Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

News: Rotherham restaurants up for sale

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A range of restaurant businesses and buildings in Rotherham have gone up for sale.

At Stag, an established restaurant, takeaway and wine bar is up for sale. Agents say that it is a turnkey, profitable business with significant growth potential.

Although not mentioned by name, the images clearly show La Pondicherry Stag, one of Rotherham's leading Indian restaurants.

The particulars for the sale of the business, which has the leasehold listed for £95,000, states: "An exciting opportunity has arisen to acquire a well-established restaurant, takeaway and wine bar business in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, offering an excellent combination of strong trading performance, attractive premises, an established customer base and significant potential for further growth.

"The business has been successfully operated for approximately 10 years, building a loyal local following through quality food, excellent service and a welcoming dining experience. In addition to the established restaurant and takeaway operation, the premises also benefit from a fully completed upstairs wine bar with its own separate bar area and approximately 40 additional seats.

"The upstairs wine bar forms part of the overall business and is included in the sale. It provides an exciting additional hospitality space that can be developed for wine and drinks service, private parties, functions, events and other occasions.

"The current owner is now looking to sell due to personal circumstances and forthcoming medical treatment. This is therefore a genuine opportunity for a new owner to take over an established and profitable operation with multiple areas for future development."

The advert adds that: "The current owner has made the difficult decision to sell due to personal circumstances and forthcoming medical treatment, making it no longer possible to dedicate the time and commitment required to continue operating the business."

Also at Stag, the nearby property containing Lilia Bistro is listed as being under offer. The 991 sq ft property, which only last year changed from Willows, and was previously Cuccini's, was up for sale for £145,000. The business was not for sale but the particulars state that a three year lease was signed in June 2023.

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At Wales, The property containing the Asia Palace has been put up for sale via auction.

The freehold has been given a guide price of £150,000 by auctioneers BTG Eddisons.

Described as a substantial mixed use property in excess of 5,000 sq ft, the lot includes a ground floor restaurant premises including a bar and large dining areas, customer toilets plus a catering kitchen and prep areas.

The Cantonese restaurant near to Rother Valley and the Waleswood campsite is currently closed with the particulars adding: "The freehold title is currently subject to a 15 year lease dated 16th June 2022, however we have been advised it has been agreed between the seller and the tenant that this will be surrendered before completion."

Also in Rotherham, Veritas Business Sales is listing a pub restaurant in a "desirable semi-rural location between Rotherham and Worksop" as being available for sale.

The freehold has been given a guide price of £599,995. The purchase of the leasehold going concern is also an option.

The advert states: "Believed to date back in excess of 300 years, this historic property is one of the village's most recognisable and characterful buildings. Having stood at the heart of the local community for centuries, the property successfully blends period charm with modern trading facilities, creating a destination venue that enjoys an outstanding reputation for quality food, excellent service and a welcoming atmosphere.

"The property underwent a comprehensive refurbishment in 2020 at a cost of in excess of £500,000, transforming the business into the impressive venue seen today. More recently, the current owner has invested a further £120,000 over the past two months, installing brand-new commercial catering equipment, carrying out extensive internal redecoration and completely refurbishing the spacious two-bedroom owner's accommodation, including the installation of a brand-new fitted kitchen. As a result, the property is presented to an exceptional standard throughout, allowing a purchaser to continue trading immediately without the need for further capital expenditure."

Although listed as a confidential sale, property websites have the location as Brampton-en-le-Morthern, whose only pub is the Rising Deer.

The listing states that 70% of turnover is generated from food sales with the restaurant accommodating around 60 diners, whilst the business consistently serves in excess of 100 covers every Sunday.

BTG Eddisons website
Veritas website

Images: La Pondicherry / instagram / BTG

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Tuesday, March 4, 2025

News: The key Rotherham sites along a restored Chesterfield Canal

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A newly published masterplan for the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal includes details of key sections through the Rotherham borough, and big opportunities for Kiveton and Rother Valley Country Park.

The vision is for the Chesterfield Canal corridor to be reclaimed as a place for the local community to live, enjoy, and be employed; for tourists and visitors to come, play and stay; for new and existing businesses to grow and prosper; and for nature and biodiversity to thrive.

A new high level Strategic Outline Case covers the corridor between Chesterfield and Kiveton Park. It includes new canal and water-based opportunities and introduces a range of activities to attract tourists and local residents.

Opening in 1777, the route passes Chesterfield, Retford, Worksop and Gainsborough. Partners and stakeholders have been restoring the waterway for a number of years but in the south of the Rotherham borough restoration work remains to be done. In 1907 a collapse in the Norwood Tunnel close to Kiveton severed the length from Chesterfield to Killamarsh from the national network. There now remains approximately 8.5 miles of the canal to be restored between Staveley and Kiveton Park to make the canal fully navigable once more.

In the new business case, 18 different hubs have been identified along the canal corridor, each with potential project ideas.

At Kiveton in Rotherham, the masterplan sets out how improving transport links and train services at Kiveton Park Station, alongside a restored canal, could open up nearby areas for a £100m redevelopment. The plans state that the former Wireworks and Astone Works sites "represents a significant economic regeneration opportunity. The land is allocated in the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Local plan as industry and business; however exploring mixed use with residential should not be discounted, these would potentially help sustain an enhanced link with the railway, with the canal and cycle networks providing the leisure opportunities for residents."

Kiveton Waters is also included in the masterplan. Here potential interventions centre on transforming existing fishing ponds into a marina. The site of the former Kiveton Park Colliery has been transformed into a natural landscape but the future could include a marina and relocated fishing ponds with a new cafe / cycle / kayak hire building. An enhanced country park at Kiveton could host new cycling and walking trails, boat trips and outdoor community events.

The site is over the collapsed Norwood Tunnel and pragmatic restoration would see the sound part of the tunnel from Kiveton Park in use to emerge and follow a surface route through the country park via locks. An idicative cost for Kiveton Waters is between £9m and £16m.

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The masterplan also mentions land between Kiveton Community Woodland and the M1, south of Wales where a new surface route for the Chesterfield Canal would cross the motorway using an existing underpass. Authors say that with a new surface canal, the greenbelt site "holds potential for a mixed-use development that combines residential and commercial facilities" with a £41m cost.

Another option includes constructing a new, shorter tunnel under the M1 with greenspace preserved, and has a more modest cost of £5.7m.

West of the M1, and still in the Rotherham borough, the £4.1m restoration of Norwood Locks would involve extensive work to repair and rebuild the thirteen locks, making them navigable once more. Other interventions at this significant heritage feature on the edge of Nor Wood involve using a former water powered mill as a heritage centre and workshops, enhancing the old tunnel mouth and introducing an Arts and Interpretation Trail.

At Rother Valley, a popular country park in Rotherham, Nethermoor Lake would be utilised for the canal route due to the development of housing on the original route through Killamarsh.

Potential interventions in the masterplan include the development of a marina and mooring facilities. The plan states: "The link would connect the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation, Gulliver’s and Rother Valley Country Park with the Chesterfield Canal. This would promote tourism, and support economic development, potentially making Rother Valley and Nethermoor Lake a key junction in the network of restored waterways."

A significant engineering solution proposed for Nethermoor Lake at Rother Valley is the construction of a boat lift (sketch,top), similar to the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland. The plans state that the lift would be a quick and visually striking way to move boats, adding: "If implemented, the boat lift could become an iconic feature, drawing visitors and boosting local tourism and education as STEM demonstration project. However, the feasibility, costs, and long-term maintenance of such a structure would need weighed up in a cost / benefit analysis. The alternative and more pragmatic option [is] for a series of 6 - 8 locks."

The boat lift option has an idicative cost of £24m and the locks, £3m.

The Chair of the Partnership, Cllr Alex Dale, said: “Those of us who are close to the mission to restore the rest of the Chesterfield Canal, inherently know there are huge benefits economically, socially, environmentally and for the health and wellbeing of our local population. But as a partnership, it’s vital that we communicate the huge potential of a fully restored and navigable canal more publicly, especially for potential funders, to help secure the significant sums needed to finish the job. That is exactly what this new masterplan is all about."

Chesterfield Canal Partnership website

Images: Focus Consultants / Sigma Architects / Canal & River Trust

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Friday, September 20, 2024

News: Contractor selected for £60m Rotherham school rebuild

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Public consultation is underway on a £60m state of the art refurbishment at Wales High School in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2022 that Wales High School was one of 61 schools across the country to receive state of the art rebuilds or refurbishments that will transform education for their pupils.

With funding from the Government's School Rebuilding Programme the main school building at Wales is set to be completely rebuilt into a state-of-the-art facility. Since the announcement was made, the school has been working with the Department for Education (DfE) to agree on the educational design of the project and the timeframe for delivery.

DfE has chosen BAM as their preferred contractor for the project. BAM, will shortly be submitting a planning application for the development and have begun asking for views on the proposed development before finalising the detailed design.

Sharing the designs, the school said: "The existing school will be replaced and refurbished with energy-efficient designs with high sustainability standards and will be net-zero in operation. The project will transform the learning environment, supporting teachers to deliver high-quality education, so that students gain the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need to succeed.

"The works includes providing new hard and soft sports areas. The new teaching accommodation includes general teaching and science classrooms, together with a new main kitchen and dining space."

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Building work is due to begin in 2025 and the new building is expected to be completed in summer 2027. Demolition of the redundant buildings will follow, with all building works anticipated to be complete in Autumn 2027.

The project has been carefully planned to ensure the school can remain fully operational throughout construction and ensure minimal impact on neighbours.

A public forum is being held at the site on September 26 2024 at 4:15 – 7:15 pm.

Previously in the borough, BAM Construct UK was awarded a £10.9m contract to upgrade Maltby Academy. It also built the Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) for Rolls-Royce and the NUclear AMRC, both on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Last year, Rothbiz reported that Swinton Acadamy in the north of the borough had also been successful in the School Rebuilding Programme.

Wales High School website

Images: BAM

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Wednesday, July 13, 2022

News: Rotherham school to receive state of the art refurbishment

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Wales High School in Rotherham has been successful in the next phase of the Government's School Rebuilding Programme.

61 schools across the country are set to receive state of the art rebuilds or refurbishments that will transform education for their pupils.

In his first announcement as Education Secretary, James Cleverly confirmed the investment to provide thousands of children access to new, modern classrooms as part of the Government's School Rebuilding Programme.

The projects will be backed by over £1bn of funding and Wales is the first school in Rotherham of the 161 total projects announced so far.

Work to deliver the projects will start immediately. It will include updating and modernising buildings, and creating state of the art facilities such as new sports halls, music rooms, science labs and dining areas.

Education Secretary James Cleverly said: "Our School Rebuilding Programme is already making a difference to the lives of pupils and their teachers. It is creating greener school sites that are fit for the future and that local communities can be proud of.

"We know how important it is to have high-quality school facilities. That is why we continue to invest billions in our rebuilding programme."

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Wales High School will work with the Department for Education to agree on the educational design of the project and the timeframe for delivery.

The comprehensive school with sixth form is looking to create a school that "will replace what are now outdated and obsolete buildings with state-of-the-art facilities that future generations of our community will have the benefit."

Pepe Di’lasio, Headteacher at Wales high School, said: "I am absolutely delighted with today’s news. This is a historic moment for the young people, families, staff governors and wider community of Wales High School.

"For many years, the whole school community has been longing for an environment that meets the aspirations and ambitions that we share for one another and helps inspire the young people and future generations of our community. It is incredible to hear confirmation that our plans and dreams for a new school will finally be realised."

Alex Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, said he was also delighted with the funding announcement. He said: "After extensive talks with the then Secretary of State for Education I am pleased to see Rother Valley benefiting from major refurbishment and rebuilding of the school. I look forward to seeing this over the coming months!"

£98m worth of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects at Abbey SEN, Aston, Hilltop SEN, Milton, Oakwood, St Pius and Swinton in Rotherham were stopped by the coalition government in 2010. Maltby Academy, progressed a major revamp in 2012 and later Oakwood High School made it onto the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP), carrying out a £12.2m refurbishment in 2016.

Wales High School website

Images: Wales High School

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Tuesday, July 12, 2022

News: Gulliver’s Valley celebrates second anniversary and looks forward to exciting future

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It’s been a two-year roller coaster ride with plenty of twists and turns – and now Gulliver’s Valley is set to accelerate into a thrilling future.

The family-friendly theme park resort based in Rotherham celebrated its two-year anniversary on July 11.

The park has proved a popular addition to the family leisure scene in South Yorkshire since opening its gates two years ago. It is the fourth and newest Gulliver’s Theme Park Resort in the UK, joining Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s World in Warrington.

The family business, which opened its first park, Gulliver’s Kingdom, in 1978, opened Gulliver’s Valley in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic and faced challenges from lockdowns and other restrictions.

But Gulliver’s Valley has bounced back impressively. Tens of thousands of families have flocked to its more than 30 rides and attractions, which include Apache Falls, the Ghostly Galleon pirate ship and Lost Jurassic World area.

The resort is now looking forward to a first full summer season without restrictions and has a host of special events planned including visits from favourite children’s characters like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

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Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, said: “The past two years have been a challenging time for everyone, and it was certainly far from ideal to open a people-focused business during the height of the pandemic!

“But our fantastic staff have remained dedicated and determined throughout and we are so excited about the summer season ahead. As well as being thankful to our staff, we are so grateful for the support and warm welcome we have received from the wonderful Rotherham community and countless families who have visited Gulliver’s Valley.

“Having come through the past two years, this is now an exciting time for the business. We are continuing to grow and always looking for ways to enhance our offering to provide families with even more magical moments and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Aimed at children between the ages of two and 13, Gulliver’s Valley is based on 250 acres and boasts a variety of unique accommodation options for short breaks. These include Unicorn and Princess Suites, Western Cabins and Lost World Lodges.

Built on land adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park, Gulliver's was the third time Rotherham Council chose a developer for the site of the former Brookhouse Colliery.

Gulliver's went on to purchase approximately 250 acres of the 330 acres available and has already had outline plans approved for further phases - more themed areas, hotels and accommodation, a woodland adventure centre and an ecology and education centre. It is a five-phase development spanning 12 years.

As part of a successful £23m Levelling Up bid, a new Skills Village (£1m required for a £1.6m project) is being created at Gulliver's Valley Resort focusing on training, development, and accreditation within the hospitality and leisure sector.

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

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Monday, November 9, 2020

News: Plans in for £24m development at Vector 31

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Proposals that would deliver a quarter of a million sq ft of industrial development in a popular commercial location in Rotherham have been submitted.

Network Space has submitted a planning application to Rotherham Borough Council for a £24m industrial development at Vector 31 at Waleswood, close to Junction 31 of the M1.

Rothbiz reported in 2017 that "Vector 31 West" could be created on a 8.8 hectare parcel of land on the west side of Mansfield Road (A618). The site, next to Gulliver's Valley, Greencore and over the road from LuK, has been backfilled following open cast coal mining operations and development platforms have already been created.

The outline planning submission sets out proposals for up to 254,000 sq ft of E, B2 and B8 employment space on an 8.8 hectare site. Indicative plans submitted with the application show two options with seven or nine self-contained, detached units ranging from 12,500 sq ft to 75,000 sq ft, with design and build opportunities also available.

The development could create in excess of 500 jobs once completed.

Simon Eaton, development manager at Network Space, said: "Vector 31 West can provide a wide range of industrial accommodation which will appeal to smaller workspace occupiers through to distribution centre requirements. Given the strong location and market demand, we intend to commence with a first phase of speculative units as soon as possible, whilst maintaining our ability to deliver larger units on a design and build basis.

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"The success of our earlier development at Vector 31 demonstrates that this is one of the Yorkshire region’s most sought after locations, offering a strategic central distribution route close to the M1 as well as easy access to Rotherham and Sheffield. The development will therefore serve to meet regional market requirements as well as national occupier needs."

Rebecca Schofield, partner at Knight Frank, added: "We are continuing to see strong interest for industrial and warehouse space across the South Yorkshire region, the quality of accommodation which Network Space will offer to the market will no doubt prove popular to satisfy demand."

Network Space has a long history with this former colliery site having delivered more than 160,000 sq ft of industrial space across two phases at the adjacent Vector 31 development. The first phase was fully occupied within a year of completion in 2008 and is currently occupied by a range of national and international businesses, including parcel delivery giant Hermes.

The Vector 31 Networkcentre was sold in 2018 in a £91m deal to InfraRed Capital Partners Limited as part of a 1 million sq ft portfolio of 25 industrial sites and two development sites.

Architects for the scheme is Harris Partnership.

Knight Frank is appointed as agent and NSM will provide asset management services.

Network Space website

Images:

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Tuesday, August 4, 2020

News: Rotherham campsite up for awards

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Having only opened last year, the new £3.7m caravan site within the popular Rother Valley Country Park (RVCP) in Rotherham, has been shortlisted for a number of industry awards.

Six hectares within the Greenbelt site have been used to create an attractive caravan site with 163 pitches which complements the country park and combines with the leisure facilities.

The Waleswood Caravan & Camping Park has been shortlisted in three categories at the 2020 White Rose Awards.

Welcome to Yorkshire's White Rose Awards ceremony is an annual celebration of Yorkshire's brilliant businesses and amazing attractions and is the largest tourism awards ceremony in the UK. This year plans are in place for an exciting night to remember, in-line with Government guidelines, following COVID-19.

There are 17 categories in total for 2020 and the winner of each category will be ranked as gold, with the two runners up being rated silver and bronze.

Waleswood, which is operated by Rotherham Council, is in with a chance of being named the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year and is also in the running for the New Tourism Business Award and the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award.

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James Mason, cheif executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "Huge congratulations to everyone who has made it onto this year's shortlist of finalists for the White Rose Awards. The ceremony is one of Welcome to Yorkshire's fantastic flagship events and it will be a real privilege to be able to honour the shining stars of Yorkshire tourism, particularly during such a tough year for all in this hardworking sector.

"Once again, competition has been tough, with exceptionally high standards, incredible innovation and many excellent examples of business brilliance demonstrated across the county. This will be a fabulous opportunity to promote and celebrate all that's great about Yorkshire. Good luck to everyone!"

Elaine Lemm, chair of the White Rose Awards, added: "During a difficult year for so many, it's been such a positive experience for the White Rose Award's panel of prestigious industry-wide experts to see the excellent entries this year.

"The standard, has again, been incredibly impressive and has made choosing 2020 finalists pretty difficult. However, it’s truly inspiring to see the range of fabulous venues and wonderful attractions out there, offering such high levels of service in this beautiful county. As always, it is easy to see why Yorkshire has an outstanding and continued reputation for top-class tourism and hospitality excellence."

The Rotherham site has also been named as a finalist in the Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome Magazine Top 100 sites and reached the gold standard with The AA.

It has been a difficult first year of trading though, not least due to the COVID outbreak. Last summer, facilities at Rother Valley were restricted due to fears over toxic algae.

Waleswood Caravan & Camping Park website

Images: RMBC

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Friday, November 15, 2019

News: Professor Brian Cox set to star in Rotherham science school

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World renowned physicist and TV astronomer Professor Brian Cox will be the star name in Rotherham next year as a pioneering education event ventures North for the first time.

The London-based Science Summer School was established a decade ago by Lord Mawson with the scientist, writer and broadcaster in a bid to encourage careers in the UK’s science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) industries.

Rotherham has been chosen to host next year's northern expansion which takes place in November 2020, led by Well Rotherham and supported by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Rotherham and Sheffield councils and the Harworth Group.

Jack Forrest, from the AMRC STEM and Outreach Team, said: "We're really pleased Rotherham has been chosen as the location for this satellite event; it brings it to the heartland of advanced manufacturing.

"This event will allow us to highlight the opportunities that are on the doorstep for young people in Rotherham, such as the AMRC Training Centre, and shows we are a region committed to nurturing the future talent that is vital to ensure our engineering and manufacturing sectors can thrive."

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The announcement follows a trip in the summer organised by Well Rotherham which saw 23 pupils from local schools - Wath Academy, Wales High and Maltby Academy - journey down to London to take part in Prof Cox's science summer school, joining hundreds of other young people from across the country.

Kris MacKay, programme manager for Well Rotherham, said: "It was such a fantastic experience to be able to go to London. Watching these young people who are so passionate about the world of science start their journey as ambassadors was an incredible opportunity.

"Over the next year they'll be working together to help us co-produce the satellite event. This will be happening in November 2020 and it will be such a joy and privilege to have Professor Brian Cox come and join us."

As well as TED-style talks from special guest speakers, industry and academic leaders, and lots of hands-on workshops and experiments, an exposition will be held at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) working in partnership with local businesses on the Rotherham park including Rolls-Royce and McLaren, along with Gulliver's which is developing a theme park in the borough.

Kris added: "This isn't going to be a one-off event. Throughout the year we'll be working with our partner schools Wath Academy, Maltby Academy and Wales High to organise activities and events that continue to inspire the students."

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

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Tuesday, July 23, 2019

News: Study confirms no South Yorkshire parkway station on HS2 line

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A parkway station could be accommodated on the new high speed line through South Yorkshire but high costs and a lack of extra demand has lead HS2 Ltd to conclude that there is no case for one to be included in the multi-billion pound project.

A site at Wales in Rotherham was one of two remaining possible locations.

Following a contentious update, HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. The HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley. A northern loop from Sheffield joining the HS2 line has still yet to be confirmed.

In 2016 HS2 were asked to study possible sites for a parkway station but a report, due in 2017, has only just been published.

Alongside Wales, Bramley and Hooton Roberts in Rotherham, also on the shortlist was Mexborough, Hickleton and Clayton in Doncaster plus sites at Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam before the previously proposed new HS2 depot at Crofton in West Yorkshire.

Now additional work has been carried out on the M18 route which concludes that "HS2 Ltd has not been able to identify a clear economic or strategic case for the inclusion of a parkway station to serve the South Yorkshire market on the HS2 mainline."

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The work modeled potential demand for various scenarios to find out the impact on HS2 passenger numbers in South Yorkshire and the benefits to, and impacts on, the overall value for money assessment of the HS2 business case.

A station located on the conventional rail network north of Sheffield served by HS2 services appears to perform worse than HS2 mainline parkway station options in terms of passenger numbers. It does, however, show marginally positive increases in benefits and revenues to the overall value for money assessment of the HS2 business case.

Rothbiz reported last week that the Sheffield City Region's (SCR's) new rail plan confirms a preferred location of a site in Goldthorpe for a proposed new Barnsley Dearne Valley railway station. The latest report from HS2 Ltd shows that re-aligning the HS2 line to create a station in this area on a new intersection between the HS2 and conventional rail line is not being progressed.

Work carried out on the updated M18 route saw HS2 Ltd assess Wales in Rotherham and Hemsworth in West Yorkshire as potential parkway station locations.

Bramley was discounted as it would have no conventional rail connectivity, and would therefore not provide for integration with the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) network. Hooton Roberts was discounted as it would also require a new HS2 mainline alignment which would increase environmental impacts.
The proposed site at Wales (pictured, top) would be to the west of the M1 where the HS2 line is set to cross the classic railway line between Sheffield and Worksop, providing a link to the NPR network which aims to improve connections from Sheffield to Leeds and Sheffield to Manchester.

However, the required realignment of the HS2 mainline would result in increased impacts and significant costs. Infrastructure, tunnels and viaducts would increase the cost of the scheme on this part of the Phase 2b route by £386m. The documents add that fully providing a new parkway station at Wales, along with the associated changes that would be required to the HS2 mainline, would result in a cost increase in the region of £665m.

A station at Hemsworth would result in an increase in the region of £141m for the cost of scheme and fully providing a new parkway station would result in a cost increase in the region of £396m.

The 2017 documents also confirm that it could be beneficial to extend HS2 services from Sheffield to Meadowhall, Rotherham and the Dearne Valley Parkway but just one train per hour may not be viable. Infrastructure costs to take HS2 trains to Rotherham Central would be around £224m, with extending HS2 services to a new Rotherham mainline station, like that included in the SCR's new rail plan, would be £142m in infrastructure costs.

Independent economic analysis has shown that new stations in Rotherham and in the Dearne Valley on a proposed NPR line could boost the economic benefits for the Sheffield city region (SCR) from HS2.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: Google Maps / HS2

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Friday, July 20, 2018

News: HS2 parkway decision needed now

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David Higgins, the outgoing chairman of HS2 Ltd, says that the Government needs to make a decision on whether a potential parkway station on the high speed route through South Yorkshire will be included in the £55.7 billion project.

The Government has been carrying out a study into a potential station on the main HS2 line in South Yorkshire after it opted to back proposals to re-align the route through the region.

The option proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. Instead of travelling into a new station at Meadowhall, the HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley.

In 2016, the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling asked HS2 to study possible sites for a parkway station but a report, due in 2017, has not been published.

Alongside Wales, Bramley and Hooton Roberts in Rotherham, also on the shortlist was Mexborough, Hickleton and Clayton in Doncaster plus sites at Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam before the previously proposed new HS2 depot at Crofton in West Yorkshire.

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David Higgins, chairman of HS2 Ltd, said: "In my report on options to serve South Yorkshire, published in 2016, I called on HS2 Ltd and the Secretary of State to consider the potential for a parkway station on the high speed line, which could serve the South Yorkshire areas as a whole, and to extend HS2 services beyond Sheffield Midland to serve locations such as Barnsley and Rotherham.

"Work has since been undertaken in this area and ultimately this is a decision for the Secretary of State for Transport. As we move towards submission of the hybrid Bill for Phase 2b into Parliament, a decision will be needed on whether to include provisions for a potential parkway station in the scheme design.

"Including passive provision for a parkway would allow the infrastructure to be future proofed to meet the future needs of communities and businesses in South Yorkshire."

The government said in 2017 that it intends to bring forward a third hybrid Bill for phase 2b in 2019.

The delay in whether a station is included, and on where it might go, has also caused headaches for the Sheffield city region (SCR) who were provided with £1.3m in Government funding to study the impacts of the new route and how it can get the most out of HS2.

The high-level Government study considered eight possible locations based on the assumed HS2 route through the SCR. However, it did not go so far as to examine the potential economic or social benefits from a Parkway at each location or investigate the environmental impact.

The HS2 Growth Study for the SCR has been delayed. An evidence base report and a connectivity study was commissioned first, whilst the business, skills and employment workstream was postponed.

A report to the SCR Combined Authority in March explained that uncertainty had made it difficult to accurately quantify or identify the economic benefits, adding: "This has been exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty over whether there will be a parkway station in South Yorkshire and its precise location. Such a station could have significant impacts on the overall economic position."

At the start of July, HS2 Ltd was asked by the Department for Transport to begin preparatory works for the future electrification of a 25km section of the Midland Main Line from Clay Cross to Sheffield Midland Station. Confirming works on the spur for HS2, no announcement has yet been made on paying for the Northern Loop out of Sheffield.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: HS2 Ltd

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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

News: Rotherham sites considered for potential HS2 parkway station

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Wales, Bramley and Hooton Roberts are on a shortlist for a potential parkway station on the main HS2 line between London and Leeds.

The Government is carrying out a study into a potential station on the main HS2 line in South Yorkshire after it opted to back proposals to re-align the route through the region.

The new option proposes that HS2 services between London and Sheffield would take a spur off the new north-south high speed line and travel directly to the existing Sheffield Midland station using the existing railway line. Instead of travelling into a new station at Meadowhall, the HS2 line to Leeds would travel east of Rotherham following the M1 and M18 before heading through the Dearne Valley.

The new recommendations would cut journey times on services heading to Leeds, York and Newcastle, and would also reduce the cost of the project by around £1 billion but it did not commit to creating a connection back onto the HS2 mainline north of Sheffield Midland, or to a parkway station on the mainline. This left local MPs stating that areas would "take all the disruption but receive none of the benefits."

The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling asked HS2 to study possible sites for a parkway station in October and a report is due back early this year.

Alongside Wales, Bramley (pictured) and Hooton Roberts in Rotherham, also on the shortlist is Mexborough, Hickleton and Clayton in Doncaster plus sites at Hemsworth and Fitzwilliam before the proposed new HS2 depot at Crofton in West Yorkshire.

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Paul Griffiths, development director at HS2 Ltd, confirmed the locations and told the BBC: "Whenever we develop part of the route we look at a wide range of options and these are the places we have focused our attention because there are already roads there and there is already access. But we are at a very early stage of the development here and people shouldn't get too hooked up on these because it is early stage.

"We were asked to look at a parkway station by the secretary of state as a way of spreading the benefit of HS2 by providing additional access onto the railway for a wider area."

At the end of 2016, Sir David Higgins, non-executive chair of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, discussed the reasons for the changes in South Yorkshire. He also said: "We are looking at a parkway on this new line which would be between Wakefield, Doncaster and Rotherham. That will open up to a lot of people who have no services whatsoever at the moment.

"It is extremely close to the A1/M1, which as time goes on is becoming more and more of a critical corridor for access. Being able to have a parkway there that would be able to take traffic off that motorway I think in time will be seen as very attractive."

With no budget set for a Northern loop or a parkway station in the region, the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership is seeking "a clear and unequivocal commitment to constructing the loop north of Sheffield to the main HS2 line" and assurances that "parkway station intentions are genuine."

When the initial route passing through Meadowhall was announced in 2013 it was revealed that HS2 had discounted Thurcroft, Bramley, Hellaby and Wath upon Dearne as locations for a potential station when experts first examined the possibility of the high speed route running to the east of Rotherham.

HS2 Ltd has arranged a number of events for residents to find out more about the high speed rail project and how it will affect the Rotherham area. The consultation on the proposed changes to the route closes on March 9.

HS2 Ltd website

Images: UC Holdings


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Monday, September 1, 2014

News: Newburgh Precision supports school STEM club

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Newburgh Precision Limited has stepped in to support the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Club at Wales High School in Rotherham.

With facilities at Templeborough, Newburgh Precision is a contract manufacturing specialist whose components and assemblies are benchmarked against the best in the world and are distributed globally to customers in all major industrial sectors.

The STEM Club at Wales provides pupils the opportunity to participate in practical activities including experiments, investigation and discussion centred on STEM subjects. The club motivates and builds confidence in pupils whilst also providing an extra outlet for those who demonstrate an aptitude and interest in furthering their learning in STEM subjects.

The sponsorship will permit the school to purchase vital equipment for the club. Simon Kerfoot, teacher of mathematics and STEM Club co-ordinator, said: "We are very grateful to Newburgh Precision Limited, with their support we are now in a position to purchase equipment that will assist pupils enormously throughout the next academic year, providing opportunities for them to explore practical engineering projects."

David Greenan, managing director of Newburgh Precision Limited, added: "We are pleased to support the STEM Club as we see projects such as this as key to the future development of the engineering sector. By engaging with the next generation early we can encourage interest in the STEM subjects which shows the pupils the relevance to real life engineering projects. We can also highlight the opportunities available in engineering and manufacturing and identify future apprentices."

The sponsorship is the latest move by the firm to shape its future workforce which also sees them take the lead in apprenticeship development through the "new ERA" apprenticeship and places on the boards at The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre in Rotherham and the UTC in Sheffield.

Newburgh Precision website
Wales High School wesbiteImages: Newburgh

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Friday, October 23, 2009

News: Royal visit for Rotherham company

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HRH the Duke of Kent was in Rotherham this week to officially open CCPI Europe Ltd's facilities at Wales Bar.

US-owned CCPI is a specialist in temperature calibration and manufacturing equipment that measures temperatures, used in a range of engineering and manufacturing activities. They include calibrating temperature-sensing cable used in testing Rolls-Royce jet engines.

The Duke of Kent toured the £3m manufacturing, laboratory and research facility at Langtree's Vector 31 Business Park with American and European representatives of the company.

He saw how CCPI manufactures mineral-insulated temperature sensors down to sizes as small as 0.5mm diameter and how the UKAS-accredited laboratory conducts calibrations and calibrates sensors giving uncertainties of measurement as tiny as +/-0.004 deg C. Vital when the highest-quality measurements are required by CCPI customers manufacturing state-of-the-art aerospace components.

CCPI began in Blanchester, Ohio in 1957 and CCPI Europe was established by Fred Knight in 1984, because he believed the company had a future in the UK and Europe. So strong was his belief that he started a one-man operation in his garage. From that it has grown to employ more than 50 people, headed by managing director Keith Hicks.

The Rotherham company works with Bodycote International Group and other heat-treatment companies, such as GKN, TTI and GE. In the glass industry, it helps support companies such as Rockware, and in engineering and steel Forgemaster and Corus. End-users include Volvo.

CCPI Europe website


Images: RiDO

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Monday, July 14, 2008

News: Car sign company puts Rotherham students in the business spotlight

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A group of six student entrepreneurs from Rotherham are celebrating after being chosen to represent South Yorkshire at a regional young enterprise awards ceremony. TRZ, from Wales High School in Kiveton Park, beat off competition from 26 other companies in Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley schools for the chance to take on winning businesses from north and west Yorkshire and the Humber. Sophie Giles, Helen Clay, Alice Foster, Joseph Robbins, Emily Ross (all 17) and Gary Brook (16) established TRZ as part of the Young Enterprise Company Programme and began manufacturing and selling generic and personalised car signs and key rings made entirely from leftover acrylic from the school’s technology department. Rotherham Ready funded the Young Enterprise scheme at Wales High School but the group raised their own venture capital by selling shares in the company to friends and family to cover manufacturing and marketing costs. Sophie, who was named Best Managing Director at the South Yorkshire awards, said: "We were really happy to have represented South Yorkshire in these awards and it is a fantastic achievement by the team. "We’re disappointed to have missed out on the chance to go to London for the national finals but we’re proud of what we have accomplished as a company and hopefully we have shown what is possible through hard work and determination. "We made a good profit and our shareholders will be happy that we’ve chosen to donate a percentage of it to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in Rotherham!" Jackie Frost from Rotherham Ready said: "We’re delighted that Rotherham Ready was able to support such a fantastic scheme that inspired students across the borough, in particular TRZ who have been so impressive in their entrepreneurialism and attitude towards Young Enterprise. "They performed admirably at the Cedar Court Hotel and throughout the course of their business."
Rotherham Ready website

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

News: Rotherham home to the most eco-friendly Village Hall in Britain

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Opened in April, Kiveton Park and Wales Village Hall, is believed to be the greenest and most eco-friendly new village hall in the UK. Matt Brown, senior contracts manager of Halfway construction company Hillside, who built the hall designed by Burnell Briercliffe Architects, told The Star: "The technological systems we have built into the hall mean that it will not only save money on heating, light and water, it will generate income that can be used to provide more services for the community. We honestly believe there is no other village hall with such complete advanced environmental concepts anywhere else in the UK." The £1.2m community hall includes rainwater harvesting systems, solar panels, and heat pumps, to make the building almost self-sufficient.

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