News: 180,000 sq ft pre-let at AMP in Rotherham

A deal has been struck for a new 180,000 sq ft unit at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham - if approved, it will be the largest unit on what is one of the UK’s leading destinations for advanced manufacturing.

Landowner and master developer, Harworth Group, confirmed the pre-let in its latest trading update.

In its Half Year Trading Update, the leading regeneration, strategic land and development business that has its new HQ alongside the AMP at Waverley in Rotherham, discussed new opportunities for data centres and advanced manufacturing.

Its highlights for the six months to June 30 2026 included deals that have been completed or in legals on three pre-lets for units to be built by Harworth and held in its investment portfolio and are expected to generate £3.7m of rental income a year.

At Gateway 36 in Barnsley, a deal has been signed with for a 30,700 sq ft unit for a logistics operator's new last-mile parcel and postal distribution facility.

A 108,600 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility for an automative parts designer will be built at Chatterley Park, Staffordshire - the first at the development.

And at the AMP, the new 180,000 sq ft unit is for an existing occupier.

Planning documents, seen by Rothbiz, show that Harworth intends to reconfigure a new Plot 1 at the AMP to combine the space granted outline approval for units 1, 6 and 7. An earthworks application would be required before a full planning application for the large unit that would sit between SBD Apparel and Insight Direct.

Overall, with recent deals for Technicut, Vulcan Seals and Danieli, Harworth only has around 200,000 sq ft of the total 2.1 million sq ft of consented development space remaining at the AMP. A completion of the park is expected in 2027.

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Harworth also said that it was progressing a total of 1.5m sq ft of letting and land sale negotiations across the portfolio. Following on from Harworth's first hyperscale data centre transaction, a £106.6m land sale to Microsoft in 2024, the group has identified a second site in its current portfolio.

Due to the scale and strength of opportunities across its industrial & logistics and powered land pipeline, with growing occupier interest, Harworth is now accelerating its reallocation of capital to higher returning opportunities aligned to powered land and industrial growth sectors.

Lynda Shillaw, Chief Executive of Harworth, said: "Harworth specialises in unlocking land at scale, with planning and power secured, and this is key to capturing high-returning development opportunities across the data centre and advanced manufacturing sectors. Our second data centre opportunity that we are highlighting today underlines Harworth's position as one of the most significant regional players in the rollout of the UK's digital infrastructure, working with some of the largest operators in the industry.

"In addition to these opportunities, we have seen strong momentum across our sales and lettings pipeline during the first half and into the second, including the first letting at our 1.1m sq ft Chatterley Park site, to an advanced manufacturer, and a further letting to a national logistics operator at our well-established Gateway 36 development.

"With our unique skillset, extensive land bank and 0.8GW of power connections across our portfolio either conditionally secured or in the pipeline, we are well positioned to accelerate our reallocation of capital to powered land and industrial growth sectors. This in turn will create a simpler, higher-returning platform to deliver sustainable future growth."

Harworth Group website

Images: Harworth

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News: Manvers White Water Course project launched

A proposed new £14m water rescue training facility in Rotherham could also provide access to water sports and outdoor adventure.

Having been discussed for a number of years, an official launch recently took place for the White Water Course Project at Manvers Lake, where Sports Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, got an update of the plans.

Manvers Lake is central to the massive Waterfront regeneration project which includes 450 homes, business parks, hotel, retail outlets and neighbourhood facilities. Operated by a trust, a boat club provides facilities for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and other activities, while the lake also supports open water swimming, fishing, and cycling.

The Manvers White Water Course is planned to provide a world class training facility for fire and rescue services and other emergency services that will also offer international-standard paddling facilities due to the unique dual water channels.

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Proposals involve a pump fed Whitewater Channel at North Bay for the combined use of recreation and flood rescue and training. A pumphouse will lift water at a rate of up to 10 cubic metres every second, 3 metres [10 feet] from the lake into a start pool out of which the water will flow down the course back into the lake.

The water is designed to flow at a variety of volumes and speeds from still to a torrent such that training and coaching of the Olympic sports of Whitewater Canoe slalom and Extreme slalom competition, can take place.

John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, said: “This project will be a big boost for the Dearne Valley. It will create jobs, bring more visitors into our area and give our fire and rescue crews the proper training base they need. The Trust has worked hard to get to this stage, and there is real backing behind the plans. With the right support, we can get this built and delivering for our area.”

Ashley Metcalfe, CEO of Paddle UK, added: "It is a really exciting opportunity for white water paddling – from community paddling, to talent development and beyond. We have a fantastic opportunity to be part of the project and are very much looking forward to supporting Manvers Lake to fulfil our aspirations.”

Last year the trust secured £22,500 of feasibility funding for the project from The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Manvers Lake website

Images: Manvers Lake Trust / Paddle UK

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News: Plans approved for last Waverley plot

Housebuilder Honey has been granted planning to deliver the £22m, 67-home second phase of its new home development at Waverley in Rotherham.

Located on the former Orgreave Colliery & Coking site off Rivelin Way, the site will be part of the housebuilder’s current Homes by honey at Waverley development.

Sheffield-headquartered Honey will now deliver a total of 121 new homes with revenues of £37.5m across the whole development.

The second phase of Homes by honey at Waverley will comprise a mix of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes and include semi-detached and detached properties. The new homes in phase two will be launched for sale in spring 2026.

Rothbiz reported last month on plans for land off Rivelin Way, to be known as Lakeview. The proposals stated that the site forms the last residential parcel at Waverley to gain reserved matters consent.

Honey launched the first homes for sale on the development’s £15.5m, 54-home first phase in September last year.

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Homes by honey at Waverley forms part of the larger redevelopment plans to transform the coalfield site into a new, sustainable community.

Since being launched in October 2022, Honey has secured 21 sites across Yorkshire and the East Midlands that will deliver 2,850 homes and a combined gross development value of £795m.

The housebuilder is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.

Honey chief executive officer, Mark Mitchell, commented: “Being granted planning for the second phase of Homes by honey at Waverley will provide further design-led new homes and grow our development within this outstanding generation project.

“We have seen a fantastic response to the first phase of the development and sales have proven strong since the first homes were launched.

“This success highlights the demand for our properties which combine style, substance and sustainability from buyers wanting to live in the thriving new community being created at Waverley.”

Honey says its house types have all been specifically designed to combine “style, substance and sustainability” for the benefit of buyers.

Honey has analysed consumer insights and trends to inform its house type designs to ensure they meet the needs and wants of today’s new home buyers, including the flexible use of all living spaces.

Standard features in every Honey home include bifold doors, individually designed, fully integrated kitchens and boutique style bathrooms with a signature free standing bath and full height tiling. All properties have an electric vehicle charging point.

Homes by honey website

Images: Homes by honey

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News: Recruitment restarted as opening nears for new Rotherham hotel

Recruitment is back underway at a new multimillion pound hotel in Rotherham where construction had stalled.

Rothbiz has previously reported on new hires at the proposed Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield that was due to open at Waverley in Spring 2023.

But with no sign of opening and construction work stopping on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way, master developer, Harworth Group issued a statement in 2024 regarding "unforeseen challenges" faced by the hotel owner, Stapleford Ventures.

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Stapleford Ventures bought the land from Harworth in 2021 and secured planning permission for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel in the same year. It brought in RBH Hospitality Management to run the operation but the property remained half-built until work recommenced in January 2025.

RBH remains the operator and has recently begun recruiting again.

Jobs posted online include Assistant Front Office Manager, F&B Manager, Front Office Supervisor, F&B Supervisor, Sous Chef and Assistant F&B Manager.

The hotel is set to include a brasserie restaurant, as well as a fitness centre and meeting facilities. It will occupy a prominent position at the entrance roundabout to the Waverley development, and will provide an important community asset for use by residents, and businesses at the adjacent Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

An opening date for the Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield is showing as September 2025.

Courtyard by Marriott website

Images: Marriott / Google Maps

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News: When will the Waverley development be finished?

The transformation of a former Rotherham coalfield site into a thriving new community is nearing completion.

Harworth Group plc, a leading land and property regenerator of sustainable developments, recently announced record revenue and land sales in 2024 with EPRA NDV up 8.5% year on year. EPRA NDV is how Harworth measures the value of its assets.

The success of Harworth's business model is exemplified at its flagship Waverley site where plots have been sold for 2,578 homes to the likes of Avant, Barratt and Harron, plus local players, Homes by Honey, Forge New Homes and Sky-House Co. 2025 could see detailed approval for the final plots.

The latest update on the regeneration of the former Orgreave coal mining site has a forecast completion date for Harworth's work as 2025 for housing, with its work on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) forecast to complete in 2026.

Approved in 2011, the largest, most complex, planning application ever considered by Rotherham Council gave outline approval for South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development, creating a new 3,890 home community across 741 acres. The development proposal also included a hotel and wide range of shops, cafés, health, leisure and educational facilities.

The AMP dates back a little further. In 2002 outline consent was granted for the start of the world-leading site and the University of Sheffield's AMRC with Boeing was created as a key industry-university partnership.

The masterplan, which has been updated a number of times, originally set out that the development would come forward over 20 years.

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Harworth's financial update shows that there are 393 consented or planned housing plots remaining.

Having secured planning permission for the Railside site, at the end of 2024 an application was submitted for land off Rivelin Way, to be known as Lakeview. The proposals state that the site forms the last residential parcel at Waverley to gain reserved matters consent.

Homes by Honey are working with Harworth on the plans which seek consent for site and enabling works and the construction of 67 dwellings including 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes. Developers want the required affordable housing provision to be located at the railside site and not the Lakeview site.

At the AMP Harworth's finacial update shows that there has been 1.7 million sq ft of commecial space sold or developed and just 300,000 sq ft remaining (with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of £45m - £55m).

Rothbiz reported in January that Harworth had secured planning approval for a landmark office development between the AMP and the houses in an area known as Highfield Commercial.

2025 also saw the opening of Olive Lane, the urban shopping and leisure development on Highfield Spring which also includes a medical centre and community centre.

When the housebuilders finally finish, the community created could count 8,000 people and more than 3,000 homes by 2029.

Waverley website

Images: Forge New Homes / Facebook / Harworth / Stantec / Harris Partnership / Lindum

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News: Rotherham colliery restoration plans updated

A planning application has been submitted to make changes to a reclamation scheme of Maltby Colliery in Rotherham that would have seen the Green Belt returned into woodland and grassland by 2023.

Owned and operated by Hargreaves Services plc, the 500 acre colliery was mined for over 100 years until geological conditions could not be overcome and underground operations ceased in 2013.

It had been expected to continue coal production until 2025 but the winding tower was brought down in 2014 and the mine shafts have been filled and capped. With the sudden closure, the future restoration scheme, included in the planning permission for the mine's operation, was re-examined and plans were approved in 2017.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on the intention of the site owner to update the plans.

The 2017 scheme, which has been delayed by COVID, involved cut and fill operations and the importation of 1.32 million tonnes of suitable fill material and 150,000 tonnes of soil making materials. The 2024 scheme includes the importation of approximately 1.63 million cubic metres of suitable fill, including soil making materials, and would extend the restoration until the end of September 2033.

The latest application also confirms proposals to develop a quarry on the north east part of the pit yard which would provide for the extraction of 3.9 million tonnes of magnesian limestone to supply local markets and those further afield.

After quarrying and backfilling, a development platform for beneficial employment use would be created.

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Reagrding traffic impacts, the plans explain: "It is assumed that approximately 300,000 tonnes per annum of fill, including soil making materials, will be imported by HGVs using the existing site access off the A631 Tickhill Road during the Proposed Development.

"Mineral export by HGVs will be approximately 200,000 tonnes per annum during Phases 3 to 7 inclusive [up to 2029] and it is envisaged that two thirds will be round trip movements importing fill on the return leg to the Site. This will generate an average of 128 HGV movements (64 in/64 out) per working day similar to the currently approved reclamation scheme. It is assumed that the remainder of the fill import and mineral export will be by train using the existing rail head on the pit yard until the end of September 2033, with up to 16 trains per week."

It is envisaged that fill material will typically include inert and/or non-hazardous wastes such as construction and demolition arisings. A permit from the Environment Agency will be required.

Applicants, Maltby Management Limited (MML), add that the new scheme "represents a safe, sustainable and appropriate proposal which is achievable in both a practical and economic sense and is not reliant on European, national or local government funding which is no longer considered available.

"MML anticipate that any ‘gate fee’ revenue received from the import of fill, including and soil making materials, to the Site will contribute towards the cost of implementing the reclamation of the Colliery Tip and MML will need to finance any residual balance to complete the Scheme where necessary."

In 2023 Hargreaves exchanged contracts on 28-acre site at Maltby for the sale of 185 residential plots that will generate gross proceeds of £4.9m.

Hargreaves website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Kier appointed to Rotherham water treatment scheme

Kier has been awarded a contract to design and build a proposed water treatment scheme in Rotherham for the Coal Authority.

The Group’s Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks business division will undertake the stage one design and enabling works leading into the construction for stage two for the scheme at Thorpe Hesley.

Rothbiz reported on the plans to address the issue of flooding in abandoned deep mine workings back in July. Planning permission has yet to be determined.

Kier will design and build a pumped-passive mine water treatment scheme that will be made up of settlement ponds, reed beds and associated pipework on a five-hectare site on land adjacent to the former colliery site. The mine water will be treated through an aeration cascade and a system of settlement ponds and reed beds and then the treated water will be discharged into the watercourse.

The design phase started in August 2024 and, once the construction phase is completed, new trees and bushes will be planted as well as wildflowers to provide new habitats, improve biodiversity and increase wildlife in the area. Access tracks around the reed beds will allow people to enjoy the natural atmosphere of the scheme and link the scheme with existing footpaths.

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Eddie Quinn, managing director for Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks’ Environment business, said: "We’ve been working closely with the Coal Authority and applying our skills and experience designing and building engineering schemes with vital long-term habitat creation to support the needs of this scheme in Yorkshire.”

The contract has been awarded through the Pagabo public sector procurement framework.

James Bagnall, Coal Programme Lead, for the Coal Authority, said: “We are looking forward to working with Kier to deliver this important environmental scheme at Thorpe Hesley, as part of our work to provide long term management of rising mine waters.

“The Coal Authority manages over 80 mine water treatment schemes across Britain, handling and treating over 122 billion litres of water a year. At Thorpe Hesley, mine water levels have been rising since the 1980s and this important mine water treatment scheme will help to protect drinking water and the local environment.”

Thorpe Pit (later known as Smithy Wood Colliery) operated from 1886 – 1974. Plans state that at the Thorpe Hesley site, pumping is likely to be required by the end of 2025 "in order to mitigate risks of contamination of the overlying groundwater aquifers and prevent any uncontrolled surface discharge and the subsequent pollution of watercourses."

The Coal Authority delivers a program of facilities covering 70+ mine water treatment schemes across England, Scotland and Wales, ensuring that any accumulated mine water is responsibly treated before entering natural watercourses. It is set to go out to tender this month as it establishes a £100m mine water treatment works framework.

Kier website
Coal Authority

Images: Google Maps

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News: Planning board vote to approve new Rotherham McDonald's

The planning board at Rotherham Council has voted to approve plans for a new McDonald’s Drive-Thru restaurant in Dinnington - going against the recommendation of officers.

Rothbiz reported last week that the planning officer was recommending that the application be refused, questioning the type of jobs created by McDonald's compared to industrial occupiers as it relates to the planning policy regarding land use.

The proposed site at Campbell Way and Nobel Way is on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery which has been reclaimed and transformed as part of a successful regeneration scheme.

The board heard how the land was allocated for Industrial and Business Use and has been marketed since 2015 but had not received any significant interest due to significant remediation costs.

Applicants said that the plans would deliver a Drive-Thru restaurant, creating 100 jobs (70 full-time equivalent jobs) but the planner's report to the board on the proposals stated that: "by virtue of its range and quality of employment opportunities, it has little positive contribution to the borough and would not meet the criteria."

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Assessing the reaction to the plans from the local community, members of the planning board discussed how they disagreed with the officer and were instead satisfied that the range and quality of employment opportunities did meet the criteria for the land use allocation.

A motion was presented to grant approval for the plans, which also highlighted that the proposal would support the continued regeneration of Dinnington and add to the similar uses nearby - namely the Monk's Bridge Farm pub, Greggs, petrol filling station and takeaway units.

The motion was approved unanimously, with approval set to be granted subject to various conditions to be agreed.

Before the meeting Cllr. Amanda Clarke, elected member for the Dinnington area, who has worked with fellow councillor ,Julz Hall, to support the application, said that the proposed Dinnington McDonald's was wanted, adding: "McDonald's Dinnington is supported by our council leader Chris Read, as well as myself and Jake Richards, our Member of Parliament. This new establishment is much anticipated."

Annie Newman, Senior Acquisitions Surveyor at McDonald’s said: “We have wanted to expand our offering of amazing value and high-quality food in Dinnington for some time.

“We appreciate that the Council’s policy allocates this land for employment use, but the number of jobs that our proposals will create is far more than many developments that would be defined as employment use."

Images: McDonald's / Lichfields

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News: Wentworth Woodhouse recognised for its excellent Tripadvisor reviews

Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham continues to be a hit with visitors and has been awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024, the third year in a row for the stately home.

Wentworth Woodhouse is owned and operated by Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) which is overseeing a regeneration project which has a focus on delivering high quality, creative and relevant visitor experiences.

Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, calculates restaurants, destinations, hotels and tourist attractions based on the quality and quantity of online reviews over a 12-month period.

Travellers’ Choice recognises businesses that earn consistently great reviews. Travellers’ Choice award-winners are amongst the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, and honour select accommodation, attractions and restaurants that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.

On the site, Wentworth Woodhouse has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 with 80% of reviewers rating the hidden gem as "excellent." It is ranked third in South Yorkshire behind the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster and the Tropical Butterfly House Wildlife Conservation Park, which is also in Rotherham.

A spokesperson from WWPT said: "Thank you to everyone, both old visitors and new, who have visited over the past year and shared their experiences, ratings and reviews on the platform – we couldn’t have done it without you! Also, an enormous thank you goes to our wonderful family of staff and volunteers who give so much time and energy to create a welcoming environment and positive experience for our visitors.

"This recognition helps us to continue our regeneration and puts Wentworth Woodhouse firmly on the map as a visitor destination for all to enjoy."

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Upcoming events at "the big house" include what the Trust descibes as its "most ambitious exhibition to date."

Beneath the Surface: George Stubbs & Contemporary Artists will run for three months and brings seven remarkable works by George Stubbs to the Rotherham stately home to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the artist’s birth - and his residency there in 1762.

It is now known Stubbs created seven artworks at Wentworth Woodhouse for the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham over many months in 1762. Four of these 1762 paintings are "coming home" on loan from a private collection.

The exhibition, sited in the mansion’s State Rooms and free to view with a house admission ticket from July 30 to November 3.

Other events this summer include the return of outdoor music, theatre and cinema, The Great British Food Festival, WE Wonder and workshops and summer camps.

Also on display is the exhibition of Wentworth’s Coal Story, which launched last week and runs until October 6, explaining how the fossil fuel industry affected the mansion’s rise and fall.

Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT

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News: Olive Lane development taking shape

Progress is being made in the delivery of a new retail development and medical centre at Waverley in Rotherham.

Lindum Group is the lead contractor for regeneration specialists, Harworth Group on Olive Lane, a shopping area that will feature convenience stores, cafes and restaurants and public realm and landscaping that is due for completion in November this year.

A new medical centre is planned and Forge New Homes is also building new homes on the site that sits between the housing developments at Wavereley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Following an agreement with NHS England and Rotherham Council, Lindum also began construction of the site’s £3m two-storey medical centre in February, which is set to be handed over in October.

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Chris Fraser, project manager for Lindum, said: “Works have progressed well. The steel frames for three of the four buildings have been erected, with the frame for the remaining building due to erected in mid-July.

“Two of the buildings are now having superstructure brickwork erected, with the third being started in two weeks.

“Scaffolding is due to be erected ready for roofing works in the coming weeks for the first building and will be progressively erected for the remaining buildings within two months to allow doors and windows to go in at the end of summer for watertightness.

“Drainage works are ongoing and will be complete in mid-July. Section 38 roadworks have been installed ready for sign off as adoptable highways.

“By the end of the summer we will be building up levels ready for external works such as landscaping and paving.”

Ben Marris, contracts manager for the medical centre at Lindum added: “Works in the summer will consist of installing the roof build-up, external masonry façade, internal walls and ceilings and M&E.”

Lindum has previously handed over three industrial units on the AMP, with another currently under construction.

Rothbiz revealed that the first tenants to show interest in Olive Lane includes a new concept from the innovative food entrepreneuers behind Sheffield's JÖRO Restaurant, and Sky-House Co., the Sheffield company that is pioneering 21st century back-to-back housing at Waverley, that plans to relocate its HQ and 30 jobs to office space sitting above the new venture from JÖRO.

Waverley website
Lindum website

Images: Lindum / Harworth

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News: Not lovin' it - New Rotherham McDonald's recommended for refusal

Planners at Rotherham Council are recommending that plans for a new McDonald’s Drive-Thru restaurant in Dinnington be refused.

The authority is concerned over the loss of employment land.

Rothbiz reported last year that the fast food giant was working on proposals on the site of the former Dinnington Colliery which has been reclaimed and transformed as part of a successful regeneration scheme.

The proposed site at Campbell Way and Nobel Way is surrounded by commercial and industrial units and is close to the Monk's Bridge Farm pub.

McDonald’s said that the plans would deliver a Drive-Thru restaurant, creating 100 jobs (70 full-time equivalent jobs) in the area and featuring indoor and outdoor seating, as well as on-site car parking spaces, cycle storage and new high-quality soft and hard landscaping.

The application is due to go before the planning board next week.

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The application site consists of 0.47 hectares of land allocated for Industrial and Business Use. Applicants say that if it is used for a drive thru then the Borough’s employment land supply would fall by 0.2% -from 252.59 hectares to 252.12 hectares. The application states: "It is clear, therefore, that even following implementation of the proposed development, Rotherham would have a large supply of land to meet its economic strategy and development needs – particularly when viewed in the context of the identified Local Plan requirement of 235ha."

Challenges associated with bringing the land forward for industrial use were also stressed. Applicants say that the site has been marketed since 2015 but did not receive any significant interest and suggest that the site is subject to significant remediation costs.

But planners at Rotherham Council say that the proposals go against the policies regarding non-employment use on land allocated for Industrial and Business Use.

The planner's report questions the type of jobs created by McDonald's compared to industrial occupiers. It states: "by virtue of its range and quality of employment opportunities, it has little positive contribution to the borough and would not meet the criteria."

Planners also believe that there is no valid evidence to indicate the site is no longer required for employment use as the applicant are not considering in detail the viability of the site but instead have provided a high level assessment.

The council's own Public Health department also raises concerns about the high concentration of hot food takeaways within the Dinnington area.

Planners conclude: "The introduction of the drive-thru restaurant on this allocated site employment site [sic] would result in the loss of employment land and would reduce the potential for future development of remaining employment land to the north of the site, with no significant benefit or adequate justification."

Members of the planning board are due to discuss the proposals on July 18.

Images: McDonald's / Lichfields

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News: Mine water treatment plan for Rotherham colliery

The Coal Authority has set out proposals to deal with rising mine water at a long-closed colliery in Rotherham.

Thorpe Pit (later known as Smithy Wood Colliery) operated from 1886 – 1974. The National Coal Board and its successors then retained the site as a pumping station to reduce mine water migration to other active collieries in the area. As collieries in the area closed, pumping ceased at the site in 1986 and mine water in this part of South Yorkshire Coalfield has since been rebounding.

A new planning application shows how the authority wants to address the issue of flooding in abandoned deep mine workings which can often lead to surface discharges of polluted mine waters and/or the flow of polluted mine waters into adjoining aquifers.

The environmental impacts of abandoned mine discharges can be severe and mine water is predicted to rise in the adjacent mining block which could reach underground areas that contain two important aquifers that are exploited for public drinking water supply.

Plans state that at the Thorpe Hesley site, pumping is likely to be required by the end of 2025 "in order to mitigate risks of contamination of the overlying groundwater aquifers and prevent any uncontrolled surface discharge and the subsequent pollution of watercourses."

The plans show that Thorpe Hesley has been chosen as a strategic pumping location to intercept relatively clean shallow mine water close to the coal outcrop before it migrates to deeper mine workings in the adjacent mining block at Kilnhurst.

Treating water before it goes deeper into the mine workings allows for a wider range of more cost-effective treatment options. Here, plans include industrial pumps installed below ground, two settlement lagoons (91 metres by 35m), an aeration cascade, sludge drying bed (104m by 43m), and two wetland areas (106m by 42m).

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The treatment will encourage the precipitation of dissolved iron to solid iron particles which would be collected as ochre (iron oxide). Some 140 tonnes of ochre per year could be removed. This ochre material was previously disposed of through landfill but over recent years has been put to sustainable beneficial use, in the anaerobic digestion industry, as part of sewage treatment, to treat heavily contaminated land and as a pigment in the dye and paint industry.

After treatment, the water will continue to flow on to the proposed wetlands for final polishing before it is finally discharged into the local watercourses.

The site off Wentworth Road is within the greenbelt so the application comes within reports and details regarding things like visual impact and ecology and wildlife.

Ashley Langrick, a planner for the Coal Authority, said that the development would not have a significant effect on the environment, adding that: "conversely, the proposal will have significant beneficial effects on the environment both, as a development in its own right compared to the current arable status of the land, and, through addressing rising mine water that would, if left unabated, pollute the environment and ground water aquifers."

The Coal Authority delivers a program of facilities covering 70+ mine water treatment schemes across England, Scotland and Wales, ensuring that any accumulated mine water is responsibly treated before entering natural watercourses. It is set to go out to tender this month as it establishes a £100m mine water treatment works framework.

In September 2023, Rotherham Council, who own the freehold of the 12.13 acre site, signed off on a deal to sell to the Coal Authority.

The aim is for the Coal Authority to own the site in perpetuity and the wetlands could open to the public when they mature.

Coal Authority website

Images: Coal Authority

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News: Owners consider changing colliery restoration scheme

The reclamation of Maltby Colliery in Rotherham and a scheme that will see the Green Belt returned into woodland and grassland could be revised again.

Owned and operated by Hargreaves Services plc, the 500 acre colliery was mined for over 100 years until geological conditions could not be overcome and underground operations ceased in 2013.

It had been expected to continue coal production until 2025 but the winding tower was brought down in 2014 and the mine shafts have been filled and capped. With the sudden closure, the future restoration scheme, included in the planning permission for the mine's operation, was re-examined and plans were approved in 2017.

The scheme involved cut and fill operations and the importation of 1.32 million tonnes of suitable fill material and 150,000 tonnes of soil making materials.

Estimated to take six years, it was proposed to progressively restore the former colliery tip to beneficial after-uses, including amenity grassland, agriculture, public access and nature conservation enhancement areas, and temporary ancillary and associated activities.

Owners say that due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions the ongoing reclamation scheme is approximately 12 months behind schedule.

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Now new plans are being drawn up, with the main change being to infill the existing lagoon void on the south east part of the tip and plans to quarry for materials before the creation of a platform for employment use on the Northeast part of the pit yard.

Equipment auction company Ritchie Bros. UK completed a purchase of the land and remaining buildings at the heart of the site in 2022. The Canadian firm has been hosting auctions at Maltby since 2019.

Consultation documents show that the new scheme will require the importation of approximately 2 million cubic metres of suitable fill, including soil making materials, to September 2033.

The documents add: "It is proposed to develop a quarry on the north east part of the Pit Yard, south of the Colliery Tip. The quarry proposals provide for the extraction of 3.9 million tonnes of magnesian limestone to supply local markets and those further afield." This area would then be backfilled to create a development platform for beneficial employment use.

"The proposed development will provide up to 35 jobs on-site, additional jobs for those importing fill and exporting mineral by rail and road and spend in the economy including for services from local suppliers."

With approximately 300,000 tonnes per annum of fill, and the export of minerals at 200,000 tonnes per annum, this could generate an average of 128 HGV movements (64 in/64 out) per working day. The existing rail head could also be brought back into use.

Consultants are working on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with an environmental statement set to be submitted to Rotherham Council before a detailed planning application later in 2024.

Hargreaves website

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News: Harworth makes progress towards becoming £1bn business

Harworth Group plc, the Rotherham-based leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has reported on robust performance in 2023 and strong momentum into 2024.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Harworth is based close to its flagship Waverley development and is a specialist in brownfield regeneration, owning and managing approximately 15,000 acres on around 100 sites in the North of England and the Midlands.

Based close to its flagship Waverley development, the firm has an ambitious strategy to reach £1bn of EPRA NDV over five to seven years. EPRA NDV is how Harworth measures the value of the its assets.

In a trading update in respect of its financial year ended 31 December 2023, ahead of the announcement of its Full Year Results on 19 March 2024, Harworth said that EPRA NDV would be slightly ahead of current market consensus as the result of management actions undertaken on development sites to unlock high value uses, and positive progress with planning applications, which have underpinned valuation gains.

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Lynda Shillaw, Chief Executive at Harworth Group plc, said: “Harworth had a strong 2023 and delivered another robust performance. The unique combination of our extensive landbank and applying our specialist skillset to identify and realise the highest value from each of our sites saw us complete serviced land and property sales at prices in line with, or ahead of, book values, achieve lettings ahead of estimated rental values, and progress sites through the planning system, all against an uncertain market backdrop.

“Since re-listing in 2015, Harworth has doubled its EPRA NDV. The progress made across our portfolio in 2023 has meant that our year-end valuation is slightly ahead of expectations, moving us closer to our strategic ambition of becoming a £1bn business by 2027.

“As we enter 2024, there are some signs of optimism in the macro environment whilst our key markets remain characterised by structural undersupply. We are encouraged that we are seeing continued good demand into the new year for our serviced residential land as well as occupier interest in our employment sites. This, combined with our long-term through-the-cycle approach, our low loan-to-value and significant financial liquidity means that as well as securing and progressing opportunities to deliver long-term value to investors, we are well positioned to take the management actions that will generate further value gains from our portfolio in the year ahead.”

Recommended reading: 5 Desirable Business and Finance Positions in Rotherham

The update also discussed progress at Waverley and the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which is in Rotherham.

During 2023, Harworth completed development of 110,000 sq. ft of Grade A space at Gateway 36 in Barnsley and 83,000 sq. ft at the AMP in Rotherham, which is 39% is let, exchanged or in heads of terms.

Work is also underway on a further 187,000 sq. ft of space at the AMP, comprising two pre-let units and one build-to-suit unit that will be owned by its occupier. Harworth said that this underscores the location’s popularity and the company's flexible approach to development.

At the heart of a new South Yorkshire Investment Zone, the first in the UK, newcomers to the AMP will inlcude: global steel business Danieli; Technicut, the UK’s largest cutting tool manufacturer, and; Vulcan Engineering Limited - a specialist in the production of mechanical seals and encapsulated ‘o’-rings.

On the housing development at Waverley a number of land deals have been announced with housebuilders with Harworth also reporting a robust pipeline for further residential plot sales in the months ahead.

Harworth website

Images: Harworth / Knight Frank

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News: First tenants revealed as work starts at Olive Lane

Work has finally started on a much-needed new commercial and residential scheme on the Waverley development in Rotherham with an innovative restaurant and a creative housing developer the first to commit to Olive Lane.

The new mixed-use heart of the community will provide convenience retail, cafés and restaurants, alongside a new medical centre. It will comprise a new pedestrianised high street with 21,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, linking the Waverley residential neighbourhood with the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

A groundbreaking event took place at the site in December 2023, attended by representatives of Harworth, Rotherham Council, the Waverley Community Council, Sky-House and Forge New Homes, who are also building new homes at the Olive Lane scheme. They were joined by teams who will be involved in the delivery of the project, including construction contractor Lindum Group, architects CODA, landscape architects PWP Design, civil engineer BE Design, planning consultant Stantec and project/cost manager Edge.

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The first tenants to sign up include a new concept from the innovative food entrepreneuers behind Sheffield's JÖRO Restaurant.

Chef and co-owner Luke French, together with his wife and business director, Stacey Sherwood launched JÖRO, Sheffield’s first ever Michelin bib restaurant, in December 2016 to rave reviews. In late summer 2019 they opened Konjö, a street food concept, just around the corner from JÖRO. June 2021 saw their boutique hotel opening and last year it was announced that they would open at a new development in Oughtibridge Mill, also in Sheffield.

For Olive Lane, space is set to be taken for a community kitchen / bar venture - a new full day operation serving breakfast, lunch and evening meals.

Also taking space is Sky-House Co. The Sheffield company that is pioneering 21st century back-to-back housing at Waverley, will relocate its HQ and 30 jobs to office space sitting above the new venture from JÖRO.

An agreement has also recently been reached with NHS England and Rotherham Council to allow construction of the site’s medical centre to commence.

David Cross, CEO & Architect of Sky-House Co. described the new development as the "final missing-piece of the jigsaw" adding: "It's incredibly complex to curate a new neighbourhood and Olive Lane will become an exemplar model of placemaking in the new world."

Harworth recently completed a two-acre land sale to Sky-House to develop an additional 50 residential units (46 new homes, four apartments) directly adjacent to Olive Lane’s high street, alongside a new headquarters for the company and a small amount of retail and leisure space.

Completion of the high street element of the scheme, including the medical centre, is anticipated by the end of 2024, after which fit-out works for the retail and leisure units will begin.

Ed Catchpole, Regional Director – Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group plc, said: “We are very excited to be starting work on Olive Lane, and to have completed this land sale to Sky-House, a trusted partner who shares our vision for making Waverley an attractive, vibrant and inclusive community.

"We know that many in the local area are excited about this part of Waverley being created, and we look forward to it being a place for those living and working here to come together and shop, eat and drink, or meet with friends.”

Cross added: “Our fourth deal with Harworth at Waverley is particular exciting as it helps provide the final and most crucial piece of the jigsaw in delivering a true heart of the community. Olive Lane fully represents our design-led and low carbon ethos as a business and our decision to move our headquarters there anticipates the vibrant place that it will become.

"Harworth has been instrumental in supporting our growth as an SME housebuilder over the past seven years and we look forward to continuing to work with the company throughout 2024, including in welcoming a range of new tenants for the scheme.”

Olive Lane website
Sky-House Co. website

Images: Harworth

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News: Architects welcome approval for vital community hub for Waverley residents

The award-winning team at Sheffield’s CODA Architecture have welcomed Rotherham Council’s approval for the long-awaited retail development at Waverley.

CODA’s design for Olive Lane - on behalf of Harworth Group plc - which will create a high-quality retail, leisure and community development centred around a pedestrianised high street.

It will include a series of high-quality public realm spaces and gateways designed by PWP Design which will tie in with the wider Waverley development strategy.

And as well as providing a community focus and much-needed facilities, it will also provide a vital link between the growing Waverley residential site near Catcliffe and the neighbouring Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

The Olive Lane application, showing a much reduced scheme compared to previous iterations, was approved last month,

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Matt Bowker, director at CODA, said: “Following several years of design development and two planning applications we are happy to confirm that planning has been approved for a mixed used high street located in Waverley.

“Our clients Harworth Group plc set out to deliver further amenities and public realm for the residents of Waverley with the ambitious vision of Olive Lane.

“We are very proud to have been able to play our part in designing the scheme alongside an amazing consultant team.

“Olive Lane is delivering retail, commercial and a medical centre to the local neighbourhood all within 15 minutes of the Waverley residents’ homes and in addition, there will also be 50 new houses directly adjacent to the high street.

"At CODA we love working on projects that create beautiful homes and sustainable neighbourhoods and this certainly feels like one of those special projects.

“We can’t wait to get started on site with Harworth and their development partners to begin delivering this important new phase for Waverley, one of the UK's biggest and best brownfield redevelopments.”

CODA's innovative designs can also be seen at the Sky-House developments at Waverley which uses a modern back-to-back housing concept.

CODA website

Images: CODA

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News: Plans submitted for a new McDonald’s restaurant in Dinnington

McDonald’s has submitted plans for a new and attractive Drive-Thru restaurant in Dinnington to Rotherham Council.

Rothbiz reported in September that the fast food giant was working on emerging proposals on the site of the former colliery which has been reclaimed and transformed as part of a successful regeneration scheme.

The proposed site at Campbell Way and Nobel Way is surrounded by commercial and industrial units and is close to the Monk's Bridge Farm pub.



The plans, if approved, would deliver a new McDonald’s Drive-Thru restaurant, featuring indoor and outdoor seating, as well as on-site car parking spaces, cycle storage and new high-quality soft and hard landscaping.

The proposals would also benefit the local economy by creating up to 120 new jobs and generating around £60,000 in business rates every year for Rotherham Council to use to fund key local services.

McDonald’s held a community consultation in August, where local residents were encouraged to provide their feedback on the proposals.

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The plans will now be considered by Rotherham Council’s Planning Department and residents will be able to provide their feedback on the planning application.

Andrew Crewther, Senior Acquisitions Surveyor at McDonald’s, said: “We are pleased with the positive response we have had from the community regarding our proposals for Dinnington. It is clear from the feedback we have received that a McDonald’s restaurant in this area would be welcomed by the local community.

“We have wanted to expand our offering of amazing value and high-quality food in Dinnington for some time and we are thrilled that our plans to regenerate this vacant, well-situated site have now been submitted.

“As part of our plans, we will submit detailed traffic impact assessments to account for the effects the development may have on local roads. Our operational plans will also explain how we will manage litter around the site, ensuring that we are a considerate neighbour.”

A transport assessment submitted with the plans concludes that "the proposed development would not result in any severe impact on highway capacity or road safety." Businesses nearby have asked for double yellow lines on Campbell Way to improve road safety.

McDonalds has more than 1,400 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, employing over 130,000 people. Opportunities for progression, training and apprenticeships are at the heart of McDonald’s’ offer to the local jobs market.

Images: McDonald's / Lichfields

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News: Maltby pit housing plans set for approval

A planning application is being recommended for approval for 185 houses on the site of the former Maltby Colliery, where underground operations ceased in 2013.

Rothbiz reported last year on an outline application from Hargreaves Land showing a site to the west of the colliery coming forward for new housing.

The 29.5 acre site is currently a mix of green space, including informal allotments and a recreation ground, between Highfield Park, Tickhill Road and the colliery.

The land was allocated for residential use - 150 dwellings - in the Council's local plan. It is close to where Jones Homes are planning to build hundreds of new houses at Grange Lane.

During the application process the applicant has agreed to reduce the overall number of dwellings from 200 to 185. A minimum of 25% of the dwellings will be affordable.

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A new vehicular access is proposed directly off Tickhill Road at the southern end of the site. As part of the development, the current 40 mph speed limit on Tickhill Road will be extended to the east of the site access to improve the level of road safety in the vicinity.

Also part of the plans, approximately 100 no. allotment units will be accommodated on a 1.2 ha area of land at the northern end of the site, and the existing public open space, which measures approximately 3 ha (including woodland), to the west of the centre of the site will be retained and enhanced.

Local residents, councillors and the MP have raised issues with the plans, including the impact on local services and highways/traffic.

The planning board at Rotherham Council will meet to discuss the application next week and are being recommended by officers to approve the proposal.

If approved, it would come with a number of conditions around affordable housing, contributions to education and sports provision and a cycle link to nearby Glencairn Close.

Andrew Johnson, head of asset management at Hargreaves Land, said: "If approved our plans will provide an exciting new development, delivering much needed new housing for the local community and vastly improve what is currently a largely neglected area of land."

Hargreaves Land website

Images: Hargreaves Land / Edward Architecture

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News: Print out. Daily Mail owner to close £60m Rotherham facility

The owner of The Daily Mail has announced plans to close its state-of-the-art printing facility in Rotherham.

DMG Media only acquired the site at Dinnington in 2020.

The facility was created by Johnston Press at a cost of £60m on the site of the former colliery and it includes one of the most modern and fastest presses in the world. It has the capacity to print 192 pages in full colour, 120,000 newspapers an hour in full colour and 75 titles per week.

DMG Media and News UK have now proposed a joint venture which would combine their printing operations.

The proposal would retain three current sites in Broxbourne (Hertfordshire), Knowsley (Merseyside) and Eurocentral (Glasgow), and would potentially mean the closure of DMG Media sites in Thurrock and Dinnington.

A new company would be created to run the combined print operations and proponents say that it would "help improve the efficiency of News UK and DMG Media’s print operations and establish a sustainable business model for the future of national newspaper printing in the UK."

Over the years, the Dinnington site, which is also known as Associated Print Holdings, has printed everything from the Daily Express, Daily Star and The Sun to the Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star. Other major customers included regional publications and many niche publications.

Last month, it was reported that National World, the company behind The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, and new owner of the Rotherham Advertiser, had signed a deal with Newsquest that would see production end in Dinnington.

As well as The Mail, DMG Media is the holding company that owns the Metro and i newspapers and websites.

News UK, formerly News International, is the current publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun newspapers.

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National print newspaper circulation has declined by more than 60% in the past ten years and the challenging economic climate, combined with rising inflationary costs, and accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has put significant additional pressures on the media industry.

Julia Palmer-Poucher, production director at DMG Media Group, said: “The news industry has transformed and continues to change rapidly. DMG Media is at the forefront of this transformation and also remains committed to its print titles, its workforce and its readers.

“The decade-long decline in print circulation has not been matched with changes to print capacity and we must find ways to keep physical newspapers, which have an important future, commercially viable. This proposed combination would provide a long-term solution for the Mail print titles and a sustainable future for the newspaper printing industry.

“We are aware this will be an uncertain time for those potentially impacted and our priority is to provide staff with the support they need throughout this process.”

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) may want to look at the proposed deal in more detail and until the regulatory processes are complete, "the DMG Media printing business and Newsprinters UK remain separate and independent and will continue to operate as such."

Local MP, Alexander Stafford said that he was very concerned about the DMG Media plans for the Dinnington plant, adding that he would contact the company and regulators for more information.

DMG Media website

Images: KeyIS

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News: Harworth sees sustained demand

Commercial projects close to its Rotherham base are giving bosses at Harworth Group plc confidence in its strategy.

The leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment has posted its latest financial results and says that it is on track to become a £1bn business by 2027 despite some difficult trading conditions.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Harworth is based close to its flagship Waverley development and is a specialist in brownfield regeneration, owning and managing approximately 15,000 acres on around 100 sites in the North of England and the Midlands.

For the six months ended 30 June 2023 Harworth reported an underlying operating profit of £8m, down from the £99.9m reported in the same period of 2022. Shareholder value, known as EPRA NDV, was slightly down £631.2m. The company has an ambitious strategy goal to reach £1bn of EPRA NDV over five to seven years.

Lynda Shillaw, chief executive of Harworth Group, said: “Harworth’s first half performance reflected good progress against strategic objectives, coupled with a strong operational delivery, which highlights the resilience of our through-the-cycle model, and sustained demand for our serviced residential land and industrial & logistics assets.

“In particular, the combination of sales of more mature industrial & logistics sites and our development of new high-specification space has accelerated the transition of our Investment Portfolio towards our goal of 100% Grade A.

“The industrial & logistics market has stabilised over the period, albeit transactions are taking longer to complete, and the residential Build-to-Rent market is experiencing sustained demand.

“However, interest rate rises, cost inflation and planning delays are all impacting the housebuilders. House prices have remained reasonably resilient supported by reduced volumes of new build.”

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The Adcanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley is a key project helping Harworth reach that 100% Grade A target. The former UK Coal Orgreave site has consent for 2.1m sq ft of industrial & logistics space with 1.6m sq ft built or sold.

Current progress sees Harworth on-site with 166,000 sq ft of space, which is 44% pre-let. The speculative development has "received significant occupier interest."

The update also stated: "Our focus for 2023 will be on built-to-suit and pre-let direct development opportunities, as well as land sales to potential occupiers. In line with this strategy, we have pre-let a 73,000 sq. ft unit at the AMP to a technology occupier and are in advanced discussions on build-to-suit opportunities with other potential occupiers at the site."



Rothbiz has reported recently on new potential deals to enable Vulcan Engineering, Danieli and Insight to expand onto the AMP. On the residential part of the Waverley site, where consent has been secured for 3,038 residential units, Harworth has sold land for 2,442 units.

However, the report adds that valuation losses were "driven by the impact of selling costs and higher levels of estimated future site-wide infrastructure costs allocated to prior period sales, in particular at our Waverley site where increased costs were driven by a change in the site masterplan."

As housebuilding continues, plans were recently submitted for a reduced mixed use scheme at Olive Lane.

Harworth Group website

Images: Harworth Group

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