News: £100m regeneration contract for "Rotherham’s reboot"

Further work can get underway on transforming five underused council-owned sites in Rotherham town centre, with developers proposing bold designs for places where people can "live, work and hang out."

Rotherham Council has approved the use of external funding to take regeneration plans to the next stage.

Rothbiz reported last month on early details of the projects from social impact developer Capital&Centric, who have been awarded a contract that could reach up to £100m in value.

The next phase involves Rotherham Council using £2.42m from its remaining Local Regeneration Grant secured from the government for pre-development work and feasibility studies to create full business cases for each site.

The sites include:

- the cleared site of the burnt-out buildings on Corporation Street
- Snail Yard - the cleared site of the former Primark store on High Street, currently a small pocket park
- The Statutes - the cleared site of the former Magistrates Court, currently used as a car park
- two sites along Sheffield Road in the area designated as Riverside Residential

Describing the schemes as the next chapter in Rotherham town centre's transformation, Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, told councillors: "The five sites have the capacity to elevate the offer within the town centre. Some of these sites have been vacant or underused for many years but now have the potential to create quality homes, attract investment and provide new commercial opportunities. This will provide a platform to create new communities and support and strengthen the long term viability and vitality of the town centre."

The Statutes and the sites on Sheffield Road are for residential schemes that are estimated to deliver 225 new homes including both apartments and houses. The Corporation Street and Snail Yard sites are considered best suited to a development of mixed uses.

The outcome of Stage 2 feasibility work, and the potential move to stage 3 (the construction of the schemes) will be reported to Cabinet in Summer 2027.

Bramidge added that the phased approach is about ensuring that the council has "robust, deliverable and evidence-based controls to enable the realisation of these transformative regeneration opportunities in our town centre."

In a statement, Capital&Centric, said: "The vision for Rotherham’s reboot will see a key stretch of the riverside reimagined with three interlinked residential-led neighbourhoods and two urban schemes where people can live, work and hang out. Plans are being prepared for the delivery of high-quality new homes and private gardens, alongside space for indie businesses, with active commercial space being earmarked for cafés, bars, makers and creatives.

"The bold designs coupled with Rotherham’s outstanding connectivity to nearby towns and cities will celebrate urban living with a greener, more walkable, accessible vibe with plant-lined streets, attractive pocket parks, and spaces to sit and meet friends. A town centre that people don’t just pass through, but properly live, work and play in."

Cllr. Linda Beresford, Cabinet Member for Housing at Rotherham Council discussed the designs for the waterfront development describing them as "quirky" and reminiscent of the developments in Kelham Island in Sheffield. "It looks absolutely fantastic," she said. "If we manage to pull this off, I think this is really going to transform our town centre."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "The second theme in our masterplan was about having many more people living in our town centre. We have delivered some new homes but this, certainly in terms of those larger sites on Sheffield Road and Westgate, will be a huge step-change in the community in those areas.

"The quality that has been done at stage 1 on the design is exceptional - I think they are exciting designs and ideas from a highly-rated development partner. I'm really pleased that this is coming forward.

"There are the usual caveats that I hope this all goes well and the money is well spent. We don't want to end up with a product that no one wants of course but there is every reason at this stage that this is a really big moment for the next ten years of development in that part of the town centre."

Capital&Centric website

Images: Capital&Centric / ESH

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News: Whitestone solar plans accepted by Government

Plans to build one of the largest solar farms in the country have moved a step forward - it would cover 1,169 hectares of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster.

Rotherham Council and the three local MPs have all raised issues with the application.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Initial consultation documents from solar developer Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northen site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Having assessed application documents, the Government's Planning Inspectorate has now accepted an application for an order granting development consent.

A three month pre-examination stage will now begin looking at the issues which will need to be discussed at the examination stage which is where the applicant, anyone who is registered to have their say, official bodies and people whose land is directly affected can comment on the proposed development or answer any of the questions at each deadline.

Rotherham Council has already made a representation stating that: "it has been made aware of an apparent failure to serve the requisite notice on the occupiers of Springvale Farm, Springvale House, Morthen House, and New Sycamore Farm. In the absence of evidence demonstrating that such service has been lawfully affected, the Council’s position is that the statutory consultation requirements may not have been fully satisfied."

Local councillors, parish councils and local residents have raised insues over the quality and effectiveness of the consultation.

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John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisborough says that the consultation has been "fundamentally flawed" adding that each of the three sites are seperate.

The MP said: "Residents do not experience the same local impacts across these three areas, and no reasonable observer would describe them as one contiguous or coherent site.

"Instead of respecting the different communities and recognising each of the three schemes should be subject to a separate consultation, Whitestone has lumped the schemes together in a single consultation. No doubt this is for convenience and to cut costs, but aggregating the three schemes deprives communities of a proper consultation and fails to fully discharge Whitestone's obligation under the act."

Jake Richards, MP for Rother Valley, said: "Each of the three schemes exceeds the threshold for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and therefore requires a robust, standalone consultation. Whitestone's decision to amalgamate them appears to prioritise administrative convenience and cost-saving over compliance with the Act [The Planning Act 2008] and over meaningful engagement with residents."

The MPs are asking the Government's chief planner to assess the the adequacy and validity of the Whitestone consultation.

Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham, said: "Should this be found to be inadequate, I would urge you to ensure that proper, detailed consultation, which recognises the unique impacts across the three separate schemes, is undertaken prior to any planning application moving forward."

Applicants are hoping for a decision on the plans in Autumn 2027.

Whitestone website

Images: Pexels / Adrinil Dennis

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News: Work begins on new units at Rotherham business zone

Work is underway to develop a new business zone alongside a food and drink offer at a key development site in Rotherham.

Steelos Business Park at Templeborough will be delivered by HBC Construction Limited, in partnership with Magna Science Adventure Centre.

The £8.4m development has been funded by a Government grant – originally Towns Fund – secured by Rotherham Council.

Plans were approved in 2023 for the land between Magna and Sheffield Road confirming the demolition of the former "Cent" Building and the construction of six new employment units along with two food and beverage units.

Landscaped public spaces, improved pedestrian access and parking provision will establish an attractive and accessible environment for businesses, visitors and the wider community.

The development benefits from South Yorkshire Investment Zone designation and will also benefit from enhanced regional connectivity, directly linking to the new Magna tram-train station, which opened in April, and further strengthen links between Templeborough, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Cllr. Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “Templeborough is a key part of Rotherham’s industrial story, and is of course already home to numerous small business sites. Today it lies at the heart of the Don Valley Corridor, our new Mayoral Development Zone, as a shared local priority for future growth.

“So it’s great to be on site with Magna as work commences on this next phase of business space. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen our local economy, now of course with direct links to the tram-train network and, in the future, Gateway Station.

“Working with Magna and HBC Construction Limited, we’re delivering on our commitment to making sure our places are thriving.”

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Lee Powell, Managing Director, HBC, added: “We’re proud to be delivering this key business project in Templeborough, an iconic industrial area in the region and one with incredible potential.

“The project allows us to build on our relationship with Rotherham Council, while we continue work on the Rotherham Markets redevelopment, and deliver a high-quality and collaborative public/private scheme alongside Magna.”

Richard Hammill, Chief Executive of Magna, said: "It’s fantastic to see work now underway on this exciting development. This investment will help transform the area, creating new opportunities for businesses while enhancing the experience for everyone who visits Magna." "We’re especially pleased that the name ‘Steelos’ has been retained. It reflects the proud industrial heritage of Templeborough and keeps alive an important part of the history of Magna, the former steelworks site, and the wider community.

"As the project progresses, we look forward to seeing this become a thriving business area that celebrates our past while supporting future growth."

A funding gap for the project was identified in 2024 and a £1.78m grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) gainshare pot was added to around £6.5m in governmnet funding from the Town Deal secured in 2021.

It was envisaged that the charity operating Magna would receive compensation, and retain ownership of the completed development.

Images: RMBC

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News: Plans in for another Rotherham solar farm

A planning application has been submitted for another solar farm in Rotherham - this time for 21 hectares of greenbelt land in the North of the borough.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans from ILOS for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough.

ILOS unlock value for landowners, communities and investors by bridging the gap between inventive PV solutions and innovative financing models. BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts holds a 60% majority stake and acts as ILOS’s strategic partner and majority shareholder.

Applicants say that the average annual output of the proposed solar farm would be sufficient to power approximately 6,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4,830 tonnes per annum.

They add that they consider that "the site constitutes “Grey Belt” which does not fundamentally undermine Green Belt purposes" and continue: "even if the site is not considered “Grey Belt” the proposal makes an important to the generation of renewable energy and, as such, very special circumstances would apply which support the proposed development in this location."

Rotherham Counail has previously said that large parts of this site "are designated as best and most versatile agricultural land" and asked the applicants to submit in-depth consideration / justification on the visual impact and the impact on the surrounding landscape and trees as well as the impact on ecology and heritage assets. Particular concerns were raised about the potential cumulative visual impact of the solar farm along with the proposed Whitestone solar farm nearby.

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With a low-lying solar panel array, the applicants say that: "Overall, the effect on the visual amenity and visual character of the study area as a whole will be limited, and the proposals will therefore have only a minor effect on established visual components. The landscaping proposals will remain as a legacy, benefiting local landscape structure and biodiversity, when the scheme is decommissioned on completion of its operational phase."

If approved, the development would export renewable energy to the grid for a maximum of 40 years and some enhancement and mitigation measures are proposed.

Despite the issue being raised by the council, and during public consultation, applicants have not assessed any cumulative impacts, despite the proximity to the Whitestone proposals. They state that there are "no comparable solar PV schemes in the study area nor are there submitted planning applications / unimplemented consented schemes."

Whitestone Solar Farm is a proposed generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW across various sites in Rotherham. It is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A DCO submission is currently being assessed.

ILOS website

Images: ILOS

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News: Call for Sites: Rotherham Council asks landowners and developers where houses and industrial space can be built

Rotherham Council has opened a call for sites as it looks to identify sufficient land to meet development needs into the 2040s.

A Local Plan provides a long-term development strategy, setting out policies and proposals for new housing, shopping and employment, and how people travel in the area. The Local Plan is used to make planning decisions and decide planning applications.

Rotherham's existing Local Plan covers 2013 to 2028 but changes to national policy, notably concerning housebuilding targets, means that Rotherham Council has begun preparing a new Local Plan, rather than update its previous core strategy.

The call for sites, open to August 28, provides an opportunity for landowners, developers and other interested parties to promote land for consideration for inclusion in a new Local Plan.

An update to councillors explains: "This is an early-stage information-gathering exercise to identify potential sites across the borough for a wide range of land uses. It does not allocate land, confirm suitability for development, or grant planning permission. All submissions will be assessed at a later stage and further information may be requested to understand suitability, scale, deliverability and site constraints.

"All submissions including those within the Green Belt, will be subject to detailed assessment, public consultation and member consideration as part of the plan-making process.

"Green Belt land can only be released in exceptional circumstances and through the full Local Plan process, where robust evidence and clear justification are required."

A number of planning applications have been made recently relating to housing on sites allocated as "safeguarded land" in the previous local plan. The 2018 local plan set out that they may be needed in the future and taken out of the greenbelt after the end of the plan period in 2028.

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

The call for sites is being undertaken in advance of the formal plan-making stages, which are expected to commence later in 2026. There will be three stages of public consultation during the formal 30-month plan-making period. Public feedback on site options and the emerging strategy is currently anticipated at the second consultation stage in mid-2027.

The update adds: "The Council is seeking a broad range of potential sites, including housing, employment and commercial uses, retail and leisure, environmental uses, infrastructure and community facilities, renewable energy, waste management and minerals.

"Sites may be submitted by any interested party, including landowners, developers, public bodies and members of the public. Previously promoted sites must be re-submitted to ensure the Council holds current and consistent information.

"Residential sites should generally be at least 0.25 hectares or capable of delivering five or more dwellings, although some smaller specialist housing opportunities may also be relevant.

"Employment, commercial and retail sites should generally be capable of delivering 500 square metres or more of floorspace."

Rotherham Council website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Developer "buzzing" to land Rotherham regen contract

Leading social impact developer Capital&Centric, has talked up the potential of its regeneration schemes in Rotherham town centre that aim to be "characterful, independent and full of life."

Rothbiz revealed earlier this month that the Manchester company, a specialist in unlocking and transforming "unloved" brownfield sites into vibrant, design-led neighbourhoods, had been awarded a contract that could reach up to £100m in value.

This week, A Rotherham Council cabinet paper confirmed the appointment and released details of the design concepts for five council-owned sites across the town centre.

Cabinet will be told how three of the five sites - Westgate, Sheffield Road and the Statutes – could be used to create a new riverside residential neighbourhood.

Early plans suggest around 225 new homes could be delivered across these sites, forming a significant new community within walking distance of the town centre.

The developments are expected to focus on high-quality apartments and houses, with a strong emphasis on modern town centre living and a “premium lifestyle offer” aimed at attracting new residents and increasing spending in the local economy.

If approved, construction on these sites could begin as early as 2028.

The remaining two sites - Snail Yard and Corporation Street - could focus on smaller-scale, mixed-use developments designed to bring activity back into the heart of the town centre.

Plans include office and retail space alongside new residential units, with Snail Yard centred around a courtyard concept and Corporation Street featuring duplex apartments above ground-floor commercial uses.

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John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: "We’re buzzing about the opportunity to bring the Capital&Centric approach to Rotherham. All five sites are brimming with potential, and our ambition is to create a connected neighbourhood that complements Rotherham’s best bits and feels characterful, independent and full of life.

“The mix of riverside homes, green spaces and commercial space for residents and local businesses to do their thing is how we plan to create a lasting community.”

Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, added: “These plans represent what could be a major step forward for Rotherham town centre and show just how much ambition we’ve got for these sites. We’ve been working closely with Capital&Centric, and we’re absolutely delighted to be continuing that partnership - they’ve brought real creativity and energy to the plans so far.

“What I’d say is, this isn’t just about buildings, it’s about creating new communities, new homes and new opportunities right in the heart of Rotherham. We’re looking at a future where people choose to live, work and spend time here, and that’s something we can all be proud of.

“This is all part of our commitment to creating thriving town centres.”

Capital&Centric website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Capital&Centric's initial proposals for Rotherham town centre regeneration

Rotherham Council has published further details of a multimillion pound regeneration scheme that involves social impact developer Capital&Centric, leading on construction projects across a number of council-owned sites.

Rothbiz revealed earlier this month that the Manchester company, a specialist in unlocking and transforming "unloved" brownfield sites into vibrant, design-led neighbourhoods, had been awarded a contract that could reach up to £100m in value.

The sites include:

- the cleared site of the burnt-out buildings on Corporation Street
- Snail Yard - the cleared site of the former Primark store on High Street, currently a small pocket park
- The Statutes - the cleared site of the former Magistrates Court, currently used as a car park
- two sites along Sheffield Road in the area designated as Riverside Residential

A cabinet paper explains that the design concepts for The Statutes and the sites on Sheffield Road are for residential schemes that are estimated to deliver 225 new homes including both apartments and houses.

The paper adds: "At this stage of the feasibility work, the option proposed by Capital and Centric on which the current funding strategy is based is for the new homes to be developed for private rent with Capital & Centric acting as landlord.

"Capital & Centric are exploring a proposal to fund the development of these sites through their Impact & Places Partnership, which is a joint venture between Swiss Life Asset Managers, Homes England and Capital & Centric. It should be noted that while some viability modelling has taken place and that this indicates the development can be fully funded through this partnership, there remains a risk that the schemes will require additional capital funding outside of the partnership."

The Corporation Street and Snail Yard sites are considered best suited to a development of mixed uses. For Snail Yard, the concept proposes office, retail and four residential units around a courtyard space. Concepts for 3-7 Corporation Street consists of ground floor commercial space with ten duplex residential properties above.

A previous £6m council scheme with 19 1-bed and 2-bed flats and three commercial units on Corporation Street received no interest from the market when it went out to tender.

The latest cabinet report states that these schemes are not considered viable without some form of public sector funding and the council is set to work with Capital&Centric to find gap funding.

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With the first phase underway, the second phase involves the creation of full business cases for each site and stage three is the actual development.

Following cabinet approval, Rotherham Council is proposing to meet the pre-development costs at stage 2 of £2.42m from its remaining Local Regeneration Grant secured from the government. The outcome of Stage 2 feasibility work will be reported to Cabinet in Summer 2027.

Risks have been identified relating to viability, finding gap funding and disposing of the land at nil value. The cabinet report states: "In considering these risks it is important to understand the rewards that are possible to be gained for Rotherham Town Centre should the development of these 5 Strategic Sites be supported. In contrast, doing nothing would leave 5 prominent Town Centre sites undeveloped and unable to achieve their full potential to transform the town centre offer and potentially undermine the ability of other key regeneration projects to generate the greatest impact. Cabinet will have the opportunity to decide whether to proceed or not after the completion of the Stage 2 development work."

Other options, such as putting the land up for sale on the open market, or proceeding to development led by the authority are not recommended.

The report concludes: "In developing the procurement strategy for the 5 Strategic Sites the Council determined that the procurement of a Developer Partner, as opposed to in house or consultancy developed proposals, was the most effective route to ensuring buildability from the outset given the complexity of the sites. The phased approach gives the Council greater control over the evolution of the schemes.

"It enables the Council to ensure proposals are fully tested, costed, and aligned with the agreed vision for Rotherham. Advancing to Stage 2 at this time maintains the original plan and keeps momentum, maintains Council influence over the sites, and ensures decisions are based on detailed evidence rather than assumptions, giving the town centre the best chance of achieving high-quality, coordinated development in line with the Council’s Placed Based Investment Strategy, Town Centre Masterplan and Town Investment plan."

Capital&Centric website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Big changes made to Waverley scheme

Waverley in Rotherham, often cited as being Yorkshire's largest ever mixed-use development, may not be as big as originally envisioned, with master developers confirming that over 1,000 less homes will be built at its flagship site.

The changes are in response to "evolving site circumstances, changes in surrounding highway infrastructure, and updated development forecasts."

Harworth Group submitted a planning application for the new community on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery & Coking Works in 2007 and consent was granted in 2011 for 3,890 new homes, alongside over two million sq ft of advanced manufacturing space at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP). Following the adoption of the overall masterplan, Harworth has since continued to develop design codes for each area of Waverley along side its housebuilding partners and made changes to aspects of the scheme.

A new updated masterplan submitted to Rotherham Council by Harworth explains that the overall number of homes at Waverley will not reach the original maximum capacity of 3,890 homes.

This then has implications for "trigger points" and other commitments secured through the original planning approval using a Section 106 agreement (a mechanism which makes a development proposal acceptable in planning terms, that would not otherwise be acceptable). A proposed second school, for example, now looks unlikely to be built.

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The documents, drawn up by planning consultants, Stantec, state: "The original outline consent was based upon the provision of up to 3,890 homes, however due to market changes, design standards and housing needs, the overall homes at Waverley will not reach the modelled maximum capacity (3,890 homes).

"By the completion year of 2036, it is assumed that the residential development at Waverley will be fully completed with a total of 2,783 new homes under the outline consent, along with 254 additional homes at Highfield Commercial, development at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, Highfield Commercial comprising 32,515 sq.m [350,000 sq ft] of additional employment floorspaces and a mix of local centre uses at Olive Lane being open and constructed."

Harworth has already sold 2,727 plots to housebuilders. The AMP is almost full, 1.9m sq ft of commercial space has been built or sold from the 2.1m sq ft consented.

The scheme for Highfield Commercial replaced the original 645,000 sq ft office scheme designed to house government departments relocating out of London. Plans for Olive Lane were scaled back in 2021 after "a contraction in investment in new retail developments following a recession, Brexit and the COVID pandemic."

Developers are now asking to amend transport obligations, where work has already been carried out to J33 of the M1 nearby and relating to a link road that was scrapped after Rotherham and Sheffield Councils could not agree on a route.

The original scheme and legal agreement also included two, two-form entry primary schools. Waverley Primary Academy opened in 2020 and was extended last year.

The latest plans remove reference to a second school.

In its Full Year Results for the year ended 31 December 2025, Harworth Group saw its total revenue drop 29% to £129.8m, down from £181.6m in the previous year, while pretax profit reduced 75% to £14.7m from £69.4m.

Harworth Group website

Images: Harworth

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News: Where next in Rotherham for McDonald's?

Early stage plans are being prepared for a new development on the edge of a town in Rotherham, featuring a new petrol station, McDonald's restaurant and a drive thru coffee shop.

The most recent McDonald's in Rotherham opened in Dinnington last year, creating 70 full time equivalent jobs.

Now a planning enquiry has been made to Rotherham Council regarding an unused piece of land close to Wath town centre.

Feasability plans from Valli Forecourts show a mixed-use development comprising a Petrol Filling Station (PFS), a drive-thru coffee shop and a drive-thru restaurant on land adjacent to the A633 Station Road near Wath roundabout.

On the opposite side of the road to the recreation ground, and backing on to the Cross Keys pub, the brownfield site is currently occupied by a Cadent gas works and undeveloped land, bounded to the north by commercial uses and undeveloped land to the east and south.

The plans, seen by Rothbiz, are for the construction of a twelve filling bay PFS, ancillary retail kiosk and associated parking provision, including six-bay Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub, as well as jet washing bays and rollover car wash.

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The proposals would also see the provision of a 3,300 sq ft drive-thru restaurant to the east of the site (identified on plans as a McDonald's), and a 2,150 sq ft drive-thru coffee shop to the south of the site (an operator is not shown on the plans). Separate dedicated parking provisions would be included within each plot.

The proposals would see a new access constructed into the site off Station Road, to the northwest of the site, including a new pedestrian refuge island.

The land is part of a much larger area designated as Industrial & Business Use in the borough's local plan.

Rotherham Council planners recommended that the planning board reject the Dinnington proposals stating 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 [for industrial use]."

Planning permission was approved when the planning board at Rotherham Council went against the recommendation of officers.

Valli Forecourts website

Images: McDonald's / Google Maps

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News: Capital&Centric awarded £100m Rotherham regeneration contract

Leading social impact developer Capital&Centric, is set to play a key role in delivering "high quality, legacy developments" in Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz reported in March that Rotherham Council was appointing a private sector developer for the next phase of large scale house-building in the town centre.

The contract, which could reach up to £100m in value, has been awarded to Capital&Centric.

The Manchester company specialises in unlocking and transforming "unloved" brownfield sites into vibrant, design-led neighbourhoods. It is currently working on £2bn of development across commercial, residential, hotel and leisure sectors. In neighbouring Sheffield it has secured millions to progress plans at the Cannon Brewery site.

Rothbiz reported last month on John Moffat, joint managing director of Capital&Centric taking part in a panel at UKREiiF – The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum, which was entitled: "Next Stop Rotherham - The Gateway To The Future."

In Rotherham town centre, the first phase of the contract will involve the creation of Strategic Regeneration Plans which will then be used to identify the methodology to bring various council-owned sites forward.

The sites include:

- the cleared site of the burnt-out buildings on Corporation Street
- Snail Yard - the cleared site of the former Primark store on High Street, currently a small pocket park
- The Statutes - the cleared site of the former Magistrates Court, currently used as a car park
- two sites along Sheffield Road in the area designated as Riverside Residential.

To be completed by next month, the contract for stage one is worth £397,442.

The second phase involves the creation of full business cases for each site and stage three is the actual development.

Tender documents show that a total estimated contract value across all stages is given at £100,000,000 but add "however this final sum will be determined as approvals to progress into Stages 2 and 3 are agreed." A total contract duration at this stage is not yet known and will also be determined by the first two stages.

Tender documents state: "This arrangement relates to the appointment of an experienced developer to work in partnership to accelerate the development of key town centre sites in the pursuance of the physical, social and economic regeneration of Rotherham town centre. The chosen partner will be expected to bring a commercial skill set, excellent track record and innovative concept and vision to enable the development of these strategic sites at pace.

"The partner requires a strong track record of working in similar locations and share the Council's vision to create a legacy of high-quality mixed-use developments. This will mean a commitment to creating communities, not just homes and demonstrable evidence of embedding a social value approach in all activity to ensure local people and businesses will benefit from this investment."

Earlier this year, the Government announced a £2.3bn City Investment Fund that will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. Documents show that it is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

South Yorkshire has also secured £85m from a new City Densification Fund.

The projects stem from the Rotherham town centre masterplan of 2017 which confirmed the need for more housing and leisure uses as a way to develop economic vitality, bringing more life, activity and spending back into the town centre, moving away from the traditional retail market. It also highlighted the need for derelict and long-term vacant sites to be brought into public ownership.

The aim is "to bring forward new development, diversify the town centre offer and establish a new residential community" with the latest plans leading "to the development of a pipeline of detailed and deliverable schemes which align with market demand and secure the Council’s ambitions for high quality, legacy developments."

Rothbiz reported in 2024 on the potential sites and funding for redevelopment. The Council's most recent major housing development was the £30m+ "Trilogy Collection" - Westgate Riverside, Wellgate Place and Millfold Rise - that has seen 171 new homes built in partnership with Willmott Dixon. However, a previous tender exercise for the £6m scheme on Corporation Street received no interest, likely due to the smaller size of the scheme.

Capital & Centric website

Images: RMBC / ESH

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News: Opening date for Rotherham's new multimillion pound market hall

Operators, Rotherham Council, have confirmed an opening date for the new market hall in Rotherham town centre - the first phase of a £46.8m redevelopment project.

Lead contractors on behalf of Rotherham Council, Henry Boot Construction, began enabling works on the Drummond Street site in 2023. Alongside a new modern central library, the redevelopment of the markets is divided into two areas, an outdoor covered market, which is being rebuilt, and an adjacent indoor market, which is being revamped.

The New Market Hall is set to open for business on Friday July 10.

Work will continue on the library and move onto the indoor market. Traders in the current indoor market are expected to move temporarily into the New Market Hall until the revamp is complete.

The existing indoor market will remain open as usual until the move, with the last day of trading on Thursday July 2 to allow traders to relocate to the Market Hall.

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Mark Brown, Dalefarm Foods, Market Trader at Rotherham Market, said: "I’m a butcher in Rotherham Market. I’ve worked in this market since I was 16 years old, on and off for years, and I’ve been here for five or six years now.

“There’s a lot of investment going into Rotherham at this time, and moving into the new Market Hall is something we’re really looking forward to.

“We offer a lovely, fresh product at a good price, and people need to get back into the markets and support local traders.

“We do try to give people a good bargain where we can, and we’ll be putting on a lot of good offers to coax people back into Rotherham, so come down and see us on opening day.

“Let’s build Rotherham back up again."

The entrance to the Market Hall will be on Eastwood Lane (on the Rotherham College side of the building), with access through a new outdoor space where a number of market stalls will be based.

To coincide with the move, Rotherham Council has rebranded the markets, with new logos and signage, using the strapline: "More than a market.".

Cllr. John Williams, Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “This move means our traders can continue serving customers locally while improvement works to the current indoor market take place.

“We know how important the market is to Rotherham, both for shoppers and for the businesses who rely on it. The priority has been to keep that offer together, accessible and open throughout.

“The Market Hall provides a town centre location where people will still find the traders they know, supporting them while work continues.”

Rothbiz reported last month on the support being offered to traders during the redevlopment.

To complete the work, Rotherham Council's cabinet recently approved the use of various council funding pots to fill a funding gap following an increase in the total budget from £40.894m to £46.844m.

The paper included a timetable that showed that the library is planned to open later this year with the indoor market completing in Autumn 2027.

Rotherham Markets website

Images: Henry Boot / RMBC

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News: Rotherham Council in £4.5m deal with developers

Rotherham Council are close to concluding a deal that will net them £4.5m and enable a controversial 450 house development to go ahead.

Rothbiz reported in April that new developers had stepped in at Whiston after Avant Homes pulled out.

A residential allocation was made for nearly 50 acres of greenbelt land off Lathe Road / Worrygoose Lane through the development of the borough's Local Plan.

Miller Homes and St. Modwen Homes are now set to develop the site with a phased approach.

The new developers are now set to purchase a piece of surplus land on Worrygoose Lane from Rotherham Council, described as a "ransom strip."

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The council's cabinet is being asked to sign off the deal. A report explains: "The land is required to provide lawful access to a residential site allocated within the Council’s adopted Local Plan and therefore represents a ransom strip, without control of which the wider site cannot be developed.

"During the course of negotiations, a number of offers were made by the developer and adjoining landowners. At one stage, all offers were withdrawn while alternative options for accessing the site were explored, resulting in a period of limited engagement with the Council. At a later stage, a change in developer and a refreshed commercial approach led to negotiations being re-opened and ultimately concluding in a final agreed offer of £4.5m for the Council’s land.

"The disposal enables the realisation of value from a Council-owned asset and also enables delivery of a wider residential development, including affordable housing, as already identified within the Council’s Local Plan and wider objectives to deliver new residential and affordable residential across the Borough."

A reserved matters application for the site has never been approved. It detailed where the houses would go, the types of houses, and the location of things like attenuation basins and play areas. Miller Homes are now updating plans to reflect the incoming housebuilders’ product ranges.

With outline approval, the scheme comes with a number of conditions, such as contributing to £225,000 for transport improvements plus a financial contribution to the proposed works at Worrygoose roundabout, £100k per annum for a period of three years for bus services, and 25% on site affordable housing provision.

Miller Homes website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Developers get on board following Rotherham mainline station announcement

Developers are showing an interest in Rotherham on the back of the government's commitment to support plans for a new mainline station in the borough.

Tom Riordan CBE, Northern Growth Envoy, told MPs that an unnamed developer had signed an agreement to start investment in the Rotherham.

Although full funding is "not a done deal" Rotherham Gateway Station and the electrification of the Sheffield - Leeds line were included in the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) announced in January.

Over £11m of local transport funding has been agreed to develop a full business case for a new station at Parkgate. A 20-year programme of transformation includes more than 355,000 sq ft of advanced manufacturing and commercial space, around 250 new homes, and up to 132,000 sq ft of green spaces and public realm. It is a £300m regeneration project with proponents aiming to have the station open by late 2030.

The idea is to use a mainline station integrated with a tram-train stop to further develop the advanced manufacturing cluster within South Yorkshire as part of the UK’s first Investment Zone and the Don Valley Corridor.

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At a recent Westminster meeting of the Public Accounts Committee on Northern Powerhouse Rail, Tom Riordan CBE was asked if the partnerships between government and regional mayors and local councils was going to deliver NPR. Asking the question, Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East raised concerns over a situation where "no one is responsible and everyone blames everybody else."

Riordan, a former Chief Executive of regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, said: "I am really confident about this because we have tested it already. We could be sat here talking about what we are going to do to try to come to an agreement about Northern Powerhouse Rail in the future, but what we actually did in practice last November was say, “We’re going to do this, but we’re going to do it with the mayors.”

"The Secretary of State, working with officials, myself, Jo [Shanmugalingam - Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport] and others, worked to try to come to an agreement about the sequencing and the overall approach for this with the mayors. That has got to the point where joint compacts have been signed with Ministers where mayors have committed to put their own resources in to the agreement. It gives me confidence that we have done that once.

"It is really hard to agree stuff across the north of England, as we all know. It is not a single place; it is a group of different places. But we did that and it stuck. People have stuck with it. We have got further agreements about how we are going to move forward. We have a good partnership emerging around growth as well and the private sector is really interested in it.

"The week after the announcement, I went to Rotherham and met the council there. The fact that the Rotherham announcement had been made had led a developer to sign an agreement to start investment. That gives me confidence. A lot of times in the past, those of us in the north of England have maybe not had the confidence that things would happen. I really do think they are going to, and I think this is an innovative and different approach and it is working to date."

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham in line for massive jobs boost as part of Don Valley Corridor regeneration scheme

Key areas in Rotherham and Sheffield are at the heart of a flagship place-based regeneration programme for South Yorkshire that will enable over 18,000 jobs and 10,500 new homes through coordinated development.

The Don Valley Corridor will create a unified corridor for innovation, industry and neighbourhood renewal stretching from Sheffield city centre to the site of the proposed Rotherham Gateway Station.

It brings together the UK’s largest concentration of industrial research and production capability outside the South East, anchored by The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Translational Energy Research Centre, Olympic Legacy Park and major firms including Rolls-Royce, Boeing, McLaren and ITM Power.

Proponents say that: "By unlocking brownfield sites and investing in transport, energy and flood resilience infrastructure, the Don Valley Corridor will drive inclusive, sustainable, long-term regional growth."

The corridor between Sheffield and Rotherham has always been recognised as operating as one economy but the new programme will place the Don Valley as one of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's (SYMCA's) regional growth areas for investment.

That priority is set to be increased with the proposed designation of the region's first Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ) for the Don Valley Corridor.

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A SYMCA paper explains: "Under these arrangements the MCA will use its existing statutory powers, in particular, its strategic economic development powers and regeneration powers, its own resources and relationships with government, infrastructure providers and the private sector, as part of an integrated place-based programme. This will provide confidence both to the market, government and the wider public sector.

"Mayoral Development Zone is a designation signalling to Government, investors, and partners that an area is a strategic priority for coordinated long-term regeneration. It maintains strategic focus and partnership commitment, strengthens Government engagement, signals readiness to explore enhanced delivery powers if required, and preserves optionality on future statutory mechanisms. This designation responds to specific challenges within the Don Valley Corridor by bringing spatial coherence across a large and complex geography."

Partners have discounted the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which would have planning authority powers to acquire land, cut red tape, and accelerate high-quality housing and business. The report warns that a MDC would need a costly and rigid structure, potentially slowing progress.

Instead, a MDZ and the programme "adds strategic capacity, investment readiness and cross-boundary alignment so that separate initiatives can be sequenced and leveraged for greater impact."

Bringing together SYMCA with Rotherham Council and Sheffield Council "creates a single front door for Government, agencies and private markets" with governance and the authority's assurance framework in place. The paper adds that "there is shared commitment between SYMCA, RMBC and SCC to resource the programme collectively as a shared endeavour, including programme development capacity."

External funding is set to come from gainshare and other devolved funding pots, including funds that support renewal, housing and infrastructure. Nationally, the programme will be positioned to engage with institutions such as Homes England and the National Wealth Fund.

The Government has this week committed to providing the South Yorkshire Mayor with access to "£85m new money to support jobs and development, including in the Don Valley Corridor and Sheffield Innovation spine."

The Government's recently announced £2.3bn City Investment Fund will bring together different types of finance, deployed flexibly to accelerate projects, expand city-centre housing and office markets, and support major regeneration schemes across the North. It is expected to be used in "developing projects in the Don Valley Corridor, Sheffield city centre Innovation Spine, and Rotherham Town Centre."

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire said: "We’re building a bigger and better economy across all of South Yorkshire, creating the opportunities that allow people to stay near and go far.

"For too long, South Yorkshire and the wider North have been failed, not only a by a lack of investment in our people, our businesses, our ideas and our infrastructure, but by a lack of ambition itself.

"But slowly, surely we’re beginning to see the South Yorkshire of the future taking shape - with world leading companies in industries of the future investing here, real income growth, and huge plans for the future, we’re starting to see the full potential of every part of Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.

"The UK cannot realise its own economic renewal without places like South Yorkshire playing our full part, but together with this Government we are now making that happen."

Don Valley Corridor aligns with the South Yorkshire Investment Zone which includes Rotherham sites such as the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Waverley, parts of Brinsworth and Canklow, the remaining regeneration sites at Templeborough, the Meadowbank Road area along with Holmes and Masbrough, the whole of Rotherham town centre, the Greasbrough Road area, Eastwood, Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, areas of Parkgate (but not the existing retail parks or adjacent land), and land at Aldwarke (but not the existing steel works).

The Mayoral Combined Authority Board is set to discuss the Don Valley Corridor next week.

SYMCA website

Images: Harworth Group / SYMCA

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News: South Yorkshire Mayor: "Whitestone is the wrong scheme"

Oliver Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire says that he is convinced that plans for a massive solar farm that could take up acres of green belt land in Rotherham "is the wrong scheme."

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans being updated for Whitestone Solar Farm - a generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Initial consultation documents from solar developer Green Nation showed that vast areas of agricultural land in Rotherham and Doncaster, some safeguarded for the now-cancelled HS2 route, could make up the solar farm.

The northen site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

Following a second round of consultation, the plans have been updated again.

Proponents of the scheme say that the size of the scheme has been reduced significantly.

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An update reads: "We received more than 10,000 pieces of written feedback. We have now reviewed all of the feedback we received. Where the feedback applied to the masterplan, we have made a number of changes to address concerns.

"In response to feedback from two rounds of consultation and ongoing stakeholder engagement, the size of Whitestone has been reduced significantly. The final size is now 1,169 hectares (2,888 acres), which includes 691 hectares (1,707 acres) for solar and associated infrastructure and 637 hectares (1,181 acres) for environmental mitigation and enhancement. Compared to the initial masterplan, this is a reduction of 37% of the developable area and a reduction of 17% of the total size of the project."

Following a public meeting on the plans, Oliver Coppard said: "I went into the room with significant doubts about the scale of the development, and the huge cost it will impose on the local community. I left the meeting convinced that it is the wrong scheme, with huge flaws in the public consultation, the design and the delivery, and it should not be imposed here, in the heart of South Yorkshire.

"I’ll be taking away all the comments and questions that were raised tonight, and following up with all those who attended and are interested in what we might be able to do to mount an objection to the Whitestone Solar Farm.

"It’s not in my gift to stop the scheme, and I can’t promise that will be the eventual outcome, but I can promise to explore all of our options and to work with partners and our communities to raise our voices together, and to do what we can to make those voices heard."

Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A DCO submission is expected in Spring 2026.

Whitestone Solar Farm website

Images: Whitestone Net Zero Limited

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News: Rotherham Persimmon plans pulled

An application for 155 houses in Rotherham by Persimmon Homes submitted in 2019 is no longer being assessed by the local planning authority. It comes as rival housebuilders prepare plans for the adjacent plots of land.

Rothbiz reported last year that a masterplan was updated for a proposed housing scheme on a parcel of land at Aston where developers have been unable to bring forward a commercial scheme.

Persimmon Homes and Gleeson Homes had both identified the site at Mansfield Road for development.

The wider site was allocated for mixed use in the council's local plan with the authority explaining that around 150 houses could be accomodated here alongside employment uses.

Landowners Network Space Ltd has owned the site for over 30 years and has been unable to deliver employment land development owing to the topography and ground condition relevant to industrial development.

Gleeson's 2024 plans are for 111 houses - a mix of houses across the sloping site - 23, two-bed houses, 63, three-bed and 25, four-bed. Twelve are designed as bungalows.

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Rotherham Council has asked for a masterplan for the "comprehensive development of the whole site" which is required to support any planning permission.

Consultants, nineteen47 on behalf of Gleeson Homes, submitted a masterplan, which includes planned uses for Gleeson's site, Persimmon's site, and a remaining parcel of land between the existing Mansfield Road Industrial Estate and the A57 Aston Bypass.

The 2024 application for Gleeson, drawn up by Nineteen47, explains: "The neighbouring application to the east does not comprise committed residential development. The application was validated in December 2019 and since that time very limited progress has been made towards the determination of the application. There is no clear rationale for the delays and the application could yet be withdrawn or refused by the LPA, it cannot be relied upon to satisfy the housing requirement within the allocation. The proposed housing within this application could therefore contribute to the anticipated provision of housing within the site."

The 2019 Permisson application remained undetermined until last month and is now listed as withdrawn.

The whole site is adjacent to another potential housing site where builder Keepmoat is progressing plans. Closer to Swallownest, the site known as Aston Common was allocated for residential use in the council's local plan that was adopted in 2018, taking it out of the green belt.

Agents said last year that the intention was to pursue a full planning application for 189 dwellings on the 16.2 hectare site.

Images: Google Maps / Gleeson / nineteen47 / niemen

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News: Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield opens in Rotherham

The newly built Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield has officially opened its doors at the entrance to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that Essex-based developer, Stapleford Ventures Ltd, had secured planning permission for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way where the Waverley development meets the Morrisons roundabout at Catcliffe.

Leading independent hotel management company, RBH Hospitality Management, was appointed to run the new hotel further strengthening RBH’s relationship with Marriott International following the prestigious The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection, Edinburgh and Old Town Chambers Autograph Collection joining RBH’s portfolio earlier this year.

The 150-rooms include family and dog-friendly options which are designed in a natural, calming palette of browns and greens, with contemporary wood accents. The hotel also offers meeting and event spaces that draw on the city’s industrial heritage, aimed at both business use and community events.

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At the heart of the hotel is Aspen Restaurant & Bar, inspired by the local community and named after the original meaning of Waverley: ‘a meadow of quivering aspens’. The restaurant serves up delicious dishes, including a signature Philly cheesesteak, sweet potato and butternut squash tagine, and Sunday roasts, in a stylish and relaxed setting. The bar’s cocktail list includes drinks inspired by the city’s steel-making history.

David Hart, CEO of RBH Hospitality Management, said: “Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield is a valuable addition to our portfolio, marking our first property in Sheffield. The opening also strengthens our long-term relationship with Marriott International as we continue to make progress against our strategic objectives of expanding our portfolio across the UK and operating a diverse mix of brands across the hotel chain scale, alongside our expertise in the luxury hotel market and independent hotel sector.”

Originally due to open in Spring 2023, work stopped at the site off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way, with master developer, Harworth Group issuing a statement in 2024 regarding "unforeseen challenges" faced by the hotel owner, Stapleford Ventures, who bought the land from Harworth in 2021.

Courtyard by Marriott website

Images: RBH / Courtyard by Marriott

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News: Masterplan signed off for 2,000 home development in Rotherham greenbelt

A proposed 2,000 home development on former greenbelt land in Rotherham has reached an important step in the planning process.

The vision is to create a "well-connected 21st century garden community" at Bassingthorpe Farm

A Bassingthorpe Farm Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been signed off by the Council's cabinet. It provides detailed guidance to developers when preparing planning applications, to help bring forward development of the site in a way that meets the Council’s objectives.

As part of the Local Plan core strategy that was adopted in 2014, the 215 hectare area close to Rotherham town centre was controversially removed from the Green Belt and designated as a Strategic Allocation and the main location for new housing, employment and retail growth.

Around 57 hectares (26%) of the site is under Rotherham Council's ownership and the Council has been leading on the proposals for a number of years, working collaboratively with major landowner, Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates (FWE), on how to bring forward the project.

The allocation was for around 2,400 new homes, a primary school, a local centre, employment land and commercial opportunities. Work has been carried out to detail just where development platforms, new roads, the school and flood preventing reservoirs could be located.

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The cabinet report explains: "The vision for Bassingthorpe Farm is to create a well-connected 21st century garden community and an integral part of Rotherham. It should offer excellent walkable neighbourhoods and convenient links with adjacent communities, a transformed town centre and new mainline station. A quality landscape setting supports healthy active lifestyles as well as comprehensive bio-diversity gains as part of integrated green and blue infrastructure.

"The heart of Bassingthorpe should include vibrant local shops and facilities with job opportunities and a neighbourhood park. New distinctive neighbourhoods will provide a mix of quality homes, including affordable housing that meets local needs, helping, transforming Rotherham’s housing offer with more compact character areas in key locations and overall of a scale to sustain a critical mass of neighbourhood facilities Bassingthorpe will foster inclusive, diverse communities. Long term stewardship underpins the community’s sustainability, from the management of its greenspaces to the genuine involvement of local people."

The latest technical work suggests up to approximately 2,000 homes can be achieved which is lower than the anticipated number of homes in previous masterplan drafts.

Regarding employment uses, the framework plan shows proposed employment uses on a dedicated site to the eastern edge of the allocation area. Development here could be integrated with the existing employment area at Mangham Road and would benefit from access from Greasbrough Road. Land to the west of Carr Hill, to the north of the recycling centre is also proposed for employment uses.

Cllr John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, explained the timeframes for the development. He said: "In adopting this report, there isn't going to be any works happening tomorrow, next week or next month. Nothing is going to immediately happen. This is a planning technical excercise setting out that clear guidance and information to any potential future developer to then bring forward the development."

Cllr. Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council added: "If, and when, housing proposals are brought forward, we want those to be good quality proposals. We want that to be a sustainable neighbourhood where people want to live, to have good public transport access, homes that people want to live in and a community that fits within our wider Rotherham community. That's the purpose of trying to put some planning rules araound it and we've welcomed the feedback we've had from the public and we've tried to respond to those issues, priorities and concerns."

Viability issues have hampered progress so far. It was in November 2016 when the authority approved plans to search for a "Promotion Partner" that would bring skills and funding to facilitate the delivery of the site.

In 2018, the authority was considering utilising a "Bare Trust" to pool its land together with that of other landowners in order to progress development.

Images: RMBC / HYAS / Google Maps

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News: Second consultation for Whitestone solar plans

Developers behind the Whitestone Solar Farm are about to begin a second round of consultation after plans were updated.

Rothbiz reported in April on early stage plans being updated for a solar farm generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW and connecting to the National Grid Brinsworth Substation in Rotherham.

Developers say that they have made "significant changes to the project design" to respond to the feedback received.

Updated documents explain that one fourth of the land (279 hectares / 689 acres) has been removed across the whole site that was included for solar development to create buffers around homes, villages and public rights of way near the project boundary. This has resulted in the removal or reduction of panels around the most sensitive community areas, particularly around residential dwellings.

Due to its size, Whitestone is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it needs a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than made locally by Rotherham and Doncaster Councils.

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A 450-page scoping report has been examined by the planning inspectorate which provided environmental information outlining the scope and methodology of the technical studies being conducted. It precedes a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The report confirms that the proposed development is being brought forward by Whitestone Net Zero Limited, owned by Net Zero One Limited but it is intended to be constructed, managed and operated by Green Nation.

A leaflet from the developers states: "The first round of consultation ran for 11 weeks, and included public events, meetings with parish councils and other stakeholders, and individual discussions with local residents. We received 940 pieces of written feedback, which we have reviewed and considered, to inform the updated design shown at this round of consultation.

"We are now holding our second consultation on the updated masterplan and draft Environmental Statement, which will help inform the proposals we submit in our DCO application next spring."

The northern site straddles the Rotherham and Doncaster border east of Hooton Roberts and north of Ravenfield.

Farmland adjacent to the M18 south of Bramley and Wickersley has also been identified to host thousands of solar panels, as has vast areas of fields either side of the M1 south of its junction with the M18. This includes sites near Ulley, Aston and Brampton, out towards North and South Anston, and the other way to land between Treeton and Whiston.

In the south of the borough, sites could be included in the solar farm development that are close to Kiveton Park, Harthill and Woodall.

The consultation will be carried out from September 16 to October 28 2025. A number of public information events have been scheduled for October.

Whitestone website

Images: Green Nation / Google Maps

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News: Historic England objects to Rotherham hotel development

Historic England continues to raise objections with proposals to redevelop the remains of a former foundry on the edge of Rotherham town centre.

Applicants say that the only viable way forward would involve some demolition.

Last month Rothbiz revealed that the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment had asked for further information regarding the removal of two of the buildings at the fire-damaged former Guest & Chrimes foundry.

Historic England say that the proposed loss of two out of three wings of the building "would cause a very high level of harm to the significance of the listed building."

A planning application was submitted in January for a new hotel development on the prominent site which is alongside Rotherham United's AESSEAL New York Stadium. Stewart Developments Ltd is seeking permission to convert and partly demolish the dilapidated existing Grade II listed building and link it to a new build property to create a new hotel.

The foundry use of the site ceased in 1990 and the building has been empty since 1999. A severe fire at the former brass and iron foundry in 2018 meant that the front portion was subsequently demolished.

The building remains Grade II listed and Historic England says that its significance largely lies with the ability to read the rapid expansion of a highly successful 19th century metal and brassworks in Rotherham, adding: "In spite of the loss of the more architecturally elaborate office block, we are able to read this story of expansion through the functional architecture of the remaining buildings."

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Plans show that the 51,074 sq ft hotel would have 138 bedrooms and include a restaurant and bar. The largest northern range is set to be refurbished so that the hotel main entrance is located directly beneath the water tower. A new L-shaped building is set to replace the other two remaining wings as the retention of fire damaged blocks is seen as unviable.

A structural report concluded that the wings planned for demolition "are not beyond repair and could be sensitively restored, should resources allow."

Applicants however say that the proposed hotel development and the demolition of two wings "is considered the only viable opportunity available to deliver beneficial use."

Alexander Harrison, Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas at Historic England, said: "It is important to understand fully whether or not retention, repair and conversion of these buildings could be viable. The viability assessments provided are based on estimates and not on accurate and robust condition surveys and costings for the reuse of the existing buildings. Therefore we cannot be certain from the information provided that retention is unviable, and that demolition has been proved necessary. The required clear and convincing justification is not considered to have been demonstrated by the additional information supplied by the applicant."

Consultants, White Land Strategies, looked at the options assessed for the redevelopment of the site in a bid to find a viable proposal that is deliverable, and where conservation is maximised / balanced. Included options ranged from having all three buildings retained, two buildings retained and one building retained.

Historic England wants to see these appraisals with the inspector adding that "the applicant has not demonstrated that a less harmful configuration of hotel use would be unviable."

On the benefits outweighing any harm, the inspector concludes: "It is not clear whether the applicant has been in discussion with any hotel operators and whether those operators have shown an interest in taking the site forward. Similarly it has not been demonstrated that thorough market research has been conducted to understand whether there is a demand and a viable business case for a mid-range hotel in Rotherham."

Images: Stewart Developments / stephenson hamilton risley STUDIO

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