News: Building systems manufacturer to meet demand from new Rotherham premises

Building systems manufacturer Mauerwall has moved to its first automated production site at a new business park in Rotherham.

The company, established last year and which employs 20 staff making precision-manufactured facade systems for commercial and residential buildings, has taken 36,000 sq ft at Kingsforth Business Park in Thurcroft, following a move from a temporary site in Derby.

Mauerwall has started production from the site with the aim over the next year of employing another 20 staff to satisfy demand from the growing sector.

Mauerwall CEO Jordan Rosenhaus said: “This is our first production site and we were attracted by the fantastic location with crucial access to the motorway network, the size and flexibility of the modern unit, the tremendous availability of labour, and the great landlord, who is very easy to work with.

“Having been based in the Midlands, we scoped several locations in South Yorkshire and this was by far the best option for us. We are delighted to be in Rotherham, it is a prime location for our national business needs.”

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Rotherham property company EV Waddington speculatively built phase 2 of the scheme with the support of South Yorkshire JESSICA Fund (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) with a First Loss Loan together with a Development Loan Facility.

Phase 2 comprises of 19 units of 5,310 to 14,230 sq ft which can be combined to accommodate larger requirements, as seen with Mauerwall.

Phase 2 follows the success of Phase 1 where occupiers include Bezwell Fixings, The Panel Company, UK Doors Online and EMED.

The development is aimed at satisfying the much-needed demand for small and medium-sized industrial space in the region. The units are built to a specification to include 5.7-6.5m eaves height; full height roller shutter loading doors; ground and first floor fitted office accommodation; warehouse lighting; three phase electricity; solar, fibre enabled and good sized external loading area plus dedicated car parking.

Developer Tony Waddington said: “We bring our experience of delivering exceptional quality industrial and manufacturing units, and with the prime location of the site, the flexible nature of the scheme it is well positioned to support the operational and growth needs of businesses across a variety of sectors.”

Rebecca Schofield, office head at Knight Frank in Sheffield and head of industrial Yorkshire, which is acting as agent on the scheme, said: “The build highlights developer confidence in our region. There continues to be a lack of available opportunities of this size, particularly new and modern."

Kingsforth Business Park is accessed from Kingsforth Rd, which offers access on to Woodhouse Green. Kingsforth Lane is easily accessible providing access to Junction 1 M18, approximately 1.6 miles to the North.

Mauerwall website

Images: EV Waddington / Knight Frank

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News: Selective licensing set to be extended across Rotherham

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RMBC website

Images: RMBC

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News: Safeguarding lifted on HS2 route through Rotherham

Land in Rotherham outlined for high speed rail is no longer under safeguarding directions, the Secretary of State for Transport has confirmed.

Former owners who sold to the government will be given the opportunity to buy property back, but at the current value.

The announcement comes four and a half years after the scheme to Leeds was scrapped and nine years after property owners first learnt of the plans.

The government announced in 2021 that the HS2 Phase 2b Eastern leg would terminate at East Midlands Parkway and no longer reach Leeds through the communities in the east of Rotherham. A study into how best to take HS2 services to Leeds was announced but never really got underway.

Safeguarding for Phase 2b (Crewe to Manchester and West Midlands to Leeds) was set to be ammended in summer 2024 to allow for any safeguarding needed for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Safeguarding is designed to protect land which the government may need to build and operate HS2 from conflicting development that might otherwise take place. Issuing safeguarding directions also triggers statutory blight - starting the process of the government acquiring property in the safeguarded areas.

A latest report to Parliament confirmed that the safeguarding directions for the former HS2 route through Rotherham have finally been lifted.

Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, said: "I am today formally lifting the safeguarding directions for the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg (between the West Midlands and Leeds), removing the uncertainty that has affected many people along the former route. Safeguarding along the former Phase 2b Western Leg (between Crewe and Manchester) is not being changed as part of this, and an update on future plans for safeguarding on this section will be provided in due course alongside broader plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

"One small area to the south of the existing station in central Leeds, previously required for the new HS2 station, will remain safeguarded to allow for potential enhancements to the existing station, including for onward travel.

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"I have also today closed the Rural Support Zone, Express Purchase, Rent Back, and the Need to Sell property schemes along the former Phase 2b Eastern Leg. Existing applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

"Removing safeguarding along the majority of the former HS2 Phase 2b Eastern Leg means we are now able to initiate a programme to dispose of over 550 properties on the former Eastern Leg that are no longer required. We expect disposals on the open market to begin in 2026. Before then, former owners whose property was acquired under statutory blight will have the opportunity to reacquire their former property at the current market value.

"We will dispose of land and property in a sensible and sensitive way, ensuring value for money for the taxpayer and avoiding disruption to local property markets."

The scrapped route through Rotherham was announced in 2016 and affected areas such as Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts.

With no station at Meadowhall and just a spur into Sheffield, residents and local politicians believed that the change in route offered "all of the problems but none of the benefits" and had to deal with blight notices and programmes to sell property to the government before compulsory purchase.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: HS2

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News: £28m battery company project falls flat, millions of public money lost

A £28m investment project to create a manufacturing base for a new type of battery in South Yorkshire appears to have died - a long with the 500 promised jobs and millions of pounds in public sector loans and grants.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham was confirmed as the location for the Ultimate Battery Company's (UBC's) first manufacturing plant and innovation centre, set to create 495 highly skilled jobs by early 2026.

The announcement followed on from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) agreeing to support the private company with £5.2m in loans and grants.

Premises at Thurcroft were identified and recruitment got underway.

Now the same New Orchard Lane property is back on the market to rent with agents, CPR, and the Ultimate Battery Company has switched its address back to Manchester with Companies House.

SYMCA pledged financial support to enable the firm to set up a new research and development centre and manufacturing facility in the region to develop lighter, more energy dense batteries for the automotive sector. Boards were told that it would create 495 new jobs.

UBC aims to deliver a new battery that provides Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enables twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and provides a faster charging rate. These batteries would significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, driving down CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.

Now it is clear that specific loans to local entities have been written-off, with the likelihood that SYMCA will not be repaid.

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A SYMCA audit report shows that a loan of £3.2m to the Ultimate Battery Company (UBC), supported by a Gainshare funding grant of £2m, has been written off.

Using devolved government money, the South Yorkshire Gainshare funding has been designed to support both place-based investment plans, and key thematic areas that aim to deliver the stronger, fairer and greener policy objectives outlined within economic plans.

The report states: "At a programme level, direct investments into businesses in the strategically important sector of advanced manufacturing were expected to enable both the growth of indigenous businesses and attract inward investment by supporting businesses from outside of the region to establish themselves in South Yorkshire."

The loan to UBC was evaluated by SYMCA under its assurance framework and deemed to be well aligned to the plans. However, due to issues encountered by the projects, the company has since ceased trading without the repayment of loans to the authority.

The report talks of the "subsequent unrecoverable nature" of the loan so SYMCA engaged an independent consultant to inform the national evaluator's Gateway Review of these investments.

The report adds: "This review resulted in a number of key lessons learned being identified and an action plan is currently underway and will be published once the Final Review Report has been received. We note that the external consultant did note that the business case process followed for these investments was deemed to be fit for purpose and the issues and difficulties experienced by these companies could not have been foreseen. We have therefore not identified a significant weakness in governance arrangements in relation to the circumstances of these loan write-offs and will follow up on the resulting action plan as part of our 2024-25 review of arrangements."

Ultimate Battery Company website
SYMCA website

Images: CPR

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News: Plans for more Rotherham solar farms

At the same time as plans are being developed for a huge solar farm across many greenbelt sites in Rotherham, a number of smaller proposals are progressing too.

Rothbiz reported last year on Whitestone Solar Farm, which if constructed, would generate up to 750MW of energy, enough to power up to 250,000 homes. It would be the largest solar farm in Yorkshire and one of the largest in the UK.

Consultation documents from solar developer Green Nation show that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm. Sites in the Rother Valley constituency include fields near to Bramley and Wickersley, near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Due to its size, Whitestone will be classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and would not be determined by Rotherham Council.

In recent months early stage proposals have been published for solar farms that would be determined by Rotherham Council.

Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park is being put forward by Exagen Group and involves a 49.9MW solar farm with a co-located 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) and substation on farmland between Wickersley and Morthen. The yearly output of the solar generation is predicted to equate to the electricity use of approximately 20,370 average UK homes per year.

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The project is in early stages of public consultation and proponents say that it "will be sensitively designed within the land available, with input from local residents, planning experts and all relevant consultees."

Documents add: "The proposed Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park Project is made up of three adjacent parcels of land, with the majority of infrastructure to be installed in the south-eastern block adjacent to the M1 and M18. The proposed site will be effectively screened from the settlements of Wickersley, Whiston, and Thurcroft through enhancement to existing vegetation and the implementation of supplementary hedgerow and tree planting."

Across the borough, another solar develpoer, ILOS, is putting together plans for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough which comprises 21 hectares of greenbelt land.

Providing enough green energy for over 10,000 households, cultation documents explain: "The site will remain in agricultural use for the 30-40 year tenure of the lease and be crafted to rest the land from intensive farming, attracting considerable additional wildlife. No concrete is used in the module framework and the incumbent electricity provider, Northern PowerGrid, will manage the grid connection point."

Initial consultation for Whitestone has closed. Community drop in sessions are being held next week regarding Thurcroft Interchange Energy Park and consultation for Firsby Lane will close on March 27.

Exagen website
ILOS Energy website

Images: Exagen Group

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News: Noise concerns over Rotherham wedding venue plans

Concerns have been raised over plans to convert a former equestrian centre near a Rotherham village into a wedding and events venue, with council officers proposing that operating hours should be restricted.

Plans were submitted in September for the redevelopment of Laughton Common Farm into a Conference and Event Venue.

Located within the Green Belt, the site between Thurcroft and Laughton Common "presents a real opportunity for sensitive regeneration" according to the applicant, Michael Holdsworth, and planning consultants, Urbana.

Considered to be previously developed due to its former use for leisure activities, proposals include the conversion of the existing agricultural and equestrian structures and the provision of 95 car parking spaces to establish a leisure and hospitality venue designed specifically for hosting various functions and events.

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The plans state: "The venue is proposed to accommodate a wide range of events across the 13,497 sq.ft of floorspace, including but not limited to, conferences, parties, and weddings. The site layout will largely maintain the existing arrangement, with the addition of several purpose-built structures that are designed to sensitively integrate with the surrounding landscape, reflecting the form and style of the agricultural structures, as existed on site previously."

If approved, the venue would provide 15 jobs.

For inside the venue, the plans show a reception area, stage and seating areas, a bridal suite, a kitchen and associated spaces. Plans for outside include landscaped areas around a pond and outdoor seating.

The applicant has previoulsy operated an events business for 15 years and estimates that 50 weddings per year would be hosted at the new space. Open only when the venue is booked, operators are asking for permission to open on weekdays between 9am and 10pm and on weekends between 11am and 11pm. It is estimated that this will likely average out over the year at 2-3 days of the week.

Rotherham Council's environmental health department has raised concerns with the plans. It states: "There is concern that this proposed venue will introduce a new noise source to the area as it was previously an equestrian centre with minimal footfall, and only during the daytime period.

"The site is located within a quiet rural location and the business therefore has the potential to cause disturbance during the evening period due to customers coming and going. Noise would include raised voices, increased traffic and car doors slamming within the car park and on Common Lane. It is therefore necessary to further limit operating hours and ensure an appropriate Noise Management Plan is in place to mitigate against noise."

A proposed condition is that the premises would only be open to customers between the hours of 9am and 10pm, Mondays to Sundays.

Neighbours have also raised concerns over potential traffic impacts.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Fund backs £8m Rotherham commercial development

Local property company EV Waddington has secured part funding for the ambitious £8m second phase of a popular business park in Rotherham.

Construction of three new blocks of speculative industrial buildings and warehouses totalling 91,010 sq ft, which can be split into 13 units, has begun at Kingsforth Business Park, part of the established Thurcroft Industrial Estate.

The most recent phase is part funded by the SY JESSICA Fund (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas). The Fund is designed to promote sustainable investment, growth and jobs in urban areas through providing development support in the form of traditional loans and intervention funding.

Units in phase two have been designed for flexibility and can be combined to offer a range of unit sizes from 5,440 up to 10,980 sq ft and premises will be finished to a high specification to include 5.7-6.5m clear internal height; full insulation with full height roller shutter loading doors; fitted office accommodation to ground and first floor; warehouse lighting; connections to all mains services, including three phase electricity; good sized external loading area with dedicated car parking and fibre enabled.

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Developer Tony Waddington, who was helped by Mercer & Co and Mascot Management on the funding application, said: “The multi-let unit project, made possible with a £1.45m award from the JESSICA programme, helps support continued economic growth in the region, which is key for us.

“This second speculative development demonstrates our confidence in the South Yorkshire market, our product, the location and the appetite within the industrial and logistics sector for units of this size within the region.”

Rebecca Schofield, office head at Knight Frank in Sheffield and head of industrial Yorkshire, which is acting as agent on the scheme, said: “The much needed, speculative accommodation at Kingsforth will bring 13 units from 5,440 sq ft to 10,980 sq ft available offering flexibility to be combined to accommodate larger requirements if needed.

“Kingsforth is aimed at industrial, warehouse and manufacturing occupiers with 6.5m eaves height, full height loading doors, lighting and office accommodation.

“These industrial and trade schemes address a shortage of small units across the region. Waddingtons continue to develop quality industrial units in South Yorkshire helping satisfy the pent-up demand for smaller, flexible units.”

Kingsforth Business Park is accessed from Kingsforth Rd, which offers access on to Woodhouse Green. Kingsforth Lane is easily accessible providing access to Junction 1 M18, approximately 1.6 miles to the North.

Surrounding occupiers on the estate include TG Commercial, Health Beds, UK Doors and Ultimate Battery.

The first phase of Kingsforth Business Park was completed by the progressive developer without funding and is now let to occupiers including The Panel Company, UK Doors Online and EMED. Two units of 5,440 sq ft remain available.

Family-owned Waddingtons, based in Rotherham for the last 80 years, is no stranger to the region having already developed 31 East in Dinnington, The Oval in Barnsley, Northfield Business Park in Rotherham, Vantage Park in Sheffield, Shortwood Business Park in Barnsley, and Aldwarke Business Park and Chesterton Court in Rotherham over the past years.

Waddingtons website

Images: Knight Frank

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News: Rotherham hotel on the market

A well-situated Rotherham hotel has been put up for sale with a £2m price tag.

Graham + Sibbald, one of the UK’s leading property consultancy services, is listing The Consort Hotel, Thurcroft as being available to buy.

The 28 room hotel was built on the site of the former Kingsforth Garage in the 1980's. The Brampton Road location is close to the M1 and M18.

Sale documents show that the freehold of the 25,178 sq ft property is available for offers over £2m. For that new owners would get 28 ensuite rooms, conference and banqueting facilities with a 350 capacity, and an 80 space car park.

The sale brochure says that the building was acquired by clients in 2015 and the business is currently run by a third party operator by way of a management agreement. The hotel continues to trade.

In 2015, The Best Western Consort Hotel was acquired for an undisclosed sum by James Edward Hotels Ltd, operated by its subsidiary Company Montgomery Hotels Ltd. The hotel was previously put up for sale in January 2012 with an asking price of £1.3m. It was purchased later in the year by the hotels division of investment company, West Register Property, from the Peat family who had owned the hotel since 1997.

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Agents believe that the property/business is likely to be of interest to a wide range of buyers including individual regional and multiple operators and investors but say that redevelopment of the 1.1 acre site is not out of the question.

The brochure states: "Furthermore it is conceivable that the substantial freehold property, which is situated on a large plot, could also be of interest to property speculators and developers for an alternative use, subject to obtaining planning permission and any other necessary consents."

The site would have been affected by plans for Phase 2b of HS2 through Rotherham to Leeds, which is now unlikely to go ahead.

At Thurcroft, safeguarding areas were extended as further road realignments were proposed. Morthen Road would have been realigned to cross above the new railway and motorway to maintain access between Thurcroft and Wickersley. On farmland adjacent to the Nine Trees Trading Estate, a new roundabout and realigned road would link to Brampton Road close to the hotel.

HS2 maps showed the hotel left out of the "safeguarding area" whilst land all around it for the new roads was included.

Consort Hotel website

Images: Graham + Sibbald

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News: Rotherham confirmed for new 500 job battery manufacturing centre

Ultimate Battery Co (UBC) has confirmed that it has chosen a site in Rotherham to be the home of its first manufacturing plant and innovation centre, which will create 500 highly skilled jobs by early 2026.

Rothbiz reported in December that the firm, backed by £5.2m from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), was targeting at a site at New Orchard Lane, Thurcroft, Rotherham.

The new manufacturing site will be one of the first new battery manufacturing sites in the UK and will manufacture the next generation of both starter lighting and ignition batteries for vehicles, and energy storage solutions utilising UBC’s patented Duophasic technology. A recruitment drive is underway for various roles in the first of a series of production teams, and recruitment will continue over the forthcoming months as production ramps up.

Production of UBC’s patented and cutting-edge battery modules has started, with the first order being dispatched ithis month. Currently, the company is making substantial investment in the site (UBC it has previously said that it would invest £28m setting up a UK production plant) to create a state-of-the-art facility. This includes the evaluation and installation of renewable energy solutions. Additionally, UBC have begun their next round of funding.

The company’s Duophasic technology is the distillation of the Ultimate Battery Co ethos and philosophy. It is a custom-developed and patented technology, which uses cutting-edge design allied to innovative materials engineering for both active materials and electrodes. This revolutionary technology has enabled the development of battery systems which offer major performance uplift.

In comparison to traditional battery technologies, UBC Duophasic technology enables more efficient energy storage by doubling energy density for a given weight, or halving the weight while retaining the same energy capacity. Additionally, it enables mix-and-match configurations using a combination of all three elements, offering customers the option of engineering bespoke battery architecture.

The company also offers a licensing model to enable other manufacturers to access its patented technologies and accelerate global adoption.

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UBC’s DuophasicCOR battery technology has been developed to address the needs of the passenger transport industry to reduce weight and CO2 emissions. The modular design makes the battery suitable for vehicles of all sizes, from electric scooters to trains and planes.

DuophasicCOR modules enable customers requiring battery-powered solutions to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, lower costs, and enhance performance. All UBC batteries are easy to install, safe, affordable, and chip-free. They are suitable for initial installation or as drop-in replacements.

UBC’s pioneering technology makes these drop-in replacement batteries much lighter than traditional products, thereby reducing weight and CO2 emissions by up to 15Kg.

Additionally, UBC MotoFLO, powered by Duophasic technology, is a revolutionary new power unit for electric vehicles (EVs) which enables rapid charging and longer range through the use of unique and patented EV battery technologies. MotoFLO battery units will make use of existing fuel station and charging infrastructures to reduce disruption and ensure fast take-up. UBC is continuing to undertake research projects with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC and the University of Bradford.

UBC’s innovative battery products are designed for a sustainable economy. Locally-sourced materials with a high recycled content are used and, at end of life, up to 95% of material is recovered for re-use. The manufacturing process is highly efficient and uses innovative techniques to ensure quality and minimise waste. UBC will make use of renewable energy generation across the operations to minimise carbon footprint.

Wanting to address the lack of effective renewable energy storage, UBC has developed DuophasicSTOR. This technology is designed to store generated renewable energy until it is needed, increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be used while eliminating waste.

The new Thurcroft site will also house UBC’s innovation hub team of scientists and engineers, who will focus on bringing the advantages of UBC revolutionary technology into the development of the next generation of power trains for electric vehicles. A key part of the innovation hub will be the rapid prototype centre, reducing product development time from years to weeks for new battery applications.

Maurizio Cunningham Brown, Founder and Global CEO of UBC, said: “The site at Thurcroft is the ideal location for our first facility. It combines the benefits of local industry knowledge, good transport links, and a strong workforce ethic. It is close to our research partnership with the AMRC and The University of Bradford, as well as strongly supporting the commitment from the South Yorkshire MCA to net zero manufacturing. It is a quantum leap for the company and will support the government’s objectives to achieve net zero and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”

Being a responsible and caring organisation sits at the very heart of The Ultimate Battery Co’s core values and, as such, the company has pledged a proportion of its annual production to help communities in emerging economies.

UBC believes that innovative energy technologies should not be the sole preserve of the richest nations. The company believes in democratising energy and sees energy as the ‘glue’ that helps people to achieve more. A major pillar of UBC, BrightSpark has been created to develop collaborations and initiatives to make that goal a reality.

Ultimate Battery Company website

Images: Ultimate Battery Company

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News: Positive signs of £28m battery production plant opening in Rotherham

The signs are that the Ultimate Battery Company is set to power a brighter future for Rotherham by creating hundreds of jobs in its new production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries.

Rothbiz reported in March regarding the support that the Manchester firm had received from South Yorkshire bodies during its search for a factory location.

A planning application has recently been submitted for new signage for the Ultimate Battery Company at a site at New Orchard Lane, Thurcroft, Rotherham.

The company, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions through transformative new technologies and energy storage solutions, will anchor its manufacturing base in the region following a pledge of financial support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and help from the Department of International Trade (DIT).

£5.2m from the SYMCA's "gainshare" pot has been allocated to support the Ultimate Battery Company, who have previously said that it would invest £28m setting up a UK production plant. SYMCA marked the project down as an investment in Rotherham in its budget documents last month.

The SYMCA pledged financial support to enable the firm to set up a new research and development centre and manufacturing facility in the region to develop lighter, more energy dense batteries for the automotive sector and is set to create 495 new jobs.

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In addition to the financial support, the company worked with the University of Sheffield’s engineering students and its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) during the research phase.

The Ultimate Battery Company aims to deliver a new battery that provides Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enables twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and provides a faster charging rate. These batteries would significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, driving down CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, welcomed the news. He said: "The Ultimate Battery Company, with their innovative green energy technology, is set to create hundreds of jobs after announcing plans for a new production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries.

"Along with the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley continuing to expand and high-skilled manufacturers like United Caps bringing skilled jobs to Dinnington, the future is looking positive for bringing more opportunities to Rother Valley."

Ultimate Battery Company website

Images: AMRC

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News: Launch of eco-friendly flower farm a blooming success for Rotherham entrepreneur

A Rotherham entrepreneur who faced months of financial uncertainty after she was furloughed during the pandemic has turned her gardening hobby into a blooming business with the launch of an eco-friendly flower farm.

Like many people, Liz Baxter was worried about what the future had in store when she was unable to carry out her usual work as an Executive Assistant due to the restrictions put in place during the Covid-19 crisis.

Instead of waiting to see what would happen, she was inspired to launch Side Farm Flowers which produces sustainable British flowers using environmentally friendly solutions including a cold greenhouse, and water sourced from a borehole.

The farm also houses some beehives nearby which pollinate the flowers and the honey is then also sold at the farm.

Based in Thurcroft, the business is already on track for expansion just four months after its launch, with Liz partnering with eco-florist, Hannah Jackson from The Garden of Evie, to accommodate more orders from event planners and venues that stage occasions such as weddings, baby showers and hen dos.

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To meet with the growing demand Liz has now invested in further materials and equipment to allow her to increase production, having secured a Kickstart grant from UKSE - a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, but which also provides support to start-ups.

Looking to the future, Liz has ambitions to run workshops on the farm, to open a ‘pick your own flowers’ field for customers, to open a farm shop, and to purchase a small tractor.

Speaking on the success of the business so far Liz said: “It has been a real dream come true to start up the flower farm.

“The support from the local community has been tremendous, and I have been overwhelmed by how popular the produce is proving to be with customers at markets, country shows and at the farm itself.

“Thanks to the UKSE Kickstart grant I have also now been able to invest in additional equipment and materials which will allow me to increase production, facilitating the farm’s further expansion in the coming months.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE, said: “We’re so glad to see Liz’s passion for sustainable flower farming shine through and become a successful business model.

“We wish her all the best for the future and can’t wait to see what direction she takes the business in.”

Side Farm Flowers Facebook page
UKSE website

Images: UKSE

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News: Plans for new Rotherham solar energy park

Plans for an innovative renewable energy generation and storage project in Rotherham.

Independent renewable energy firm Banks Renewables is developing a planning application for a new solar energy park on a 116-hectare piece of agricultural land to the west of the Todwick Road Industrial Estate in Dinnington, around three miles east of Banks’ Penny Hill wind farm at Ulley.

After undergoing a detailed land search, the Common Farm site was identified as having the best opportunity to create a solar farm that links directly into the nearby electricity substation.

The Common Farm solar project would have an installed capacity of up to 50MW, which would be enough to meet the annual energy requirements of up to 18,800 family homes and would displace over 11,470 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network each year.

A 50MW battery energy storage system linking directly into the Thurcroft electricity sub-station around three kilometres to the north of the site would also form part of the project and would help to support the long-term security of energy supplies to UK consumers.

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As part of the company’s policy of delivering tangible benefits to the places in which its operations are based, at least £50,000 of the revenues generated by the Common Farm project would be made available every year as part of a package to support local good causes. This equates to more than £2m through the lifetime of the project.

A detailed ecology and biodiversity strategy is also being developed to ensure the site delivers a net benefit in biodiversity to the local community.

Banks Renewables is expecting to submit a planning application to Rotherham Council for the new scheme in the coming months, with a view to it being determined before the end of the year.

A leaflet containing comprehensive information on the project will be delivered to around 11,000 local homes in the coming days, while a dedicated project website has also been set up to ensure information on the scheme is easily available.

Banks Renewables is one of the leading owner/operators in the UK’s onshore wind sector and has a total of 11 operational sites across northern England and Scotland, four of which are in Yorkshire.

Lewis Stokes, senior community relations manager at The Banks Group, says: “Maximising the production of renewable energy from domestic sources is a crucial part of the UK’s ongoing journey towards its Net Zero targets, especially within the current energy security climate, and the Common Farm solar scheme will further extend the contribution that we’re able to make locally towards reaching these goals.

“The project is located in an area that we know very well, and having conducted a detailed search, we identified this site as providing the best opportunity to create a solar park that links directly into the Thurcroft substation.”

Jill Askew, solar and flex project manager at Banks Renewables, adds: “As more sources of renewable energy are connected to the system, more innovative ways of storing the electricity they produce will be required.

“Peaks of energy demand usually take place in the morning and early evening, but this is not necessarily when renewable energy is being generated.

“The battery energy storage system at Common Farm would help to ensure reliable, stable and balanced electricity grid operation at times of peak demand and would support the UK’s continuing drive towards its Net Zero ambitions.”

Banks Group website

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News: Council assesses further sanctions for Rotherham's rogue landlords

Rotherham Council is considering the use of Banning Orders to crack down on rogue private landlords.

The authority already operates a selective licencing policy in a number of areas where a licence fee for each property must be paid for by the landlord or agent and where each licence contains a set of conditions that the landlord must meet.

Through this work and "recent targeted operations" the council's cabinet is now being asked to approve a policy that includes further sanctions to address persistent or serious offences.

If approved, landlords could be banned from renting out residential properties if found guilty of offences including unlawful eviction, overcrowding, using false or misleading information, and fire or gas safety offences.

Banning Orders became law at the end of 2018 and are for a minimum of 12 months. When an order is made, it prevents an individual from letting property, or engaging in agency or property management work related to privately rented property anywhere in the England. Individuals are also prohibited from transferring assets, including to their family and/or associates.

A breach would constitute an offence which could result in imprisonment or a fine.

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A report to cabinet state: "Strategic Housing within Adult Care, Housing and Public Health have noted that the potential to use Banning Orders are a necessary tool to improve the private rented sector and protect tenants. The Service has seen an increase in unregulated and /or unaccredited agents and landlords advertising rented properties through social media, without any appropriate letting background.

"A number of landlords have now, as a result of Selective Licensing, been found to be in breach of relevant legislation.

"This policy will offer the Council the means to take action against landlords and agents who have been convicted of certain offences, and who routinely offer poor housing, often to the poorest and most vulnerable in society."

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

Images: South Yorkshire Police / twitter

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News: Rotherham firm sold to employee-owned trust

Build-Lite (UK) Ltd, a Rotherham-based supplier to the construction industry, has sold the shares in the holding company to an employee-owned trust formed for the benefit of the company's 15 strong workforce.

The company, which was incorporated in 2012 and is based at Thurcroft, develops, manufactures and supplies a range of innovative building products and creative architectural mouldings. In March 2019, Build-Lite (UK) Ltd was awarded the British Board of Agrément (BBA) certificate for Future Found – its UK-manufactured revolutionary insulated foundation system.

The company’s construction materials significantly reduce build-time, improve the carbon footprint and reduce handling and storage costs. They also offer a range of fast-track building products to provide cost-effective solutions to many of the commercial, financial and environmental challenges encountered by architects and developers in their construction projects.

Build-Lite (UK) Ltd used Sheffield-based firm Mackenzie Spencer, who offer a complete transaction service which incorporates both corporate finance and corporate legal advice and is led by Chris Sellars and Samantha Sellars.

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Paul Goodlad, Director and former majority shareholder of Build-Lite (UK) Ltd and Architectural Decorative Facades Ltd, said: “Following a recommendation from our existing accountant, using Mackenzie Spencer to cover all the financial and legal matters ensured the transaction was completed quickly with all appropriate advice provided by one company. This was extremely helpful when you are busy trying to keep the day-to-day business going through the sale process.”

Paul remains a director of the companies and has also become a director of the newly formed trustee company to assist the new employee group and provide support to the new Managing Director that Build-Lite are looking to appoint.

Paul added: “The success and growth of Build-Lite (UK) Ltd and Architectural Decorative Facades Ltd would have been impossible without the contribution of our employees. Succession planning is always at the forefront of our thinking and we felt confident that this was the right step for us. We are now looking to build a new management team to drive forward the business whilst rewarding all employees for all their efforts in getting the company to this stage.”

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Chris Sellars, Managing Director of Mackenzie Spencer, said: “Following getting to know both Paul and Trevor throughout this process, we are delighted to have assisted them in their exit. Whilst not appropriate for all companies, the desire that Paul and Trevor had to reward and empower the staff that have helped them grow Build-Lite meant it ticked a lot of boxes for them. We are sure that under the new ownership, the company will continue to thrive with a truly engaged, motivated and collective workforce all reaping the benefits of that success.”

The trust was advised by the Leonard Curtis legal team, led by Jonathan Roberts and Jennifer Moore.

Build-Lite (UK) Ltd website

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News: New Indian restaurant opening in Rotherham

A new Indian restaurant has arrived in Rotherham and is ready to set tastebuds alight.

Experienced entrepreneur brothers, Mamun and Masum Ali (pictured), whose Goa Spice franchise has restaurants established across South and West Yorkshire, have set up their latest creative dining endeavour in Thurcroft.

Mamun said: “We are very excited to be expanding our reach into a great new location in Thurcroft. Goan cuisine consists of regional foods of the Goan state, which is located along India’s west coast on the shore of the Arabian Sea. It is sure to spice things up in Thurcroft.”

Purchased by local Entrepreneur and CEO of Gala Tent, Jason Mace, in 2013, the Double Barrel has long served the area as a steakhouse bar and restaurant. The venue, which is also licenced, will serve Indian lager on draught, plus a range of additional bottled refreshments and a selection of wines from around the world.

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Masum added: “We will be investing over £60,000 in new specialist kitchen equipment, mood lighting and authentic décor, everything down to the tablecloths are really high end as we want to compliment the building as much as possible. The menu is extensive, and we believe we have created affordable luxury for the local community to enjoy.”

“Our chefs have a real passion for creating quality Goan spicy food using fresh ingredients that will spice up you’re evening. To add further value, we will be offering a collection and delivery service so you can enjoy Goan cuisine in the comfort of your own home.

Mace added: "I have worked with Mamun and Masum previously with their Mexborough outlet within the Empress Building, which has been a phenomenal success due to the classic location and of course the amazing food they create.

"The Double Barrel will prove to be a much larger scale operation, as it is a huge venue which seats around 140 inside, and there’s space outside for more than 70 additional seats, so any COVID 19 retractions should not hold this restaurant back. The venue genuinely is one of a kind and specialises in large party bookings and exclusive room hire-out."

The Double Barrel was built in 1971 and since then has been a well patronised venue and large part of the community. The new themed Goa Indian restaurant and takeaways will certainly spice things thing up for locals and wider-field visitors alike.

A grand opening is scheduled for June 2021.

Goa Spice Facebook page

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News: "UK’s largest battery" now live in Rotherham

Gresham House Energy Storage Fund and flexible energy specialist Flexitricity have announced that the UK's largest battery is now live.

Edinburgh based Flexitricity is optimising the Gresham House c.50MW / 75MWh battery, located in Thurcroft, Rotherham, generating revenue for the site while helping National Grid ESO balance supply and demand.

The project will trade the lithium-ion battery storage site in the wholesale markets and tender for frequency response services to help meet the nation’s energy needs and optimise revenue for the site. Flexitricity took the asset into National Grid ESO’s new Dynamic Containment frequency response service on day one and has been securing daily contracts at high value ever since.

The UK now boasts around 1GW installed battery storage capacity and the market needs further growth to facilitate a net zero energy system.

Andy Lowe, Director at Flexitricity, said: "Flexibility is a hugely important part of decarbonising the grid and batteries are an excellent source of flexibility. Investors are getting comfortable with the business case for energy storage and it’s great this year to be seeing a number of large batteries coming onto the system, providing more of the rapid response flexibility National Grid ESO needs to maintain system stability.

"In today’s markets, maximising value for battery assets requires a huge amount of expertise and agility. We have a proven track record here, and we’re delighted that Gresham House has entrusted us to optimize a number of their sites, including the flagship Thurcroft battery.

"I’m glad to say we’re off to a great start and have been able to optimise revenue for the battery across a range of markets, including securing high prices in the first ever tender round of the newly launched Dynamic Containment service."

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Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc, the UK's largest operational utility-scale battery storage fund, recently completed its investment in the 50MW battery project. It was acquired for a total enterprise value of £32.5m.

John Leggate CBE, Chair of Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc, said: "Thurcroft is our largest battery project yet and we're delighted that it's now live. The dynamic fluctuations in power on the National Grid during lockdown, and the unassailable rise of wind and solar installations, have sharpened the focus on the need for fast-acting, flexible storage at scale. We're rising to this challenge by building and switching on more capacity, as the government and National Grid introduce new revenue opportunities that incentivise the wider use of battery storage in balancing the UK power system."

Ben Guest, managing director at Gresham House, added: "We have plans to grow our energy storage portfolio, aiming for over 350MW in operational assets by the end of 2020. Great Britain needs at least 10GW in the next few years to enable the orderly transition to a renewables-led electricity market.

"In turn, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the UK’s 2050 net zero ambitions, while achieving strong returns for our investors.

"We divide our storage projects between a range of optimisation partners and decided to entrust Flexitricity with Thurcroft having worked with them successfully on a previous project."

Flextricity website

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News: Apprentice raises £6,000 for Coronavirus response

A big-hearted University Centre Rotherham (UCR) apprentice who has combined her busy NHS management role with studying towards a Level 5 Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship, has been instrumental in leading her local community's response to the Coronavirus crisis by raising over £6,000 worth of donations and delivering over 250 food parcels.

Cath McCartan, who has worked in the NHS for over 25 years, has excelled since starting her apprenticeship in May 2018.

The apprenticeship, delivered in partnership with RNN Training, combines on-the-job experience with off-the-job training and has seen Cath gain a Foundation Degree in Professional Practice in Health and Social Care, change the focus of her work, and receive a promotion to become Service Support Manager for Out Patients and Support Services.

Since March 2020, Cath has combined the challenge of working for the NHS with leading a team of volunteers in response to Coronavirus. The team work to ensure that Thurcroft residents in need of support receive it. She credits some of the leadership skills she has gained on her apprenticeship with being able to coordinate a team of volunteers in the village.

Cath explained: "I've always tried to be involved in community activity as I think it’s really important. Coronavirus has had such an impact on so many people, and I knew there would be people in the community that needed support.

"I worked with the Parish Council to see what grants and funding were available to support our efforts. I think this is where what I have learnt on the apprenticeship was so useful. I knew how to communicate and show that I would be accountable for our activity. The other skills my apprenticeship has given me was in knowing what to delegate.

"We set up a Facebook page so that residents could get in touch and let us know that they needed support, or that they had neighbours who needed help. I knew that I had to delegate that to somebody who is a bit savvier with technology than I am to get the best from it. We were able to set-up donations and the local community donated over £6,000 to the cause.

"I hope that our volunteering has helped people through these tough times. We've had a buddy system, and we've been making phone calls and delivering shopping and medicine to those who were self-isolating. We have also prepared and delivered food parcels for those in need."

As well as coordinating the volunteer response to Coronavirus in Thurcroft, Cath has also secured over £20,000 worth of funding for the local football team, Thurcroft Miners Institute FC. The funding will help with improvements to the pitches and provide half-price football for the team’s players when they can safely return to training and playing matches.

RNN Training Healthcare Tutor and Assessor Wendy Flynn, a former NHS nurse, has taught Cath throughout her apprenticeship.

Wendy said: "I am so proud of Cath not only for the tremendous progress she has made on her apprenticeship and in her career but also the huge role she plays in her community.

"The demands that have been put on the NHS service over the last few months are immense, but Cath is a shining example of the type of personality you need to be successful in healthcare.

"She is so big-hearted; her communication and interpersonal skills are excellent and her work ethic is outstanding."

Images: Thurcroft Coronavirus Action Group / Facebook

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News: Council's proposals for extending selective licensing in Rotherham

Rotherham Council is reviewing its selective licensing scheme before they come to the end of the first five year period during which licences have been required.

The powers are used in four areas where a licence fee for each property must be paid for by the landlord or agent and where each licence contains a set of conditions that the landlord must meet.

The aim is to tackle the low housing demand and significant and persistent levels of antisocial behaviour related to the private rented sector and gives the Council greater powers to intervene where problems arise.

A consultation is required on extending the licences and the authority is also proposing to add parts of the "Little London" estate in Maltby to the designated area.

The move comes as the Council's cabinet agreed to add two further selective licensing areas covering over 400 privately rented properties in parts of Thurcroft and Parkgate.

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Cllr Dominic Beck, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing said: "Selective licensing improves the standard of housing for entire neighbourhoods. It leads to more reliable, longer term tenancies; higher quality and safer housing standards; reduced levels of homelessness; and increased property and rent values which in turn helps create greater community cohesion."

He added there is a high reliance on the private sector for housing in both Thurcroft and Parkgate as there is high unemployment, poor health, and higher levels of crime than the average.

In all of the designated areas, some 2,367 houses, the Council has been able to licence 98% of private rented housing, with the remaining properties being subject to enforcement action, to either ensure the property is licensed, or deliver a criminal or civil penalty for failing to licence.

RMBC website

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News: More land in Rotherham needed for HS2

HS2 Ltd has confirmed that it will need more land in order to construct the high speed rail route through Rotherham, adding more sites to its "safeguarding areas."

Rothbiz reported last year on the details released as part of a consultation which highlighted that more land is needed during construction. It described the design of the railway and reported on the impacts of its construction and operation.

As the bills make their way through Parliament, design work has continued on how the line may look, from box tunnels, cuttings and embankments, to bridges and viaducts. Now further consultation is underway and new maps confirm the land required in the borough for construction compounds and road realignments.

Safeguarding is a planning tool to help the Government and HS2 Ltd protect the land that may be needed to build and operate the railway from conflicting development. Also guiding planning authorities, property owners within the safeguarding area can serve a Blight Notice asking the Secretary of State for Transport to buy their property prior to it being needed for construction of HS2.

In July 2017, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the preferred route for the £55.7 billion HS2 project from Crewe to Manchester and from the West Midlands to Leeds (known as Phase 2b). A spur to Sheffield is included and the fast route to Leeds would go through the East of Rotherham and would affect Wales, Aston, Ulley, Brampton-en-le–Morthen, Thurcroft, Bramley, Ravenfield and Hooton Roberts.

The maps show that greenbelt land at Waleswood that developers had identified for commercial development is needed by HS2. Where a viaduct is proposed at Aston, land has been safeguarded for a brand new section of the road in Aston Conservation Area to run on fields between the Grade II listed Aston Hall Hotel and the cricket club to join the A57 Aston bypass close to Aston ponds.

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At Thurcroft, safeguarding areas have been extended as further road realignments are proposed. Morthen Road is set to be realigned to cross above the new railway and motorway to maintain access between Thurcroft and Wickersley. On farmland adjacent to the Nine Trees Trading Estate, a new roundabout and realigned road would link to Brampton Road close to the Consort Hotel.

The new maps show the hotel left out of the safeguarding area whilst land all around it for the new roads is included (pictured).

Further land is required where a wind turbine stands in the way of the route at Ulley, and around a proposed viaduct over the M1 / M18 junction. At Bramley, farm land off Slacks Lane has been added to the safeguarding area with the land required for a construction compound.

Documents from HS2 state: "Although safeguarding for the Phase 2b route was only introduced in 2017, it was based on plans which pre-dated the Working Draft Environmental Statement designs that were subject to consultation in October 2018 and which provide draft environmental information for the Phase 2b route. Whilst the corridor of the route was protected by the Safeguarding Directions, many accompanying sites, particularly those a short distance from the HS2 line of route, fell outside the safeguarded area.

"Due to the interaction between safeguarding and the consultation on the Working Draft Environmental Statement and the proposed route design refinements, updated and revised Safeguarding Directions have now been issued to reflect these route changes."

A Northern Loop is yet to be confirmed connecting Sheffield Midland back to the HS2 line heading to and from Leeds. The latest maps show large amounts of land added to the safeguarding area around Clayton and Thurnscoe where HS2 Ltd have been assuming a that a junction between HS2 and the existing network would be constructed.

A Parkway station, which would bring big benefits to South Yorkshire, has also not yet been confirmed.

In its response to the previous consultation, Rotherham Council made it clear that it does not support HS2's revised alignment of the Birmingham to Leeds leg, calling on the Government to abandon the current scheme between Birmingham and Leeds immediately.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: HS2 Ltd

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News: Council progresses plans for expanding selective licensing

Rotherham Council is progressing plans to extend its selective licensing scheme to Parkgate and Thurcroft to tackle the low housing demand and significant and persistent levels of antisocial behaviour related to the private rented sector.

Rothbiz reported last year that the authority was considering extending the powers which are already used in four areas where a licence fee for each property must be paid for by the landlord or agent and where each licence contains a set of conditions that the landlord must meet.

Over 2,000 Rotherham properties in Eastwood, Masbrough, Dinnington and Maltby are registered on the current scheme, around 90% of all licensable property, and the Council reports that it has seen "significant successes in improving housing conditions to make properties safer for our most deprived communities."

The issue is set to be discussed by the Council's cabinet next week and would involve over 400 privately rented properties in parts of Thurcroft and Parkgate.

If the proposals are agreed, all private landlords in these designated areas will be legally required to have a licence for any rented house they operate and to make sure that they meet their obligations to provide appropriate housing. Amongst these are obligations relating to the safety and security of the property, taking steps to deal with anti-social behaviour, and maintaining the appearance of the property.

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Landlords would also be supported in ensuring their tenants meet their responsibilities to their properties and neighbourhood. Selective Licensing gives the Council greater powers to intervene where problems arise.

70% of respondents to the Council's consultation in Parkgate and 64% in Thurcroft were in favour of a mandatory selective licensing scheme in each of the respective areas.

Cllr. Dominic Beck, Cabinet Member for Housing at Rotherham Council, said: "There is a high reliance on the private sector for housing in both Thurcroft and Parkgate, communities which face particular issues in terms of unemployment, poor health, and higher levels of crime than the average. We know that by improving housing conditions, we can have a direct impact on the quality of life for both tenants and others in the community, so I was pleased to see such strong support from local residents for the proposal.

"The first stage of our selective licensing scheme showed how by working with landlords we can have a big impact on housing conditions, but also be in a position to take enforcement action on those landlords who let their tenants down when we have to."

The costs to implement the scheme are set to be covered by the income received. A revised fee of £521 is proposed for a five year single occupied house Selective Licence, but with a reduction to £394 for high performing landlords.

Images: Google Maps

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