than in the borough, the company is a market leading behaviour change consultancy and specialises in consulting and training on all aspects of sales. It works with major blue chip companies across the world including SAP, Medtronic and Siemens.

The move to offices at Fox Valley comes with the sale of Huthwaite's former home - Hoober House at Wentworth.

Rothbiz reported in March that Huthwaite had engaged leading property agent, Savills, to market the property for sale. It was sold from a guide price of £1.65m.

The sale documents describe the property as "a fine period stone built detached residence" which comes together with a refurbished coach house with a front courtyard and "glorious private mature grounds and gardens" of approximately 5.25 acres and "an impressive sweeping tree lined driveway approach."

The buildings extend to some 9,935 sq ft of accommodation in the main house arranged over two main floors with a cellar. The Coach House offers a further 4,505 sq ft which is currently used as a business centre and training facility.

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Originally part of the renowned Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate, the property sits in a semi-elevated position with "glorious" west facing views across the adjoining Wentworth Estate.

Hoober House was built as the Dower House for the principal historic residence of Wentworth Woodhouse and was previously lived in by Lady Milton when she was a widow.

In 2018, Huthwaite secured planning consent for change of use back to a residential property.

Tony Hughes, chief executive officer of Huthwaite International, said: "We are really excited to be relocating our team to Fox Valley. This is a great location for us to continue to develop and grow our business and we are looking forward to being part of the Fox Valley community.

"The centre has great links to the wider region as well as fantastic facilities for our team when they’re working from the office."

Huthwaite website

Images: Savills

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News: Historic Rotherham pub on the market

A pub in Rotherham town centre that has history tracing back to being an old coaching inn has been put up for sale.

Listed as a Freehold Public House Investment, The Mail Coach has been given a guide price of £410,000.

The pub business would be unaffected by the sale.

Agents, Savills, have been appointed to sell the property that was formerly The Mail Coach Inn on Wellgate. Its has a traditional ground floor trading accommodation with public bar, lounge and games room over split levels. The first floor has two bed living accommodation and there's a beer cellar to the basement.

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The tenants are the Naylor family, prominent publicans in the town and the building is let on a lease until 2021.

In the 1800s and 1900s the pub was tied to Bentleys Old Brewery, Slinn, Searle & Co., Rother Brewery and Whitworths Brewery.

Savills website

Images: Savills

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News: Distribution firm take Rotherham 125

A large vacant industrial unit in Rotherham finally has a new occupier.

Commercial Property Partners (CPP), working jointly with Savills, has advised on the letting of a large warehouse unit, totalling 125,000 sq ft. in Rotherham, on behalf of Goodman, a global property group specialising in creating high quality logistics developments.

At Maltby, the unit has been let to Carlton Forest Group (CFG) – a warehousing, distribution and logistics provider based in North Nottinghamshire.

The former Wincanton depot on Rotherham Road operated as a chilled distribution centre for retailers such as Sainsbury's and Tesco. It has been vacant for over ten years with the landlords struggling to find a tenant for B8 distribution use, despite refurbishment.

CFG was established in 2013 and retains its family owned status. It employs over 70 members of staff and works with blue chip companies across the UK including Reckitt Benckiser, KP Foods, and Greencore. It operates over four divisions – Logistics, Property, Energy and Warehousing. During 2019 it doubled its warehousing capacity to over 450,00 sq ft, opening a new warehouse in Barnsley.

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Ed Norris, partner at CPP, said: "We are delighted to have secured the letting of this well-located unit, not least during these unprecedented times.

"During recent months there has been a continued demand for high spec industrial properties within the region, which will only accelerate as tenants regain the flexibility and confidence to move between properties."

Tom Asher, director at Savills, added: "The industrial market continues to go from strength to strength. This letting along with further market activity proves the strength in the industrial and logistics sector."

Toby Vernon Partner at CPP, said: "We are very pleased to achieve this letting on behalf of Goodman who are a long standing, valued client of CPP and to see Carlton Forest take occupation of the Rotherham 125 warehouse."

Carlton Forest Group website
CPP website
Savills website

Images: CPP

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News: Historic Rotherham property up for sale

A substantial stone built country house that is currently being used as offices in Rotherham has been placed on the market and could be turned back into a residence, or even become a new hotel.

Hoober House at Wentworth is currently used as headquarters by Huthwaite International, the market leading behaviour change consultancy that works with major blue chip companies across the world including Rezidor, Dell, Motorola, UPS and Zurich Insurance.

Due to relocation, Huthwaite has now engaged leading property agent, Savills, to market the property for sale. It has a guide price of £1.65m.

The sale documents describe the property as "a fine period stone built detached residence" which comes together with a refurbished coach house with a front courtyard and "glorious private mature grounds and gardens" of approximately 5.25 acres and "an impressive sweeping tree lined driveway approach."

The buildings extend to some 9,935 sq ft of accommodation in the main house arranged over two main floors with a cellar. The Coach House offers a further 4,505 sq ft which is currently used as a business centre and training facility.

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Originally part of the renowned Fitzwilliam Wentworth Estate, the property sits in a semi-elevated position with "glorious" west facing views across the adjoining Wentworth Estate.

Hoober House was built as the Dower House for the principal historic residence of Wentworth Woodhouse and was previously lived in by Lady Milton when she was a widow. In the 1950s it was used in connection to Lady Mabel College which was based at Wentworth Woodhouse. The National Archives has an entry entitled "Wentworth: Hoober House boarding home for maladjusted girls" dating from 1947.

In 2018, Huthwaite secured planning consent for change of use back to a residential property.

The sale documents state: "This is an opportunity either to continue the commercial use the property now enjoys or to restore the house back to family occupation with the ability to create additional accommodation within the substantial detached coach house as leisure facilities, continued use as office or additional residential accommodation.

"In addition to the existing planning consent for change of use to residential, the property would be suitable for a number of alternative uses, such as hotel, leisure and educational, subject to planning permission."

Huthwaite website
Savills website


Images: Savills

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News: Rotherham town centre commercial building up for auction

A prominent commercial building in Rotherham town centre has been put up for sale and is set to go under the hammer next month.

1-22 Effingham Square is the large block of offices with retail units underneath and is located alongside Rotherham Interchange and its shopping centre, opposite to the Tesco Extra store.

Leading auctioneers, Savills, has placed the freehold of the property in its London auction scheduled to take place at the Grovesnor on February 13.

Totaling some 20,160 sq ft of lettable space, the property includes an unbroken parade of ten shops, something which the auctioneers highlights as being "rarely available."

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Tenants include Wallace Arnold, Cash Converters, Tasty Bite, two dental practices and the Laser Credit Union. Upper floors have the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority as tenants.

Bringing in a total current rent of £178,000 per annum, the property has been given a guide price of £1.85m+.

The sales brochure adds that "the site may have development potential and the possibility of adding an extra floor subject to the requisite consents."

Following the opening of the £40m Tesco development, Effingham Square was given a modest revamp with a redesign of the taxi rank and new public realm works to the pedestrianised area.

The new town centre masterplan considers that there "is still significant improvement which can be made" in Effingham Square which is described as "a very poor space and a wasted opportunity."

The masterplan puts forward that Rotherham Council should lead on a project for Effingham Square so that it will become an "attractive densely planted green oasis in the heart of town," complementing the green space at Minster Gardens.

Transforming grey to green, "proposals for Effingham Square will provide a new setting for the Interchange, greening the current expanse of hard space, providing seating and screening through further tree cover. The delineation of space between the taxi ranks and the public space will also help break the expanse of grey space."

Rotherham Interchange itself is set for a £12.5m revamp.

Savills website

Images: Savills / RMBC / WYG

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News: Mattressman beds down in Rotherham

Mattressman, the UK's biggest online mattress specialist, has expanded its store network with a new store in Rotherham.

The Norfolk-based retailer has taken a 4,927 sq ft at the Foundry Retail Park in Parkgate, the first major deal announced since the retail park was sold in multimillion pound deal earlier this year.

Formerly known as the Great Eastern Retail Park at Parkgate, the 170,748 sq ft retail development with 813 car parking spaces, is home to The Range, Harveys, DFS, Wren Kitchens and B&M.

The site was bought in 2012 by a specialist joint venture partnership of Brockton Capital and Pradera in a deal worth around £22.1m. Earlier this year it was acquired as part of a £245m portfolio of nine well-located retail parks across the UK on behalf of Curzon Capital Partners IV (CCP 4), a "core-plus" style investment fund.

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Launching in 2004, Mattressman was established as a predominantly online retailer, selling hundreds of mattress models from top manufacturers like Silentnight, Hypnos and Sealy. In 2015 the fast growing company appointed property firm Savills to advise on new acquisitions across the UK. The Rotherham store is the company's 21st location.

The brand has agreed a new ten-year lease on the property. The landlord, Rotherham Foundry RP Limited, is managed by Savills Investment Management and was represented by Morgan Williams and Zeitlyn Farrell.

Charlie Greenhalgh, out of town retail director at Savills, said: "Mattressman has undergone exceptional growth over the last couple of years and is an excellent example of a retailer successfully operating across the online and physical worlds. We are pleased to be supporting its ongoing expansion with this new store in Rotherham and look forward to announcing further acquisitions in the near future."

AHF Furniture is also set to open on the site later this year. The UK's largest employee furniture co-op was previously part of the Anglia Co-op. It specialises in the retail of quality home furnishings at affordable prices.

United Carpets, the second largest chain of specialist retail carpet and floor covering stores in the UK, moved into the large vacant unit 5 on the park. Plans have since been approved for the Rotherham-based retailer to move into a large unit at the nearby Tradeworld development.

Mattressman website
Savills website

Images: Mattressman

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse sold to trust

A multimillion pound deal to purchase Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham has been agreed that will save it for the nation.

The historic Grade I listed mansion house went on the market last year with an asking price of in excess of £8m after the Newbold family confirmed that they had decided to sell at the end of 2014.

The property - thought to be the largest privately-owned house in Europe - will now be purchased by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) and will continue to be open to the public.

By agreement with the Newbold family, who bought the house for a reported £2m, the WWPT began fundraising in 2014 and raised pledges of £3.4m and prepared detailed plans for the future of the property. The trust aimed to acquire the property if it could raise £7m. A further £42m needs to be spent on the fabric of the house over the next twelve to fifteen years to meet the backlog of repairs and subsidence damage.

Having now reached an agreement with the Newbold family on the purchase, it is hoped completion of the sale to the trust will take place within two to three months.

Agents, Savills confirmed in November that terms had been agreed for the largest privately-owned house in Europe with the Lake House Group, an investment company which has its headquarters in Hong Kong. With exchange and completion due to take place, by the end of the month, The Times reported that the Lake House Group has backed out of the deal due to the levels of subsidence at the property.

Having agreed the target purchase figure with the Newbold family, a final offer was submitted by the WWPT, but it was turned down by Savills in favour of the Lake House Group's offer.

The lengthy multimillion pound legal battle between the owners of Wentworth Woodhouse and the Coal Authority should come to a head in 2016. The claim for damages against the Coal Authority, for at least £100m, is in respect of the damage caused by deep and open cast mining and is being disputed.

Recently added to the 2016 World Monuments Watch, the East Front of the house measures 615 feet and its courts and buildings cover three acres or more of ground. It is thought to have 365 rooms but given its sheer size it is difficult to know what constitutes a corridor and what constitutes a room.

With a agreement with the WPPT, the National Trust has agreed to help by offering to take on responsibility for the public opening of the magnificent interiors, recently used during the filming of Mike Leigh's biopic of JMW Turner and the grand BBC drama, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. A detailed business plan commissioned by the National Trust has shown projected income and expenditure for the WWPT over twenty years. Forecasts show the WWPT will come into a surplus in the sixth year of operation.

A statement from campaign group, SAVE Britain's Heritage, said: "Traditionally a historic house of this size would have required a vast endowment. This business model will provide a substantial income stream intended to cover both running costs and periodic bouts of repair.

"The long term strategy is for the public to visit and enjoy all the most interesting parts of the property while restoring the others for revenue-earning uses such as events and holiday lets with business units in the stables.

"The Trust will build on the pioneering work of the Newbold family in opening the house to pre-booked visitors for the first time on a regular basis. An annual Clifford Newbold lecture will be held to mark the work of the Newbold family in opening the house to the public."

Extensive repairs will be phased over ten to 15 years allowing time for funds to be raised and the work to be carried out in phases while the property is opened to the public.

Plans for the sustainable future of Wentworth Woodhouse include using the north wing and former student refectory as a dining hall/events venue; creating offices for small businesses in the impressive stable block; and around 15 residential units or holiday lets are proposed in the south wing, the upper floors of the main mansion and the side courtyards of the stable court.

The trustees of the new WWPT are: The Duke of Devonshire, Lady Juliet Tadgell, Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, Julie Kenny (Chair), Timothy Cooke, Martin Drury, and Merlin Waterson. It exits to preserve the house and grounds on a long term sustainable basis with extensive public opening; to find sustainable and sympathetic uses for those parts of the property not open to the public; and to raise funds both for acquisition and repairs and other essential works.

The £7m pledged for the acquisition includes a £3.575m grant offer from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and grants from the Monument Trust, the Art Fund, Sir Siegmund Warburg's Voluntary Settlement and the John Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust. Pledges and donations have also been received from many individual members of the public.

Wentworth Woodhouse website
WWPT website

Images: Savills

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News: Newbold Family's wish for Wentworth Woodhouse

The charitable trust hoping to buy Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham have found it difficult to raise the necessary funding.

The largest privately-owned house in Europe officially went on the market with Savills plc this week with an asking price of in excess of £8m.

The Newbold family confirmed that they had decided to sell the historic Grade I listed mansion house at the end of last year. By agreement with the family, the newly formed Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) began fundraising, raising pledges of £3.4m and preparing detailed plans for the future of the property.

The trust aims to acquire the property if it can raise £7m. A further £42m needs to be spent on the fabric of the house over the next twelve to fifteen years to meet the backlog of repairs and subsidence damage.

Save Britain's Heritage (SAVE), which campaigns for threatened historic buildings in Britain, has been working on the plans with leading country house experts and entrepreneurs that would see the preservation of the house and grounds on a long term basis and sustainable, sympathetic uses investigated for those parts of the property not open to the public.

Now the Newbold family has explained why the property has gone onto the open market.

A statement read: "Having made the reluctant decision to sell, it was always the plan to bring Wentworth Woodhouse to the market in the Spring of 2015.

"It is the family's greatest wish to find someone to carry on our work and see the house in safe hands and secure for the long term.

"Various discussions have taken place over the last couple of years with SAVE, while they have tried to gain support for a charitable trust to take it over.

"It has not been as easy as everyone hoped to raise the necessary funding and thus we are continuing to look for an individual or organisation to whom we can pass on the baton of stewardship for future generations to enjoy."

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, tried to raise the issue in the House of Commons earlier this year when he put forward an early day motion for debate. It called on the Government to step in and support efforts to save Wentworth Woodhouse, alongside the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), a fund of last resort to save items of outstanding importance to the nation's heritage.

The motion read: "That this House commends the current plans to secure the future of one of the grandest stately homes in England, Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, by placing it in a charitable trust and opening it to the public; acknowledges the exceptional splendour of this house and recognises the work already carried out in restoring parkland, lakes, monuments and temples, as well as repairs to the house itself; underlines the huge potential stimulus to economic regeneration in South Yorkshire; and calls on the Government and the National Heritage Memorial Fund to recognise the imperative to give strong and urgent support to these efforts."

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: Savills

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse on the market

Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, the largest privately-owned house in Europe, has gone on the market with Savills plc with an asking price of in excess of £8m.

The Newbold family confirmed that they had decided to sell the historic Grade I listed mansion house at the end of last year.

The East Front of the house (pictured, top) measures 615 feet and its courts and buildings cover three acres or more of ground. It is thought to have 365 rooms but given its sheer size it is difficult to know what constitutes a corridor and what constitutes a room.

The estate extends to some 82 acres of gardens, parkland and woodland surrounded by the greater park and farmland of the Fitzwilliam Estate.

By agreement with the Newbold family, who bought the house for a reported £2m, the newly formed Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) began fundraising last year and raised pledges of £3.4m and prepared detailed plans for the future of the property. The trust aims to acquire the property if it can raise £7m. A further £42m needs to be spent on the fabric of the house over the next twelve to fifteen years to meet the backlog of repairs and subsidence damage.

Plans prepared for the trust include continuing to offer tours to the public which would be carried out by the National Trust, using the building for events, creating holiday lets and apartments for rent, and converting the stables for use by enterprising businesses.

Earlier this month, the Newbold Family announced the death of Mr Clifford James Newbold, the man who saved Wentworth Woodhouse and invested millions after acquiring it in 1999, later opening up to the public in 2012.

Now, Savills has begun advertising the property for sale, describing it as "one of the finest and grandest Georgian houses in England."

Wentworth Woodhouse is a symbol of the wealth and ambition of the Fitzwilliam family, with much of the wealth coming from the local coal mining operations that they owned. It actually includes two houses of totally different architectural styles, built by The First Marquess of Rockingham between 1725 and 1750. The west front of the house in the baroque style and the east front, over 600 ft long, in the later palladian style.

It includes notable rooms including the pillared hall, the marble saloon (pictured, above), the Whistlejacket Room, the Ante drawing room and Van Dyke room.

The West Front (pictured, below) contains the oldest elements of the house and the ground floor contains a suite of rooms which were formally part of the services area. On the first floor, where the Newbold family have apartments, include some very fine interiors from various periods and further state rooms. The agents point out: "Of particular note is the Long Gallery which has been beautifully restored by the present owners."

The south wing, known as "bedlam" due to its use by students, has lost much of its original character having been significantly adapted for use as Lady Mabel College.

The property also includes the impressive stable block, designed by John Carr, to provide the 84 racehorses owned Second Marquess of Rockingham with their own palatial surroundings.

A 1970s halls of residence, redundant teaching rooms and a swimming pool are also on site as are Camellia House, the 19th century glazed conservatory, the remaining gardens that are in need of full restoration and the impressive South Terrace.

New owners would also be taking on a lengthy multimillion pound legal battle with the Coal Authority, that should come to a head in 2016.

Wentworth Woodhouse website
Savills website

Images: Savills

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News: Rotherham industrial estate up for sale

Aven Industrial Estate in Maltby, Rotherham, is up for sale following the owners entering administration.

Joint administrators, Rob Caven and Martin Ellis of Grant Thornton UK LLP, have confirmed the appointment of Savills as agent for sale of 32 of Kenmore's UK properties.

Close to Maltby Colliery, Aven Industrial Estate comprises approximately 273,682 sq ft (25,426sq m) of industrial accommodation situated within a total site area of approximately 26 acres (10.50 hectares).

Aven Enterprise Park provides three different sized office units, ranging from 624 sq ft to 2,228 sq ft. The majority of the remainder of the site comprises a variety of 1960's to 1980's detached, semi detached and terraced industrial units.

Current occupiers range from steelmaker, Corus and IT company, Cynetix to bathroom fittings supplier, Peak 2000.

Rob Caven, Joint Administrator said: "There has been, and continues to be, considerable market interest in the Kenmore properties. The numerous enquiries we have received range from those expressing interest in the whole portfolio to those expressing interest in individual properties.

"In exploring all options to recover sums for creditors, we intend to market test such demand."

Kenmore portfoilio website
Rotherham

Images: Savills

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News: Rotherham Retail Park gets new name

Rotherham steelworker Kevin Boden has won a competition to rename The Great Eastern Way Retail Park at Parkgate after coming up with a name that reflects the area's steel industry past - The Foundry Retail Park. The competition was launched a few months ago by commercial property agents Savills to highlight the plans to modernise the retail park, giving it a contemporary new look. The new name marks an exciting time for the retail park with new stores coming on board and significant investment planned for the area.
Rotherham Chamber article
Rotherham

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