News: Millmoor no more? Demolition plans for historic Rotherham United football stadium

It is getting on for 20 years since the last league game at Millmoor, the "spiritual home of Rotherham United," but the next fixture at the abandoned stadium could be a date with the wrecking ball.

Ron Hull Group said that it planned to demolish parts of the Millmoor Football Ground due to it’s poor condition and the "long term lack of a viable user".

Ron Hull Group, the new owners of CF Booth Ltd, took on the old football ground when it acquired the assests of the historic Rotherham firm that had entered administration.

Rothbiz reported last month that, having taken over the Clarence Works at Armer Street in Masbrough, Ron Hull has been assessing the buildings on the site, with many found to be in a state of disrepair. The company has engaged with the local planning authority, Rotherham Council, over the method of demolition for buildings on the site.

Now a similar planning application has been submitted for the football stadium which sits on the 35-acre site, alongside the huge scrap yard.

The application is "to determine whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition and restoration of the site re:- demolition of Admin Building, Tivoli club with accommodation over, Press Box, incomplete main stand, Tivoli Stand, Terrace and Uncovered Stand, part of Millmoor Lane stand, All pitch lighting columns, and other football associated buildings."

Despite its origins dating back to 1890, and the association with The Millers and their fans, Millmooor is not a listed building, or recognised on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List. Owners generally have permitted development rights regarding the demolition of buildings they own but are often required to get prior approval from the local council.

Applicants say that some decisions are still to be made. At present no decision has been made about the pitch and the remaining stands which are not included in the current demolition application.

Advertisement
A statement on behalf of the Ron Hull Group, said: "The buildings and structures selected in the current application to demolish are all in a poor condition due to years of neglect and are suffering from a general lack of maintenance, specifically elements like roof finishes and the structures themselves. It is assumed this situation accelerated in the period since Rotherham United football Club vacated the site.

"The current main stand is only partially completed, and has been exposed to the elements since at least 2007. The high cost of repair, yet alone proceed to complete this stand would be excessive given that there are very limited numbers of possible users of the ground. Thus meaning it is unbuyable."

Rotherham Church Institute played at MIllmoor in the Sheffield Association League in 1890. Rotherham County obtained a lease at Millmoor from the Midland Railway Company in 1907 and scores of volunteers and donors were drafted in to help build a stadium for league football. When the Football League was resumed in 1919, Rotherham County applied successfully to join for the first time while Rotherham Town's application was turned down. The first league game took place at Millmoor as County beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in August 1919.

County and Town combined and Rotherham United was officially born on May 27, 1925. Millmoor was Rotherham United's home until the last game in 2008. It hosted the first Football League Cup in 1961 and even top flight rugby.

Rotherham United fell into administration for the second time in 2008 having previously been owned by the Booth family, owners of Millmoor and the large scrap business that surrounds it.

Local businessman Tony Stewart of ASD Lighting brought the club out of administration via a Creditors Voluntary Agreement but then came the decision to play home games at the now demolished Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield, after working hard to get a deal to carry on playing at Millmoor.

The club was charged with returning to play home games in its home town within four seasons by the Football League and the £20m AESSEAL New York Stadium, on the edge of Rotherham town centre and in view of Millmoor, hosted its first Millers game in 2012.

The Millmoor ground, famed for the quality of the playing surface and its compact size that often created a raucous atmosphere. was never glamorous and lacked many of the features of modern stadia. Since 2008 it is not exactly a "ghost ground" as it has been used for kickabouts, charity games and youth football.

In 2011 talks between Rotherham Rugby Club, Rotherham Council and CF Booth Ltd came to an end with the Rotherham Titans unable to stage home games at Millmoor again after "a commercially viable solution could not be found."

Last year Rothbiz reported that Doncaster Rovers Belles had arranged to play home games at Millmoor but they were forced to return to their nomadic existence before the end of the season.

Ron Hull Group website

Images: Google Maps / DRFC

Read more...

News: Rotherham bus depot demolition

A large vacant bus depot in Rotherham can be demolished under recently approved plans.

Rothbiz reported in 2016 that First Group was vacating the Midland Road site, relocating employees to Sheffield and Doncaster.

The Masbrough property came into the hands of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) as the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), which is responsible for the co-ordination of public transport in South Yorkshire, has been integrated into the MCA.

The MCA's board agreed to sell off the 212,000 sq ft warehouse last year.

The site consists of aged office accommodation and bus sheds and was constructed over 40 years ago. Following bus de-regulation the site was leased to a number of private operators, generating a financial return that was re-invested into transport activity. It was also used as a COVID-19 test centre during the global pandemic.

Sitting empty, it cost the MCA £160,000 a year in rates and security.

Advertisement
At the time, the MCA agreed to dispose of the site in the most efficient means possible, which could also include clearing the existing site to enable a more efficient sale.

This month, a planning application to determine whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition and restoration of the site has been granted by Rotherham Council. It comes with a number of conditions regarding demolition and remediation works such as the need to approve methods and means of disposal both on site and off site of the debris. Details over the timescales for restoration after the demolition also need checking by planners.

The planning application is from Prospect Estates Ltd, a UK focused real estate investment management company, that has been advertising the property as being for sale.

The Leeds based firm has previously had success with commercial property in Eastwood, Rotherham.

Prospect Estates website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Demolition begins on former Wilkos site in Rotherham town centre

Demolition work on the former Wilkos building on Corporation Street is under way as the regeneration of Rotherham town centre continues.

As reported by Rothbiz, the Council acquired the building at 4 Corporation Street in January 2023 to prevent it from becoming a long-term empty building, after high street household, DIY and homewares chain, Wilkos, closed the store after 127 years in the town centre.

The authority said that the site will be utilised to enhance the Town Centre Masterplan, and over the next 18 months will be part of the Forge Island site compound.

A planning application for demolition showed that the site was earmarked as the potential location for a new theatre.

The 20,423 sq ft property was vacated by the value general merchandise retailer at the start of 2022. It sits alongside the former Riverside Precinct and Chantry Buildings - again acquired and demolished by the council as part of regerenation works - and the former Mecca Bingo, another authority acquisition "that will contribute to the further regeneration of the Leisure & Cultural Quarter."

Advertisement
A new theatre is included in a new place-based investment strategy outlined by the council and has been given an investment figure of c.£28m.

Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed to do the demolition work as they are the main contrator on the Forge Island scheme.

Heavy plant machinery is currently in operation on the back of the building and will continue to demolish the rest of the structure in sections over the next six weeks.

After being removed, the materials will be recycled and reused in other projects across the UK.

Prior to the demolition starting, the building was stripped inside to ensure that all asbestos was removed.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Economy said: “With the crane now towering over the ongoing works on Forge Island and more town centre homes becoming occupied, we’re making progress on our plans to regenerate Rotherham town centre. The closure of Wilko’s after such a long time was clearly a loss but sadly this is a pattern seen in other town centres across the country. So rather than leave the building empty we want to use the space to help facilitate the wider Forge Island development over the coming months.”

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Demolition work set to begin at Forge Island

Works to prepare Riverside Precinct and Chantry Buildings for demolition are now underway as part of a key milestone in the development of Forge Island.

Plans were approved last year which set out in detail that the site of the former Tesco store is set to be home to an eight screen cinema, a 69 bed hotel, four restaurants and car parking.

Historic England had raised concerns regarding the loss of the 1930s Chantry Buildings but the site on Corporation Street is being cleared under proposals that are expected to feature a 1,500 sq ft café in an open area called "Millgate Place." A new bridge is also in the plans.

Flood protection on the opposite side of the site has been carried out and high-quality landscaping has been created next to the canal, including new amphitheatre seating overlooking the lock.

Advertisement
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy, Cllr Denise Lelliott, said: “We want to really make the most of the town’s natural assets. At one time, rivers were seen as industrial and dirty so buildings used to be built facing away from them, but times have changed. We also know how beautiful outdoor spaces and natural water can benefit health and wellbeing, as well as being a place where people can come together.

“We are having to adapt and move away from the more traditional use of the town centre, much like other areas across the country. We’re looking at what Rotherham town centre needs to thrive and that means thinking differently and looking at how people will live in and use the town centre in years to come.”

A planning application has been submitted for hoardings around the site whilst demolition takes place. F Hardwick Ltd recently secured an £87,800 tender relating to the work.

As part of the works, Riverside car park, which is accessed off Corporation street, will be closed for ten weeks. Diversions will also be in place for pedestrians accessing Forge Island car park from the town centre.

A £2.18m grant was approved by the Sheffield City Region last year to support Rotherham Council with the works. This consisted of £1.5m existing loan being converted to a grant and an additional grant award of £1.3m. This is being used by Rotherham Council for enabling and flood defence works and come with conditions that could see cash returned if 150 jobs are not created by the overall Forge Island project.

For the commercial elements of the scheme, Muse has signed a contract to deliver on the site with works scheduled to start September 2021 with Phase 1a, the cinema and restaurants, scheduled to open in 2022/23.

At the start of 2021 it was announced that Arc Cinema had signed a long-term lease to become the leisure anchor for the scheme.

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / FaulknerBrowns

Read more...

News: Demolition timetabled at Rotherham grammar school

A decade after plans were discussed to revamp education facilities in Maltby, the former grammar school buildings looked to have failed recent examinations.

Maltby Academy became operational in September 2009, the first in the Rotherham borough, and the academy trust had big plans to upgrade the facilities on Rotherham Road / Braithwell Road.

A change in Government funding put redevelopment plans in jeopardy but a £10.9m contract was awarded to BAM Construction in 2012 who transformed the existing site to provide over 100,000 sq ft of modern teaching facilities in both new and refurbished buildings.

Whilst some buildings were demolished, the iconic clock tower remained and is now derelict.

Advertisement
A planning application has now been submitted by Maltby Learning Trust "to determine whether prior approval is required of the method of demolition and restoration of the site." The site being Maltby Old Grammar School.

Planning permission to demolish buildings is not required per se, but councils often need the opportunity to regulate the details of demolition in order to minimise the impact of that activity on local amenity.

2012 plans assessed the block, which dates from 1932 but is not a listed building, and earmarked it for demolition given the implications of updating its "inefficient plan form" and replacing its roof and windows.

At the time, the plans said that "the decision to accept an option that involved the removal of the old Grammar School building (Block B2) has not been taken lightly" and the prominence of the building and clock tower was recognised.

Local opposition for the demolition of the clock tower frontage was strong with Maltby Local History Society calling the decision "deplorable."

The academy and local community worked on a joint venture to secure funding to develop proposals to retain the clock tower. The local town council were even offered to take up the building but £350,000 costs were quoted.

Updated plans in 2013 involved demolishing further wings of the old school whilst retaining the southern two storey wing which fronts onto Rotherham Road and contains the clock tower.

Those plans said: "It is recognised that this appears to be a change of heart on the part of the Academy, however the Academy has always been aware of desire amongst the local community to retain the frontage to the old Grammar school building and clock tower, but this was just not practical within the constraints of the current project and the need to meet DDA requirements."

The redevelopment went ahead and the new Business and Enterprise centre opened in 2013. The historic frontage and clock tower has remained intact but derelict.

It has been the target of many "urban explorers" including the Yorkshire Explorers who posted the above picture to its Facebook page.

Images: Yorkshire Explorers

Read more...

News: 90 more spaces for courts car park

Rotherham Council is hoping to use the remainder of the site of the former Magistrate's Court buildings as a car park until redevelopment takes place.

Rothbiz reported earlier this month that a new temporary car park on the site had opened on the cleared site adjacent to Forge Island and Rotherham Central station.

The Council acquired the former home of the Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court, from Her Majesty's Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) for £1 in 2017.

Following its demolition, and before any development takes place, 40 temporary parking spaces were created on the former access roadways and parking spaces which used to serve the former Court building off Main Street to form a public off street car park.

Advertisement

Now a planning application has been submitted by the Council's parking services team to create a further 90 "pay and display" spaces.

Current charges on the site sees motorists paying £1 to park for two hours, £2 for four hours or £3 to park all day.

Only built in 1994, the buildings by the canal were vacated in September 2016 after the Government decided to close 86 of the original 91 courts earmarked for closure under its modernisation plans.

The Rotherham building provided 62,785 sq ft of floorspace over four floors but was dubbed "poor quality" and work was transferred to Sheffield.

In the longer term, the former courts site has been identified for residential development.

Images: Google maps

Read more...

News: Swinden Labs demolition

Plans have been submitted so that demolition can take place at the Swinden Technology Centre (STC) site in Rotherham, as the owners, Tata Steel, look to change the use to a residential development.

The STC mainly focuses on product research and applications research for the transport, building and construction sectors but Tata considers that it is no longer a suitable home for the R&D arm and announced in 2014 that it is relocating research to Warwick University.

With Tata Steel's intention to leave the site, pre-application discussions with the Council have been taking place for a while.

Property consultants Harris Lamb have been working on a masterplan for the Moorgate site and proposals went on show earlier this year. The plans involve over 100 dwellings, including keeping the Grade II-listed Swinden House and converting into flats.

It is understood that the Indian-owned steelmaker will sell the site when planning permission for the residential development is secured.

Advertisement

The facilities at STC were claimed to be, by the 1960s, one of the largest research organisations devoted to metallurgy in Europe but in 2014 Tata Steel considered them to be "no longer a suitable home to the research and development arm of Britain's second largest steel manufacturer."

The conversion of the lab buildings was looked at but discounted and now demolition firm, DSM has been appointed and plans have been submitted to take down the laboratories and associated buildings - the canteen, garage and storage shed. The labs were constructed in phases between the late 1940s and early 1970s.

Rotherham Council will need to approve the method of demolition and a timetable has not yet been published. A 2016 agreement between Tata Steel and Council planners showed that there is the potential for dwellings to start to be delivered on the site within the next five years.

United Steels acquired the site in 1946 and in addition to research laboratories, it also includes Swinden House, the former home of Rotherham solicitor Thomas Badger, plus playing fields, tennis courts and orchards. The Grade II listed building, previously known as "Red House" was completed in around 1880. The stable block, walled garden and the lodge are also protected.

The site also includes Sitwell House, a late nineteenth century house that is not a listed building but is set to be retained.

Images: Harris Lamb / DSM / NAMTEC

Read more...

News: Prep work for Rotherham regeneration

The ink is barely dry on the new Rotherham town centre masterplan but further preparatory work is already taking place around key regeneration sites.

Having flattened the former Tesco store on its acquired Forge Island site, Rotherham Council is set to get to work on the pedestrian bridge linking Forge Island to the town centre.

The plan here is for a £43m leisure development anchored by a cinema and hotel – a formal tender will go out in the Autumn. In the short term, the temporary car park is being extended to 500 spaces.

Work begins next week and will be carried out by Peninsula Access Ltd and is expected to last three weeks. It will see the removal of the roof and sides to make the footbridge "light, bright, and airy." The tender for the work had a guide of £30,000.

The footbridge will be closed during this time and the main pedestrian exit will be via the main road bridge on to Market Street. Businesses in the Riverside Precinct will be open as usual and can be accessed from Corporation Street.

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council said the work was being done in response to resident complaints about anti-social behaviour.

She said: "In the longer term, the bridge will be completely replaced as part of the development of Forge Island as a leisure destination. However, shoppers using the Forge Island car park have told us they do not feel safe using the current bridge because it is enclosed so opening it up will make it feel much more welcoming."

Advertisement

Work is also imminent on demolishing the former Law Courts that have also been acquired by the Council.

At the same time, work will begin in the Corporation Street, Bridge Street and Frederick Street area - identified as a key gateway to the town centre in Rotherham's masterplan - to improve access for cyclists and pedestrians.

Department of Transport funding, obtained through Sheffield City Region, will enable a number of improvements to take place, including new crossing facilities, landscaping and drainage work.

Discussions are continuing around a new dedicated pedestrian footbridge over the River Don linking the train station and Forge Lane / Bridge Street.

Damien Wilson, Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, said: "Promoting sustainable travel and making it easier for people to access the town centre by bike and foot are key to our plans to regenerate the town centre.

"This particular route is part of the Transpennine Trail and National Cycle Network, whilst the train station and new tram-train route is a key gateway into the town. These improvements are part of our overall plans to improve this area of the town and we look forward to seeing a much-improved environment for visitors to enjoy.

"The environmental improvements will have a positive effect on the street scene, creating a brighter, more open and accessible space. We hope that this work, coupled with the progress being made on the nearby derelict buildings, will enhance this busy part of the town centre and make it more attractive to all who use it."

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Vertex on a high at Earl's Court

Rotherham-based Vertex Access has been called upon to tear the roof off Earl's Court, the historic London exhibition, conference and events venue.

From offices at Templeborough, Vertex Access provides industrial rope access operatives for a variety of operations as an alternative for expensive methods such as scaffolding. The use of abseiling techniques can often be the most practical way to achieve tasks that would otherwise involve considerable expense, time and impact on the building.

The centre, which dates back to 1886, closed in 2013 to make way for a redevelopment which will replace the West London entertainment hub with luxury flats.

Deconstruction activities began at the start of 2015, initially focused on the internal structure of the buildings, which had a capacity of around 19,000 and has hosted many exhibitions, concerts and events, such as The Brit Awards, The London Film and Comic Con and Summer Olympic Volleyball in 2012.

The centre was rebuilt in 1937 and in response to a demand for more space, the exhibition centre then expanded, with Earls Court Two opening in 1991.

In an era when health and safety knowledge wasn't as advanced as is currently is, the use of building materials such as asbestos was popular. Asbestos was commonly used amongst other building materials due to its resistance to fire and heat, and the roof of Earls Court was constructed using the material.

Further developments in health and safety have since highlighted the dangers in asbestos, which led to its use being banned in the UK in 1999. The dangers arise when asbestos containing materials become airborne and unstable from damage and deterioration, which can also occur during demolition.

Lead contractors Keltbray called on Vertex Access operatives to remove asbestos concrete sheets from the roof.

Some areas of the roof allowed for use of access cradles but for areas where this was not viable, rope access techniques were used. The Vertex team is completing the works ensuring that damage is kept to a minimum. This is so that the dangerous fibres do not break off from the fragile sheeting and become airborne, posing an unnecessary risk to operatives and nearby workers.

Vertex website

Images: Vertex Access

Read more...

News: Ron Hull work fast on the road

Rotherham experts, Ron Hull Demolition, worked fast to remove the central sections of the Centenary Way flyover in Rotherham town centre.

Because it involved closing one of the town's main routes, the team was given just 36 hours to complete the operation. The work went so smoothly that the operation was completed, and the road re-opened, shortly after 4.30am last Monday, an hour and half earlier than expected.

The flyover is making way as part of the massive new Tesco development on the site of the former civic buildings. A new road junction onto Centenary Way has been constructed before the road was demolished.

Steve Raisbeck, Operations Co-ordinator at Ron Hull, said: "A major concern was to avoid damage to the road surface and the first few hours were taken up with getting a protective covering in place.

"Once that prep work had been completed the demolition machines were able to get started and they made faster progress than anyone had expected. The first section had gone before midnight.

"The plan was to remove three sections of the flyover and three supporting piers but the team had so much time in hand that the decision was taken to press on and demolish a fifth section."

All of the materials from the demolition have been removed from the site to the firm's state of the art recycling plant on Barbot Hall Industrial Estate. The concrete is being processed and will be returned to the site where it is to be used in groundworks. Steel recovered from the site is to be recycled.

Nigel Hull, director at Ron Hull, said: "The team has done extremely well. The operation could hardly have gone any better. With the actual demolition work completed in daylight on Sunday afternoon, it was then a matter of getting the site cleared and ready for re-opening."

Demolition of the remaining parts of the flyover, which will not impact on Centenary Way and its traffic, will be continuing over the next few weeks. The site is scheduled to be completely clear before Christmas.

Built by ISG and replacing the Forge Island store, the new Tesco Extra is planned to open in January 2015.

Ron Hull website

Images: Ron Hull

Read more...

News: Kiveton Pithead baths demolished

Rotherham-based Ron Hull Demolition is carrying out the job of demolishing the historic pithead baths at Kiveton Park Colliery.

The Rotherham colliery closed in 1994 when 800 miners were left without work. Since then, there has been much debate of the use of the grade II listed buildings that were paid for by the miners themselves.

Under ownership of now defunct RDA, Yorkshire Forward, they were saved from the wrecking ball with plans put forward for a £4m creative enterprise centre in 2005. However, the plans never developed and subsequent approved plans for the conversion of the baths to apartments, a café and offices in 2008, also never developed due to the economic downturn.

With the transfer of ownership to the government's Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a planning application for demolition was approved last year as it was considered a liability, unfit for alternative use and suffering from decline and disrepair for 18 years.

Built in 1938, the structure was finally taken down in just a matter of days. The last part to go was the landmark water tower.

David Wall, contracts director with Ron Hull Demolition, said: "As part of our preparation work on the site we did save everything of historic interest including the huge Royal Doulton troughs that were used when the miners filled their water bottles before going underground, as well as various signs and other fixtures and fittings. They are going to several mining museums and collections.

A former Kiveton miner, 75-year-old George Smith, was re-united with the door of locker 927, which he was allocated almost half a century ago when he started work at the pit.

David added: "The demolition itself has been very straightforward. The buildings have all been brought down and the clear up operation is now underway.

"Brickwork, concrete and rubble is being crushed on the site, a process that we are expecting to complete in another week or so.

"Meanwhile metal, timber and other materials are being moved to the Ron Hull Group's recycling centre in Rotherham, which is one of the most advanced facilities of its type in the country. It is a zero-to-landfill operation, so absolutely nothing is wasted."

There are no proposals yet to redevelop the site once it is cleared.

Ron Hull Demolition website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Ron Hull work fast to bring down Crinoline House

Rotherham experts, Ron Hull Demolition, has completed the project to tear down Crinoline House in Rotherham town centre in a race against time.

Because the work required the closure of both lanes of the town's busy Centenary Way, the specialist demolition team was allowed a window of just 35 hours to bring down the seven-storey former home of the Rotherham Borough Council's Social Services department.

The team began work at 7am on Saturday evening and operated round the clock to ensure that the road was re-opened at 6am on Monday morning.

David Wall, contracts director with Ron Hull Demolition, said: "Preparatory work has been underway for several weeks.

"The building is a seven-storey, eighty feet high, reinforced concrete structure. We brought it down by what's known in the business as progressive fragmentation, which is to say a top down demolition breaking up the concrete and cutting the steel as we go.

"In addition to all our own machines and equipment, we brought in two specialist long-reach demolition machines from the London area to help with the operation."

The former council offices were built in the early 1970s and were vacated in 2010.

The demolition was brought forward as the empty building had been a target for antisocial behaviour.

Anglo-Dutch developer, TCN is purchasing the council's 22,000 sq m Civic Site for £7m with Rotherham Council staff relocating to new offices, Riverside House on Main Street.

Plans have been submitted for a Tesco Extra store on the site of the Civic Building, Central Library and Norfolk House, plus a petrol filling station on the site of Crinoline House.

The majority of the demolished building will be recycled, with no waste going to landfill.

David explained: "In terms of a green operation, it is about as good as it gets. The concrete and brick rubble from the demolition will be crushed on the site in the coming days and used as hardcore.

"Meanwhile steel, wood and other materials will be moved to Mangham 80, the firm's multi-million pounds new recycling centre, which is just a mile and a half away."

The recently opened centre is one of the most advanced facilities of its type in the country.

Ron Hull Demolition website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Rotherham's Rank Hovis mill is toast

The iconic Rank Hovis flour mill in Rotherham looks set to be demolished.

The multi storey facility at Canklow was constructed in the late 1960s with further additions up to the 1980s. Premier Foods, the owners of Rank Hovis, closed the mills in 2008 due to the production of flour in the area not being viable due to over production capacity within the group. The adjacent distribution centre remained in operation.

Plans have now been submitted to determine whether prior approval is needed for the demolition of concrete framed structures on the site. The plans were submitted by ASC Contracts Limited, a Renishaw company that specialises in preparing brownfield sites for redevelopment.

However, due to the site being larger than 0.5 hectares, full detailed plans for the demolition will need to be submitted. The plans state that the configuration of the buildings does not allow for anything other than the milling of flour on the site, and as such, demolition is necessary to bring the site back into use and prepare it for possible redevelopment works.

The freehold site was put up for sale by Premier Foods last year with a guide price of £1.2m. The site covers approximately 1.93 ha providing a total floorspace of approximately 163,400 sq ft.

Crispin Stephenson, who is leading the project for ACS Contracts Ltd, said: "We hope to use the site for storage in the short term and we will apply for a change of use to B2/B8 to enable general industrial and storage and distribution uses.

"We have been talking to a number of developers about a range of uses for the site including housing, and we have partners who are looking at business units. It is a bit of a blank canvas really."

According to the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, historical maps show "Town Mills (corn)" on the Canklow Road site, indicating a long history of milling. The Ordnance Survey map of 1854 labels the building as "Old Brewery" and it is unknown if milling occurred alongside this or earlier.

Documents detailing the history of the Feoffees of Rotherham set out that "land in Canklowefield "on windmill hill"" was leased to Richard Milner, a maultster, in 1672. Leases of the Sheffield Estate mention John Taylor of Canklow Mills when he leased land from the Duke of Norfolk in 1783.

Records also show a John Jackson of Canklow Mills in 1839, and Charles Garfit of Dunlee, co. Cork. leasing "land with Cornmill called Canklow Mill", in 1886.

"Canklow Mill from the railway bank" is an oil painting by C Boocock in 1857 that depicts a locomotive in the foreground with the mill in the background. It is in a collection at the National Railway Museum.

ACS Contracts Ltd website

Images: Premier Foods / CBRE

Read more...

News: Ron Hull complete Welbeck demolition project

Experts at Ron Hull Demolition in Rotherham have taken down the iconic headstocks at the Welbeck Colliery in North Nottinghamshire.

Production at the century old pit, one of the last two working collieries in Nottinghamshire, ended in May and the specialist team have now completed a six month project to clear the site.

The headstocks were taken down three seconds apart, falling to the right and left of the colliery power house, a listed building that remained live throughout the operation.

David Wall, contracts director at Ron Hull Demolition said: "It is actually the third explosive demolition that we have carried out on the site since we moved on last November but the headstocks coming down was clearly a particularly iconic moment – carried out in full view of the whole village.

"The major issue the team had to deal with was the presence of the power house, a listed building that lay between the headstocks. I'm pleased to say that the operation went beautifully, with the towers going just where they were intended, leaving the power house completely untouched."

Concrete and brickwork produced by the demolition of offices, buildings and workshops has been processed on the site and has been used to fill the mine shafts, which at Welbeck were 760 metres deep.

Ron Hull website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Ron Hull take down largest structure at century old pit

Experts at Rotherham-based Ron Hull Demolition have successfully demolished the hundred foot high coal train loading bunker on the Welbeck Colliery in North Nottinghamshire.

Production at the century old pit, one of the last two working collieries in Nottinghamshire, ended in May and the site is now being cleared by a specialist team.

Colliery manager Geoff Mountain, who is supervising the sealing of the mine and clean up of the site, said: "The rapid loading bunker was used to fill coal trains at high speed. It was capable of filling a train with sixteen or seventeen hundred tons in just two hours.

"Because of the height of the bunker and the fact that so much of the weight was in the series of hoppers in the top of the structure, it was decided that the quickest and safest way of demolishing it was to use explosives."

David Wall, contracts director at Ron Hull added: "It went down very gracefully and with remarkably little damage to the main structure. When the smoke cleared it was simply lying on its side. We can now get to work and dismantle it safely.

"The first phase of the demolition started in November and we have now taken down most of the buildings on the site including the main offices, which were thought to date back to the early days of the mine in 1911. The coal preparation plant, bunkers, and various ancillary buildings and workshops have also gone.

"The steelwork and metals are being removed to our recycling centre in Rotherham but all of the brickwork and stone is all being crushed on site and is to be used in the operation to fill the shafts."

The 700 metre mineshafts are set to be filled and the final stage of the site clearance will involve the removal of the mine's two headgears, which are also to be taken down by explosive demolition.

Ron Hull website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Back to school for Ron Hull Demolition

Demolition experts from Rotherham-based Ron Hull Demolition went back to school recently for a project in North Lincolnshire.

More than half of the existing 1950s buildings at the Foxhills Technology College in Scunthorpe are being taken down and replaced in a multi-million pound rebuilding and refurbishment project on the site over the next year.

A specialist team from Ron Hull Demolition was brought in to execute a high speed removal of the central core of the old school whilst students were on their half term break.

Members of the school staff said they were amazed by the speed at which the team operated. Within hours the familiar façade of their building had all but disappeared and the dramatic part of the demolition was completed within a week.

David Wall, Contracts Director with Ron Hull Demolition, said: "It is a four week contract but with the students away for just a week the critical objective was to get the majority of the demolition completed in the first few days, so that all that remained to be done was the processing of materials and clearing up.

"It was an intensive week but we brought in as much kit as we had room to operate on the site - including one brand new demolition machine that was taken straight there from the factory."

David added: "It is very nice when people appreciate the team and the job they are doing. There were some extremely complimentary comments both from the school staff and local residents."

The steel, iron and other metals from the structures are being removed to be recycled at Ron Hull's Mangham Road site in Rotherham, where it will be processed and sorted before being sent on to the steelworks in Rotherham or Scunthorpe. Timber recovered from the demolition is being moved on to specialist reprocessing firms.

Ron Hull website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Work starts on Rotherham United stadium site

The first work on the new Rotherham United stadium site got underway recently when demolition machines started the clearance of the land.

Experts from Rotherham-based Ron Hull Demolition began the removal of the old Gloystarne warehouse on Don Street near to the town centre where the new 12,000-seater stadium is to be built.

Ron Hull, the demolition company's chairman, said: "As a Millers fan myself, I know just how pleased everyone will be that preparation work is starting to happen on the ground.

"The building we're taking down in this first phase of the project is a 90,000 square foot steel frame warehouse that has recently been used for the storage of surplus flatpack furniture.

"The demolition and clearance of the building is scheduled to take 4-5 weeks."

Tony Stewart, chairman of Rotherham United said: "Now we have commenced the process of demolition I think it will show the people of Rotherham that the progress that is being made on the new stadium is gathering pace, so much so that it is now visible for all to see.

"The site that is being cleared is the additional land that was purchased to provide us with the additional flexibility for future amenities and access to and from the new stadium development site.

"The demolition process is a huge operation but when the site is cleared it will give us the platform to ensure we have the best facilities possible for when we move into our new stadium in 2012."

Stuart Senior, Managing Partner of Gleeds Nottingham who project manage the scheme said: "Every project we undertake has unique aspects which make our role interesting and this one is no different. Being located in the town centre, the site is bounded by a railway line and the River Don making access to the site and public safety one of our top concerns.

"To manage this issue, we have assembled a project team who are specialists at dealing with such challenges and it is really encouraging to see that progress is now being made with the demolition. By 2012 the club will have a fantastic new stadium to call home."

Ron Hull Demolition Commercial David Wall said: "As always these days, almost everything recovered from the site will be recycled.

"The steel and other metals from the structure are being removed to our recycling centre in town, where they will be processed and sorted. So too will timber and other materials recovered from the demolition. It will be a very green operation. Absolutely everything that can be re-used will be recovered. Virtually nothing will go to landfill."

The warehouse suffered a large fire last month and for safety reasons, a section of the river path will be closed for a time whilst the demolition is taking place.

The outline planning application for the stadium was submitted in July and the club are hopeful that it will be determined in the Autumn.

Rotherham United website
Ron Hull Demolition website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Ron Hull removes landmark tower

Rotherham-based specialists, Ron Hull Demolition, has removed the landmark furnace tower on the former Outokumpu steelworks site at Stocksbridge near Sheffield.

The hundred foot high tower, the tallest building on the site, housed an annealing furnace, which was used in the production of high quality stainless steel strip.

The tower was originally constructed in 1963 at the Shepcote Lane works in Sheffield but it was dismantled and moved to Stocksbridge where it was re-erected in 1994.

Once operating at temperatures of close to a thousand degrees, the furnace has been cold since production at the works ceased two years ago. The site is now being levelled in preparation for a possible multi-million pound redevelopment and demolition work at the location is progressing on schedule.

David Wall, Commercial Director at Hull Demolition said: "At one stage we were considering an explosive demolition of the tower but the situation was complicated by the it's proximity to a railway line and the presence of utilities, water supplies and drains running through the site.

"In the end we decided to demolish it conventionally and a specialist 35 metre long-reach machine was brought in to take it down to ten metre height, at which point the job could be completed by other machines.

"The tower went gracefully. The furnace, essentially a steel vessel lined with refractory bricks, was prepped so that it folded down in three sections as the demolition progressed.

"It was all over bar the shouting in just 48 hours."

In line with modern demolition practice, almost all the materials recovered from the site are to be recycled.

The steel, iron and other metals from the structures are being removed to the firm's recycling centre in Rotherham, where it will be processed and sorted before being sold on, to the steelworks at Rotherham or Scunthorpe.

Operations Director Martin Wall added: "It has been a very green operation. Absolutely everything that could be re-used has been recovered. Virtually nothing has had to go to landfill."

Ron Hull Demolition website

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...

News: Rotherham demolition specialists set to work at steelworks

Rotherham-based specialists, Ron Hull Demolition, has begun work at the former Outokumpu steelworks site at Stocksbridge near Sheffield.

Production ceased two years ago and the site was handed over last month. Following the completion of preparation work, specialist teams have now started taking down the former mills and workshops.

The project is expected to take around twelve weeks in preparation for a multi-million pound redevelopment.

Ron Hull Operations Director Martin Wall said: "From our point of view the operation is relatively straightforward. All of the steel making machinery and equipment has now been removed from the buildings after being bought by firms around the world, so we're dealing with empty shells.

"The site does have important gas and electricity supplies running through, not to mention a high pressure water main, but that's nothing we're not used to dealing with and we are not anticipating any problems.

"The most spectacular part of the demolition will be the removal of the 100-foot-high furnace tower. At one stage we did consider explosive demolition but because of the proximity of a railway line and buildings not scheduled for demolition we are bringing in a high reach machine to take it down traditionally."

In line with modern demolition practice, almost all the materials recovered from the site are to be recycled.

The steel, iron and other metals from the structures are being removed to the firm's recycling centre in Rotherham, where it will be processed and sorted before being sold on, to the steelworks at Rotherham or Scunthorpe.

Ron Hull Demolition website
Rotherham

Images: Ron Hull Demolition

Read more...