News: Canford Group completes acquisition of Lemonaid

Rotherham-based Lemonaid Motor Legal, a provider of fast and effective claims solutions for insurance brokers, has been acquired by Canford Group, a leading independent provider of first notification of loss (FNOL) and motor claims management services.

The acquisition extends Canford Group’s diversified, tech-enabled specialist legal services platform across the full lifecycle of the motor claim, from first notification through to litigation, giving the Group visibility and control over claim quality from the outset. Lemonaid joins Canford Law, Canford Law Scotland and PDC Group as the Group’s fourth vertical.

Based in Templeborough, Lemonaid provides white-label FNOL and claims management services to motor insurance brokers, triaging claims and placing them with a panel of specialist service providers across credit hire, repairs, recovery and storage, salvage and personal injury.

The senior leadership team, led by Managing Director Luke Baker, will remain in place and retain a significant equity stake, ensuring continuity as Lemonaid continues to operate under its own brand, building on the strong reputation it has established with its broker clients.

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David Nash, Group CEO of Canford Group, said: “The completion of this acquisition marks the second acquisition into the Canford Group. There has been real excitement about welcoming Luke and his team to the Group, and working with Luke ahead of completion has been incredibly enjoyable. It is evident that our businesses share the same direction and I am excited by the opportunities this new relationship will create for clients and colleagues across the Group.”

Luke Baker, Managing Director of Lemonaid, added: “I’m incredibly excited that Lemonaid is entering a new chapter, becoming part of Canford Group. Reaching this point shows what can be achieved when you bring together great people, brilliant partners across our customers and suppliers, and the huge amount of ambition that has always been at the heart of Lemonaid. This feel like a natural fit as we become part of the Group and continue to invest in our people, our capabilities, and the first class service Lemonaid continues to deliver.”

"Canford Group’s expertise will allow us to stay closer to the complete client journey, from the initial accident through to representation and the recovery of our clients’ losses. That’s a huge step forward for Lemonaid and our team, but most importantly for our clients and partners."

The acquisition is Canford’s second bolt-on since Queen Park Equity’s investment in December 2025.

Lemonaid website

Images: Canford Group

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News: New plans for burnt out buildings site in Rotherham town centre

New plans are being developed for the vacant plot created when two prominent burnt out buildings were demolished in Rotherham town centre.

Early proposals also provide a further hint that a new theatre is planned for the Leisure & Cultural Quarter extending from Forge Island.

The Corporation Street site is one of five where social impact developer Capital&Centric, is supporting Rotherham Council's aim of attracting new uses, services, residential and leisure opportunities and moving away from the traditional retail market.

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

Pre-development work and feasibility studies will help to create full business cases for the five council-owned brownfield sites.

At Corporation Street, the council had to go through a lengthy CPO process for the buildings that made up 3-7 Corporation Street and that were a long-standing eyesore in Rotherham. Having acquired the properties, the authority was ultimately unable to realise a previously approved £6m mixed-use scheme, despite external funds to pay for demolition and help fill a viability gap.

Capital&Centric has worked with consultants, Urbana, and architects, FaulknerBrown, on a new mixed use proposal that includes commercial / office space and ten, three bedroom homes.

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A set of two blocks are shown on the vacant site fronting Corporation Street with ground floor space envisaged as a mix of café, restaurant and retail space. A range of duplex apartments, designed to be home to between two and six people, are shown on the upper floor with a courtyard open space created to the rear.

The plans state: "The proposals represent a significant opportunity to deliver commercial-led regeneration across an important brownfield site within Rotherham Town Centre.

"The proposed development represents a positive and policy-compliant regeneration opportunity within Rotherham Town Centre. It would make effective use of previously developed land, deliver new commercial and residential floorspace, strengthen active frontages and contribute towards a broader and more balanced mix of uses and homes across the wider regeneration programme."

A council cabinet report from earlier this year stated that the scheme, like the Snail Yard scheme nearby, is not considered viable without some form of public sector funding and the council is working with Capital&Centric to find gap funding.

The name given to the development by Capital&Centric is the "Theatre" site.

Rothbiz revealed in 2023 that a new theatre was included in the authority's place-based investment strategy following hints that a new theatre could be located in the Corporation Street area of town.

Rotherham Council has also purchased the former Wilko's store and the vacated former Regal Cinema / Mecca Bingo on Corporation Street for regeneration purposes.

Capital&Centric website

Images: Capital&Centric / FaulknerBrown

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News: Peel takes off Haworth from London Stock Exchange

Peel Holdings has confirmed plans to delist Harworth Group, the Rotherham-based regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, that it is acquiring.

It follows on from wholesale board changes.

Rothbiz reported last month that the board of Harworth, had recommended a best and final takeover offer from major shareholder Peel Holdings, valuing the company at £631.7m.

Created from what was UK Coal, Harworth Group grew to own, develop, and manage a portfolio of over 15,000 acres of strategic land over 100 sites located throughout the North of England and Midlands, and made it on to the FTSE 250, the domestic-focused mid-cap stock index comprising the 101st to 350th largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Manchester's The Peel Group is a long-term investor in Harworth, having held various ownership interests in Harworth over a number of years. The Peel Holdings directors believe that Harworth's assets would be best owned, managed and developed under the full control of Peel Holdings.

Peel's earlier bid document said it would de-list the business from the stock exchange, stating that "Harworth’s stock market listing no longer serves its purpose". It added that "public market listing is of limited benefit," restricted by the largest three shareholders owning approximately 75.8%. of Harworth's share capital. Peel's documents also added that share trading showed a "very low and declining share liquidity" with Harworth not raising equity in nine years.

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With Peel now acquiring over 75% of the shares, an application has been submitted to delist from the Stock Exchange. Following the delisting and cancellation, it is intended that Harworth will be re-registered as a private limited company as soon as practicable.

Harworth recently moved into a new headquarters near to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in its flagship Waverley development in Rotherham. Peel earlier said that it had "not yet determined whether any changes will be made to the location of Harworth's headquarters or headquarters functions, or to the locations of Harworth's other fixed places of business." Any changes would be considered as part of a review into Harworth's assets.

Peel's earlier document also said it would de-list the business from the stock exchange and on jobs, the announcement said: "Following the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional, BidCo expects to review overlapping functions across the Harworth Group, including senior management, corporate, operational, finance, human resources, compliance and other support functions.

"Based on BidCo's preliminary assessment, the Offer is expected to result in a significant headcount reduction and synergies from overlapping functions and the elimination of costs associated with Harworth's status as a listed company. BidCo has not yet determined the number of roles likely to be affected, the timing of any reductions or the specific functions or locations in which any reductions may occur and will provide further information to affected employees in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements."

Peel is expected to review Harworth's fixed asset base, including its strategic land bank and investment portfolio, and then intends to accelerate the disposal of selected assets.

At the start of October, the directors of Harworth all resigned. This included Alastair Lyons (Chair), Lynda Shillaw (Director and Chief Executive), Kitty Patmore (Director and Chief Financial Officer), Angela Bromfield (Senior Independent Non-Executive Director), Patrick O'Donnell Bourke (Independent Non-Executive Director), Lisa Scenna (Independent Non-Executive Director), Marzia Zafar (Independent Non-Executive Director), Phil Redding (Independent Non-Executive Director), Tony Quinlan (Independent Non-Executive Director) and Martyn Bowes (Non-Executive Director).

Steven Underwood, Graeme Charnock, John Peter Whittaker, Ian Ball and Mark Whitworth, representatives of the Peel Group, were appointed as directors in their place.

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Peel website

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News: Public funding set to be used to buy land for South Yorkshire Airport City project

South Yorkshire’s Mayor and leaders are set to approve a landmark deal to bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent land into public ownership.

Rothbiz reported last year on a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board (SYMCA) decision to reopen the airport when it approved a £160m (£159.52m) funding package.

However, during negotiations with landowners, Peel, it was found that clauses in a proposed lease would impact upon the viability of the project. Specifically a solution to a turnover rent clause that was satisfactory for all parties could not be found.

Discussions continued and a change in stance from Peel combined with the potential use of devolved powers led to talks over the freehold purchase of the airport site and the adjacent Gateway East development land.

The SYMCA board is now being asked to essentially use funding that was approved to pay for the lease of the land, to instead cover the borrowing costs for purchasing around 1,000 acres from Peel.

Papers explain that borrowing is profiled to be repaid over a thirty-year period compared to a 125-year lease, with public control of the land offering the opportunity to "achieve the strategic ambition by reinstating the airport whilst at the same time developing the Gateway East land."

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No figures have been made public yet and, whilst bosses say that acquisition borrowing can be largely matched to grant funding, they identify a risk that FlyDoncaster Ltd, the 100% Doncaster Council-owned private limited company running the operation, will need to generate the cashflows required to repay the credit facility extended to it by SYMCA.

Another major risk to the project remains a potential legal challenge from other regional airports regarding the use of public money.

South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’m delighted to say that subject to formal approval of the MCA Board next week and then Peel, we’ve agreed a deal that means we’re taking Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land into public ownership. This is a deal that puts the future of DSA back in our hands and finally gives one of the biggest and best growth opportunities in South Yorkshire the platform for long-term success that it needs and deserves.

“Four years ago, we were told that our airport would be closing. But alongside [Mayor of Doncaster] Ros Jones, I said I would do anything I could to save DSA, and I meant it.

“Which is why after months of negotiations and the growing flexibility afforded to us by the government’s devolution agenda, today we can announce that we have come to an agreement for SYMCA to buy the airport and Innovation Quarter employment land from Peel.

“Subject to the agreement of the MCA Board next week, the airport and surrounding Innovation Quarter employment land will be owned and controlled by us, for us; the people of South Yorkshire. This deal means our future will be in our own hands again.

“When the airport closed, almost everything was against us; the owners did not want to sell, we had no legal powers to intervene or stop the airport from closing, and no backing from the government at the time. Today, the future for DSA is bright, with the airport back in our hands, the sky’s the limit.”

Chancellor John Healey, who is also MP for or Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, added: "This is concrete proof of the benefits of shifting power out of Whitehall and into the hands of the people who best know their local economies: our mayors and local leaders.”

“Local and regional jobs, innovation, opportunities and hope for communities and families across South Yorkshire, including in Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, will all flow from the hard work, determination and partnership which has delivered this outcome.”

“This is precisely the good growth in every postcode that the Government has made its central mission.”

FlyDoncaster Ltd website

Images: FlyDoncaster Ltd

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News: Yorkshire Water well underway with work on multimillion pound projects in Rotherham

Yorkshire Water has begun work on 27 projects to reduce sewer discharges into watercourses - an investment of £73.5m in the Rotherham area.

A £4.75m scheme at Clifton Park is creating a combined sewer overflow (CSO) to reduce storm overflow discharges into the river Don.

Construction partner, M Group has begun work on a new 345m³ underground storage tank in a field beneath Clifton Park. The tank will store 345,000 litres of excess wastewater during periods of heavy rainfall, before returning it back into waterways once it has been treated.

On completion, the upgrade is expected to reduce annual storm overflow discharges from Clifton Park CSO by around 72%, cutting the annual average from 37 to fewer than ten per year.

A further £1.25m project to separate surface water from the wastewater network is planned at nearby Herringthorpe Playing Fields, helping to reduce the amount of rainfall entering and overloading the sewer system.

The project is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Vikki Overend, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We know that reducing storm discharges and maintaining healthy waterways are important to our local communities which is why we're continuing to invest in projects that reduce storm overflow discharges and improve the resilience of our wastewater network.

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"This investment at Clifton Park will help us capture and store excess flows during heavy rainfall, significantly reducing the use of the storm overflow and supporting our efforts to improve the health of the river Don."

Work got underway in the summer at Lord Street in Clifton on a £2.3m scheme on a new 80m³ storm tank at empty allotments plots, with new pipework and an overhaul of the existing combined sewer overflow chamber.

Contract partners, Ward & Burke, are also underway with work at Scrooby Street combined sewer overflow (CSO) in Greasbrough, where Yorkshire Water is constructing a new 1,550m³ storm attenuation tank.

The £4.3m project here will provide additional capacity within the sewer network during periods of intense rainfall, helping to reduce storm overflow discharges into Greasbrough Dike and ultimately the River Don. The scheme will take up to 14 months to complete.

At Treeton, a £2.6m investment is being made to reduce sewage discharges from the Treeton Mill Lane combined sewer overflow (CSO). A pipe nest was installed to increase capacity within the network with contractors M Group returning to the area to complete work to build a new combined sewer overflow and decommission redundant parts of the network.

Yorkshire Water is delivering its largest ever environmental investment programme, with £8.3bn set to be invested across the region over the next five years to upgrade infrastructure and improve services.

Yorkshire Water website

Images: Tom Austen

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News: £9.5m vision shows Millmoor reborn

Plans have been revealed for an ambitious £9.5m vision for transforming the site of Rotherham United's former home into a new 2,000-capacity stadium, national women's football centre of excellence and community sports village.

Rothbiz reported first earlier this week that early stage discussions had taken place over the future use of Millmoor, the historic stadium that is currently being demolished.

Now Rotherham United Women FC has revealed its initial vision for the famous site following discussions with owners the Ron Hull Group and meetings with representatives of Rotherham Council.

The proposals would see football return to Millmoor, which was home to Rotherham United for more than a century before the men's team departed in 2008.

At the heart of the plans is a national centre of excellence dedicated to girls' and women's football, with facilities designed to attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the UK and potentially further afield.

The club believes the site could become a major destination for women's football development, offering opportunities from grassroots participation through to elite performance, alongside facilities that the entire community can enjoy.

The initial £9.5m vision includes a 2,000-capacity football stadium – a new home for Rotherham United Women, featuring a 3G playing surface, spectator facilities, hospitality and potential for future expansion.

A national centre of excellence for girls' and women's football – specialist coaching, player development, sports science, fitness and education, with ambitions to attract talent from across the country.

Other facilities could include padel courts, a health and fitness hub, community and multi-sport facilities and a tribute to Millmoor's heritage.

The club said that the aim is to create a destination that is busy seven days a week, bringing together elite sport, grassroots participation, education, recreation and community activity as well as acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration in Masbrough.

Phil Smith, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "We see an opportunity to create something genuinely significant here, not just for Rotherham but for women's football nationally.

"The ambition isn't simply to build a new stadium. It's to explore a dedicated centre of excellence that could attract players, coaches and sporting organisations from across the country, while creating facilities that schools, families and the wider community can benefit from.

"Millmoor has an incredible history, and there's an opportunity to give it a new purpose for generations to come.

"We've had constructive initial discussions with the Ron Hull Group and representatives of the Council. There's a considerable amount of work ahead, but we believe the potential deserves to be explored properly."

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Rotherham United Women will launch a two-week public consultation on Monday October 26, asking residents, supporters, schools, sporting organisations, charities and businesses what they want from the site.

The consultation will explore demand for the proposed facilities, identify what the community feels is missing and invite ideas that have not yet been considered.

Scott Thorpe, co-owner of Rotherham United Women FC, said: "For nearly 20 years we've talked about what Rotherham lost when football left Millmoor. Maybe it's time we started talking about what Rotherham could gain.

"Imagine a new stadium, kids training on the pitches, families playing padel and young footballers travelling from all over the country because Rotherham has become somewhere they aspire to play.

"Why shouldn't we have something like that here?

"But this can't just be about what Phil and I think. We've got our ideas, and now we want to hear everyone else's.

"If you're a parent, a teacher, a local business, a sports club or someone who simply wants to see Rotherham thrive, we want you involved.

"We're not pretending this is a done deal. There are plenty of hurdles to overcome, but you've got to have ambition."

Rotherham United Women website

Images: RUWFC

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News: Rotherham bank building sold, council tight-lipped

An empty former bank on Corporation Street has sold at auction at the same time as the local council approves the purchase of an unnamed property in Rotherham town centre.

The former NatWest bank building was previously part of a regeneration scheme but agreements could not be reached between the owner and the council.

Described as being "in a state of disrepair requiring development and conversion," BTG Eddisons listed 38 Corporation Street with a guide price of £180,000 - £200,000.

It sold this week for £300,500.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 on investment plans for vacant buildings on Corporation Street as part of a bid to extend the town's new Leisure and Cultural Quarter from nearby Forge Island.

As development continued on the cinema and hotel scheme, acquisitions by Rotherham Council have included the Riverside Precinct, the former Mecca Bingo building, the building vacated by Wilko, and the burnt-out buildings on the opposite side of Corporation Street. All but the grade II listed Mecca building have been demolished.

In the case of the former NatWest Bank, private sector owners did not bring forward a suitable scheme and previously turned down a bid from the council to buy the building.

To support the scheme, Rotherham Council was prepared to sell the former Lloyds bank next door for just £1 in 2022.

By 2024, concerns were being raised regarding the progress made by the owners of the NatWest Bank who were then given a short timescale to provide a plan. With no suitable plans for the bank, the owners then informed the council that they would consider selling the property. However, an agreement could not be reached.

Auction documents show that the property was being sold by Chicken Villas Limited, a company that is connected to the QFM Group, the Sheffield-based operator of a number of popular food franchises.

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Earlier this week, Rotherham Council's cabinet approved the use of its Capital Contingency Fund to "acquire a property in Rotherham Town Centre for the purposes of future regeneration."

The documents do not name the property but describe it as being "the subject of previous masterplan and feasibility work, demonstrating the strategic value of the property for regeneration purposes" and add that the "property’s location means that its future ownership, condition and use could have a material bearing on the quality and delivery of surrounding regeneration proposals."

A cabinet paper adds: "Acquisition would enable the Council to secure control of the property while future development options are assessed. Those options may include refurbishment, redevelopment, reuse in conjunction with adjoining Council interests, or incorporation within a wider regeneration proposal.

"The property is vacant and understood to require significant investment. Acquisition would therefore expose the Council to immediate holding, security, insurance, compliance and maintenance costs pending agreement and funding of any future use.

"The property is vacant and in poor condition, and full access has not yet been provided. There is therefore a risk of significant structural, fabric, building-services, asbestos, security or other abnormal costs. The maximum bid will reflect the limitations of the available information. If acquired, an initial allowance will be made for the security, insurance, health and safety and property-management measures considered essential pending a full condition assessment."

Looking ahead, the council, which is working on multimillion pound public realm work on Corporation Street and a new riverside gardens, said of the new target: "No funded redevelopment project is presently being approved. There is a risk that the cost of bringing the property back into beneficial use exceeds available resources. Acquisition must therefore be justified principally by the property’s strategic importance, supported by an assessment of holding costs and future options."

Options to leave any redevelopment up to the private sector owners, or indeed seek to engage and work with the building's owners were rejected due to the lack of influence and direct control of future regeneration.

Draft plans submitted with the auction documents show around 2,000 sq ft of commercial space in a new building overlooking the river and new gardens and a 1,700 sq ft commercial unit in the old bank. Plans for the upper floors show apartments across both buildings.

Neither the property that Rotherham Council has been authorised to acquire, or the successful bidder of the auction lot has been disclosed.

BTG auctions

Images: BTG

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News: Millmoor talks held over "centre of excellence" idea

Early stage discussions have taken place over the future use of Millmoor, the historic home of Rotherham United that is currently being demolished.

Rothbiz reported first in May that the Ron Hull Group planned to demolish Millmoor with plans explaining the poor condition and the "long term lack of a viable user" of the stadium that last hosted league football almost 20 years ago.

The new owners of CF Booth Ltd, took on the old football ground when it acquired the assets of the historic Rotherham firm that had entered administration. Plans said that "the client does intend to redevelop the site at a future date."

Now, just months on from saving Rotherham United Women Football Club, the new owners there have started discussions regarding big plans for utilising Millmoor in the future.

Local business leaders Phil Smith and Scott Thorpe acquired the club in July when it was just days away from closure following a period of financial uncertainty.

Smith, the founder and former group CEO of Embark Group, and Thorpe of TMG Financial Services, have set out a bold vision to achieve back to back promotions and reach the Barclays Women’s Super League within five years.

With the plans approved for the demolition of Millmoor, talks have taken place about the club creating a sports village at the Masbrough site.

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Scott Thorpe, co-owner of Rotherham United Women Football Club, said: "We've had some really positive discussions with the council about the possibility of bringing one of Rotherham's most historic sporting sites back to life as a sports village and centre of excellence.

"And I don't want us to think small.

"Why shouldn't Rotherham become a genuine centre of excellence for girls' and women's football, with facilities that also support schools, other sports and the wider community?

"Imagine a place where a young girl can start playing football, develop through a proper pathway and potentially go all the way, without having to leave the town to find opportunities.

"And imagine bringing a historic sporting site back to life in a way that benefits thousands of people, not just those who turn up to watch 90 minutes of football.

"That's the sort of ambition I think we should have for Rotherham.

"We're at the beginning of those conversations, and there's a huge amount to work through, including funding, feasibility and listening to what the town actually wants.

"But everything starts with an idea and people willing to put the work in."

Rotherham United Women currently play home games at the Rotherham Hospice Community Stadium at Parkgate. Doncaster Rovers Belles were the last team to play at Millmoor in 2025.

With regard to the future of the site, the CF Booth scrap yard was allocated as Industrial & Business Use in the borough's 2018 local plan. The stadium and surrounding area was allocated as a Mixed Use Area appropriate for "business use (excluding offices), housing, residential and non residential institutions and assembly and leisure uses."

Rotherham United Women Football Club website
TMG website

Images: RUFC / RUWFC

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News: £27.8 billion fund to support next wave of South Yorkshire growth projects

The National Wealth Fund (NWF) has agreed to enter into a strategic partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

The £27.8 billion fund was created by the Government to back regional growth and clean energy.

Four new partnerships have been annpunced that will give more areas direct access to the National Wealth Fund’s investment knowledge, expertise and capital, to help develop and grow project pipelines, attract public and private finance and deliver key infrastructure to support growth and create jobs.

Previous work between the NWF and partners has been to identify and develop investment opportunities in priority areas, including place-based regeneration, transport and clean energy infrastructure. Projects already receiving advisory guidance and support through these partnerships include Clyde Metro in Glasgow City Region, The Sports Quarter in the West Midlands, a new zero-emission bus fleet in Greater Manchester and Mass Transit in West Yorkshire.

The Strategic Partnerships model, provided through the NWF’s Regional Project Accelerator programme, demonstrates the value of deeper, longer-term partnerships with local leaders, bringing the Fund’s expertise together with local knowledge to support projects that can improve local infrastructure, open up development opportunities and help places attract investment. The Fund will continue to explore further opportunities to extend the Strategic Partnerships model to other Mayoral Strategic Authorities and City Regions over time, while continuing to focus support where it can make the greatest impact.

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Oliver Holbourn, CEO of the National Wealth Fund, said: “To unlock the UK’s future we need to grow regional economies. This announcement signals our continued commitment to expanding our partnerships with leaders across the UK, providing tailored support based on local needs and opportunities, creating jobs and spreading the lasting benefits of investment to the local communities they serve.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “South Yorkshire has always shaped, made and created the things Britain needs to grow and succeed. Today, from the UK’s first Investment Zone and our Don Valley Corridor plan, to being named one of the country’s tech ecosystem’s rising stars, we’re once again putting South Yorkshire at the forefront of Britain’s industrial future.

“With world-leading assets like the AMRC, Boeing and McLaren rooted here, our partnership with the National Wealth Fund will help us go further, faster - backing brilliant businesses, bringing in investment, and creating the industries, technologies and opportunities that will power growth here in South Yorkshire and across the whole country.”

The NWF is not new, because it has taken over many of the functions of the UK Infrastructure Bank. Investments so far have already mobilised over £16bn in private sector financing at the point of investment, leveraging £2.50 for every £1 deployed.

The Regional Project Accelerator also offers project advisory support, focused on a number of regionally significant projects across the UK, and lending - low cost, flexible lending, directly to local government at gilts +40bps, to support regionally significant projects.

National Wealth Fund website

Images: JPG

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News: Demolition plans in to save the Alma

A planning application has been submitted as part of efforts to save what remains of a fire-damaged historic pub building in Rotherham.

Rothbiz revealed last year that feasibility issues have arisen with converting the former Alma Tavern into a live music venue.

With £4.5m of the government's Town Deal funding set aside for a music venue project, the Westgate site is the third building looked at by the authority.

The building is not a listed building (unlike The Cutler's Arms next door, saved and reopened by Chantry Brewery) but is in severe disrepair following a fire and years of abandonment. Councillors were told that an updated cost plan for the project demonstrated "a cost significantly in excess of the funding available."

Funding was moved away from the project to progress plans for a community hub for health provision in the former Boots building in the town centre, but Rotherham Council, the owners of the Alma, said that it was still committed to finding a sustainable plan for the pub that was wrecked by fire in 2012.

A new planning application from Rotherham Council explains that a recent structural report "identified a need to support the original facades in order to retain them for a future reinstatement scheme."

The planning authority is being asked if the remaining structures to the rear can be removed so that scaffolding can be erected to support the frontage. The application also includes repair works to the front elevation and original gable walls to secure and preserve the historic facades.

Permission is required as it is located in the town centre's conservation area.

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A 2021 application, from the then owners, to demolish the building and retain the front facade to the first storey window height was refused as it didn't provide any supporting information. The council's application includes a structural report and a heritage statement.

Rotherham Council said last year that it was working with Chantry Brewery, the tenants and operators of the Cutlers, who wished to take on the Alma.

The initial ideas involved an L-shaped new building on land behind, and to the side of The Alma, creating a venue with a capacity of 500 - 600 and the main entrance in the vacant pub.

Rotherham Council said in the application that "due to the unsafe condition of the building ... we are looking to undertake the partial demolition of the building in advance of any viability assessment and redevelopment scheme in order to protect the historic assets of the building and ensure public safety to the immediate areas surrounding the building."

The public house closed in 2005/6 and although not listed, it is on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List. The Alma was rebuilt in 1909 and is noteworthy for the use of architectural lettering and the reference to Bentleys Rotherham Ales on the facade.

The plans state: "The timber roof and floor structures throughout the property are unsafe due to wood decay from wet and dry rot, and the previous fire damage sustained. This in turn compromises the restraint offered to the masonry walls and leaves the walls vulnerable to further collapse if left unsupported.

"Whilst a redevelopment scheme for the site remains a focus for the Council, the main priority is in ensuring the safety to the public realm and adjacent properties, whilst retaining the Edwardian facades to make sure this is not in the detriment to the character of the town centre conservation area.

"With the above in mind our intention is to demolish and remove the remaining structures to the rear of the building, including all brick extensions, timber roof and floor structures. We would then look to implement retaining scaffolds to the full front façade and gables of the original building, making isolated repairs to the lintels and masonry of these facades to ensure they are fully supported and maintained before any redevelopment can take place."

Satnam, the site's previous owner, had hoped to demolish both pubs to build a large retail store on the riverside site. In 2005, Rotherham Council refused the plans with one reason for refusal being that the pubs "make a contribution to the streetscene and add to the character of the setting of the listed building."

Images: RMBC

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News: Mr Whippy preps new £15m Rotherham facility

The Mr Whippy food brand is making rapid progress in creating one of the UK’s most advanced luxury doughnut manufacturing facility, here in Rotherham.

A £15m manufacturing facility will enable the brand to introduce doughnuts to its sweet treats portfolio that already includes ice cream flavour cupcakes.

Mr Whippy signed a new lease last year for a 23,355 sq ft unit at Woodhouse Link, which is near Fence on the Rotherham side of the border with Sheffield. Unit 4 was previously used as a distribution hub by Amazon.

Specialist food production fit out was completed last month and went live with test doughnut production. The new facility uses end-to-end automation, modern layouts and direct distribution allowing Mr Whippy to manufacture, pack and dispatch under one roof.

As full production nears, it is expected that more than 50 new jobs will be created on site. A ten-strong senior team is already in place.

Michael Corrado Jackson, founder and CEO at Mr Whippy, told Food & Drink International: “A project of this calibre would normally take two to three years to realise, but we are here in just 13 months.

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“This new, amazing production site for Mr Whippy Doughnuts will allow us to get our extensive product range into stores and then homes, while staying true to quality, that will set us apart.

“The full factory test launch was a complete success and production will start later this year. This facility is a vital part of achieving our ambition to make superior products more accessible to people, and set the bar for product consistency, operational efficiency and food hygiene.”

Joe Sealey, chief revenue officer at Mr Whippy paid testament to the work that has gone in to, what the firm believes, is "one of the UK’s most advanced luxury doughnut manufacturing facilities."

He added: "This project has never just been about increasing sales. It’s been about challenging what’s possible in FMCG bakery manufacturing through innovation, automation and an unwavering commitment to quality."

The brand is not part of Wall's, the producers of the Mr Whippy soft ice cream mix used in ice cream vans and cafes, and overcame a legal challenge from parent company, Unilver, to use the Mr Whippy logo on other goods and services.

The Mr Whippy cupcakes launched in 2024 and are available in Iceland, Co-op, Home Bargains and Heron Foods stores.

Mr Whippy website

Images: Joe Sealey / instagram

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News: instantprint installs new Canon press as part of £12m programme

Online printing company instantprint has installed a new high-speed Canon printing press as part of a major £12m investment in its Rotherham production facility, increasing capacity and helping the business deliver fast, affordable and professional-quality print for UK SMEs.

The Canon varioPRINT iX3200 High Speed Inkjet Press can produce up to 9,120 double-sided SRA3 sheets every hour, enabling instantprint to process more customer orders efficiently while maintaining consistent quality and fast turnaround times.

Operating from its 300,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Manvers, the investment forms part of instantprint’s ongoing commitment to making professional print faster, easier and more accessible to UK businesses.

The new Canon press gives instantprint additional capacity to keep more orders moving through production at once. It can also switch quickly between different paper types and products, reducing downtime between jobs and helping orders move through the factory more efficiently.

That increased efficiency supports instantprint’s ability to offer the fast turnaround times and competitive pricing its business customers rely on.

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The investment is not only about speed. The new technology uses water-based inks and automated quality controls to produce sharper text, smoother images and vibrant, consistent colours.

It also delivers improved results across uncoated and textured paper stocks, giving businesses more choice when they want their marketing materials to have a distinctive, premium look and feel.

The additional capacity and flexibility will also support instantprint as it develops its product range.

Laura Mucklow, Head of instantprint, said: “When we invest in new technology, what matters most is what it means for our customers.

“Businesses need print that looks professional, arrives quickly and works within their budget. The new Canon press gives us more capacity, greater flexibility and consistently high-quality results, helping us deliver on the speed, affordability and quality our customers expect.

“It also gives us the technology to keep expanding our offering as our customers’ needs evolve, making brilliant print as accessible and straightforward as possible.”

instantprint website

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News: Council hopes new advisers will help boost Rotherham's high streets

A new team of advisers has been deployed on Rotherham’s high streets in a bid to give local businesses more hands on support and help town centres thrive.

Rotherham Council's three advisers are acting as a familiar face for traders, working with them on a range of issues from street safety and cleanliness to promotion, footfall and access to grants.

Rather than focusing on a single issue, the advisers will have oversight of what is happening in each area, coordinating activity around events, crime prevention and wider business support.

Providing a local presence, identifying issues of concern, and signposting to other council services for assistance, they provide visible and routine engagement and are becoming known faces to businesses and local ward members, providing regular updates on activity and working to solve problems as they arise. The advisers are providing initial business advice, helping to co-ordinate local promotions, signposting to other grant opportunities and co-ordinating with other council departments.

The advisers are also playing a key role in delivering the popular Shopfront Grants scheme, which has secured a further year of funding for 2026/27 through the Local Growth Fund, worth around £600,000. The oversubscribed scheme has already helped around 50 businesses improve the appearance of their premises.

In addition, the team will work with ward councillors, residents and traders to decide how £25,000 activity budgets in each area are spent, ensuring local priorities shape the projects on the ground. This could include marketing campaigns, seasonal events or joint promotions aimed at increasing footfall.

Cllr. John Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: "We've made a big investment to create and establish a new High Street Advisor team, and they'll be a single point of contact for our high streets across the borough to provide business support, advice, guidance, help to access grants and financial support. They're going to be a real practical source of help for our high streets in Maltby, Dinnington, Swinton, Wath, and in Rotherham town centre.

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"Our new High Street Advisors will provide support to our traders and to our high street shops and businesses to help tackle those everyday challenges and to provide that business support and help to access the support that's available through the council on a wide range of issues.

"We recognise that our high streets are the real heart of our communities, and this council is committed to supporting our high streets and supporting our centres across the borough."

Rothbiz reported on Rotherham Cuncil's investment in its latest budget as part of a wider push to strengthen Rotherham’s high streets. A £304,000 figure was included in the council's budget for Supporting the High Street along with further cash to continue the authority's Shop Unit Business Grant Project that was oversubscribed.

The latest round of funding has two aspects to enhance the exterior of business premises in eligible High Street locations - one for existing businesses and one to help bring empty units back into use.

Existing businesses have been applying for up to £10,000 for their projects, with entrepreneurs funding anything above this level. This can be for things like exterior re-painting, new windows, doors and shop frontage, improved access and new signage.

Priority sites are: Rotherham town centre; Parkgate / Rawmarsh (From the bottom of Rawmarsh Hill and not the retail parks); Dinnington; Maltby; Swinton; Thurcroft; Wath; and Dalton.

Rotherham Council said that applications outside of these areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis but priority will be given to the areas.

Empty Shops will have priority, then external works, then internal works to the fabric of the building.

RiDO website

Images: Armitage Sorby

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News: Huge Rotherham warehouse development now fully let

80,000 sq ft of prime logistics space at Panattoni Park Rotherham has been let to Alliance Automotive Group (AAG), the leading distributor of passenger and commercial vehicle parts that already occupies the large Hellaby development.

Panattoni secured planning permission for two facilities adjacent to junction 1 of the M18, one of 630,000 sq ft, which was one of the largest-ever speculative logistics buildings in the north of England, and a smaller 80,000 sq ft facility.

AAG signed a 25-year lease for the large facility in 2022 and has now comitted to the remaining unit on a long-term lease, expanding AAG’s existing presence to more than 710,000 sq ft and bringing the overall asset to 100% occupancy.

AAG UK, acquired by the American Genuine Parts Company in 2017, supply light and commercial vehicle parts to over 36,000 independent garages, franchise networks and public services throughout the UK. It is supported by a top-tier logistics network comprising over 850 outlets and distribution centres.

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Scott Meakin, Development Surveyor at Panattoni, said: “AAG taking the final unit is a strong conclusion to the development at Panattoni Park Rotherham. Having initially committed to the adjacent 630,000 sq ft building, their decision to expand into Rotherham 80 means AAG will now occupy the entire park. This reflects the continued growth of its UK operations, giving the business the scale and flexibility to support rising order volumes and deliver faster service to its customers across the UK.

“One of the strengths of our development platform is our ability to deliver across both the mid-box and big-box sectors. This gives our customers the opportunity to grow within the Panattoni portfolio as their requirements evolve, whether through larger facilities, additional neighbouring space, or a combination of the two.

“We remain committed to developing a range of unit sizes in the UK’s strongest logistics locations, giving occupiers the flexibility to expand, consolidate, and adapt their property requirements as their businesses grow.”

Steve Richardson, Managing Director AAG Group UK & Ireland, said: “AAG are pleased to have worked with Panattoni to expand our presence at the Rotherham location, securing additional capacity for the continued growth of our distribution operations. Taking the full campus helps us further strengthen our network efficiency and expands our future growth capabilities.

“Most importantly, this investment reinforces our commitment to customers. By increasing capacity and streamlining our distribution network, we will be better positioned to offer market leading product availability, support dependable deliveries and provide the high level of service our customers rely on.”

In July, Europa, the pan-European real estate investment manager, secured an £89.1m green loan from HSBC UK to finance two recently developed and stabilised UK logistics assets in prime locations along the M1 distribution corridor - Panattoni Park Rotherham and Panattoni Park South Normanton.

James Keast, Director at Europa, said: “AAG’s further expansion at Panattoni Park Rotherham is a strong endorsement of the asset, its location and the quality of the occupier experience we seek to provide across the portfolio. It is encouraging to see an existing customer commit to additional space, and ultimately the entire park, demonstrating the long-term appeal of well-specified logistics assets which reinforces our conviction in the sector as a key driver of sustainable income growth for the Fund.”

AAG UK website
Panattoni website
Euopra Capital website

Images: Europa / AAG

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News: Rotherham Council approves 24 hour shop licence for town centre pub

Plans are moving ahead to convert part of a vacant pub in Rotherham town centre into a convenience store.

The Bridge Inn has a prominent position opposite Rotherham Central railway station but was one of four pubs being brought to market by the Old Mill Brewery in 2024.

Rothbiz reported on the demolition of The Trades back in 2022. During the last years of the Greasbrough Road venue, a passionate team of directors created "The Hive" and started working with The Trades to bring a wide variety of live music to the town as an "upstart side venue."

During the pandemic a deal was struck with the brewery to move to the adjacent Bridge Inn and turn, what was a designated pub for visiting football fans, into a live music venue.

Since the sale, the pub has remained closed, but now a premises licence has been secured for almost half of the ground floor.

The application, recently approved by Rotherham Council, is from Kari Retail Ltd and shows the layout of a Go Local convenience store in the part of the building closest to the former Trades site and current car park.

Go Local is the retail brand established by Parfetts, one of the UK's leading cash & carry wholesalers.

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The new licence is for a 24 hour operation and the provision of late night refreshment between 23:00 and 05:00, and the sale by retail of alcohol for consumption off the premises only, for 24 hours a day.

The licence comes with a number of mandatory conditions that you would expect regarding the sale of alcohol.

Property specialists Fleurets, marketing the Bridge Inn, describing it as a "very individual and unashamed live rock music operation. Bands perform almost every day on two stages and trade has been developed to cater exclusively for this market.

"Not for the feint-hearted the fit out include ghoul masks, coffins as tables, zombies, skeletons, armour, devils and much more besides. Unique and wonderful."

The property, which had operated under a franchise agreement for several years, was advertised for offers at £295,000 for the freehold with vacant possession.

Although not a listed building. it is in the town's conservation area and was added to the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List earlier this year. The listing explains that the pub was completed in March 1932 on behalf of Mappins Masbro Old Brewery. The neo-Jacobean style sits alongside the medieval bridge and bridge chapel.

When it opened it contained a lounge hall, smokeroom, luncheon room and tap room on the ground floor, with clubroom and hotel rooms on the first floor.

Images: Google Maps

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News: Hundreds more apartments for Rotherham town centre in Capital&Centric's "Foundry" plans

Social impact developer Capital&Centric's multimillion pound regeneration plans for Rotherham town centre are moving ahead.

Rothbiz revealed earlier this year that the Manchester company, a specialist in unlocking and transforming "unloved" brownfield sites into vibrant, design-led neighbourhoods, had been awarded a Rotherham 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 five council-owned brownfield sites.

Plans to extend the Riverside Residential Quarter onto The Statutes and two sites on Sheffield Road are for residential-led schemes that are estimated to deliver 226 new homes including both apartments and townhouses.

Early stage planning documents for the "Foundry" scheme, seen by Rothbiz, show three blocks of apartments at The Statutes - the cleared site that was previously home to the Magistrate's Court and now operates as a car park. Up to four storeys, the unit mix here includes 39 larger, two bedroom flats, 12 one bedroom flats, and four studio flats.

For the current Westgate Car Park on Sheffield Road, called the Post Office site by Capital&Centric, plans show the erection of seven apartment blocks creating 146 homes. Up to three storeys, there are plans for approximately 12% studios, 58% one-bedroom and 30% two-bedroom accommodation. Just over 1,000 sq ft of retail / commercial space is also planned to be included here.

Designs for a "suitably urban scale of development" have evolved to respect and enhance the Grade-II listed Cutlers Arms nearby.

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At the SIG site, the Sheffield Road site most recently acquired by Rotherham Council, plans are for five blocks creating 25 two and three bedroom townhouses - broadening the overall housing offer.

Previous council papers indicate that Capital&Centric's current funding strategy is for the new homes to be developed for private rent with Capital&Centric acting as landlord. The issue of affordable housing provision is to be addressed as plans progress.

Capital&Centric are exploring a proposal to fund the development of these sites through its Impact & Places Partnership, which is a joint venture between Swiss Life Asset Managers, Homes England and Capital&Centric.

Plans, drawn up by Urbana Town Planning, state: "All three sites form RMBC'S Town Centre Strategic Sites which will work to achieve the continued diversification of Rotherham's offer through attracting new uses, services, residential and leisure opportunities and moving away from the traditional retail market.

"Successful projects undertaken to date, or being undertaken within RMBC include Forge Island leisure destination, Town Centre Public Realm improvements, Riverside Gardens, Council led housing development at Westgate, the Markets and Library redevelopment and the town centre Health Hub.

"Taken together, the proposals would deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits through the provision of new homes, the productive reuse of brownfield land, increased support for town-centre businesses and services, reduced reliance upon private car travel and the physical regeneration of an under-utilised part of the River Don corridor."

Capital&Centric website

Images: Capital&Centric

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News: Redevelopment plans passed for Rotherham pub

The owners of a prominent public house in Rotherham have been given approval to bring it back to life following a period of inactivity.

Occupying a prime spot on Kimberworth's High Street, The Green Dragon is a large, imposing pub with restaurant dining to the rear and a first floor function room.

Currently closed, Rothbiz reported last year that the freehold of the pub had gone up for sale for £400,000.

Rotherham Council has recently approved a change of use planning application from Harbham Odedra that shows that the ground floor would change from a pub to a restaurant with the retention of first-floor residential accommodation. The proposals also include the removal of existing outbuildings, and the construction of a single-storey retail extension.

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According to CAMRA, the pub was acquired by national operator Stonegate and was extensively refurbished before reopening in August 2022. It closed but reopening again in 2024 alongside Maisha Spice, which specialised in Indian style cuisine.

The proposed retail unit, to the right of the existing entrance fronting High Street, would have an approximate gross internal area of 3,200 sq ft and is designed as a "One Stop–type convenience store."

The plans stated: "The proposal ensures the continued active use of a long-established community building, avoiding vacancy and decline. The restaurant will continue to provide a welcoming social environment for residents and families, function and meeting spaces for private and community events, a family-friendly venue that supports inclusive social interaction.

"The convenience retail unit will provide an important local service, particularly for residents with limited mobility or without access to private vehicles."

Rotherham Council's planning board voted to approve the plans, which come with a number of conditions, relating to things like extraction systems, drainage, restricting the retail unit to Class E(a) only, and marking out the car parking area.

The restaurant use can only be open to customers between the hours of 12:00 and 22:00 and the retail use can only be open to customers between the hours of 07:00 and 22:00 in order to safeguard the amenities of the occupiers of nearby properties. No deliveries to the site can be made between the hours of 21:00 and 07:00 for the same reason.

Images: Savills

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News: 141 houses planned for former Rotherham college site

A national housebuilder has been appointed to bring forward a large development on part of a former college campus in Rotherham.

In 2020, RNN Group reorganised its post-16 education provision, and whilst much of the former Dinnington Campus remains in educational use by Elements Academy and Newman School, a large part of the site became surplus to requirements.

Following discussions with other potential public sector users and a period of marketing, Homes by honey were identified as preferred developer for the site on Doe Quarry Lane following an open market disposal process.

At approximately 4.69 hectares, the site comprises two redundant teaching buildings, associated hardstanding and former agricultural training land characterised by open grassland, which is subdivided into a series of former training paddocks.

The developer has now submitted a planning application for 141 dwellings, together with associated access, landscaping, public open space and supporting infrastructure.

The site, with a net developable area of approximately 3.87 hectares, is considered a part-brownfield site. In Rotherham's Local Plan, it was designated for an Education Community Facility.

Plans show that existing access is currently obtained through the campus; however, the proposed development will be served by a new dedicated vehicular access directly from Doe Quarry Lane at the Manor Road / Laughton Road end.

A new priority-controlled T-junction onto Doe Quarry Lane is proposed supported by the demolition of the existing former teaching accommodation and associated structures located within the southern part of the site.

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The plans are for 141 houses with a range of sizes, from 2-bed semi-detached properties to 5-bed detached dwellings, with a variety of house types proposed. 25% of the total houses are set to be classed as affordable housing - 35, 2-bed houses.

However, the unused buildings on site will also mean that the development should qualify for Vacant Building Credit (VBC) which can be used to reduce the affordable housing contributions required when redeveloping brownfield sites with empty buildings.

The majority of dwellings are two storeys in height, with a limited number of 2.5-storey and three-storey dwellings, reflecting the prevailing scale and character of the surrounding residential areas.

The plans, drawn up by consultants, Nineteen47, state: "The educational use formerly undertaken on the Site has ceased and the associated buildings have remained vacant for a considerable period following the relocation and consolidation of educational operations elsewhere within the RNN Group estate.

"The Site no longer performs its allocated educational function and there is no reasonable prospect that the former use will recommence. The redevelopment of the Site therefore represents an opportunity to secure the beneficial re-use of a vacant and underutilised site within a sustainable settlement, whilst avoiding the continued deterioration of redundant buildings and land."

Applicants also say that the highly sustainable site is "exceptionally well located in relation to local facilities and services" and add that: "The submitted assessments demonstrate that safe and suitable access can be achieved, that the local highway network has capacity to accommodate development-generated traffic and that opportunities exist to encourage sustainable travel choices amongst future residents."

The plans conclude: "The proposal will transform the Site into a high-quality residential neighbourhood delivering significant economic, social and environmental benefits. These include much-needed housing delivery, a meaningful contribution towards addressing the Council's housing land supply shortfall, investment in the local economy, support for local services and businesses, new public open space, biodiversity enhancements, landscape improvements, green infrastructure and associated supporting infrastructure."

Honey launched in 2022 and is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners. It has previously brought forward sites in Rotherham at Waverley and Maltby. Early stage plans have also emerged for a site at Harley.

Homes by honey website

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News: Rotherham street traders move back to market hall site as indoor traders report drop in footfall

Some traders on the outdoor market that have temporarily been using the main streets in Rotherham town centre have moved back to the markets site as regeneration work progresses.

Indoor traders in the new Market Hall are hoping that it will boost footfall in the area following a slow summer.

Rotherham outdoor market relocated from the outdoor covered market to Effingham Street in 2023 as works progressed on the regeneration of Rotherham Markets.

As part of the £46.844m scheme, traders from the old indoor market have moved temporarily into the New Market Hall until the work on the indoor market is complete (previously scheduled for Autumn 2027). When these traders move back into their revamped home, street traders are due to make use of the new Market Hall.

Operator, Rotherham Council, has now made the decision to move the Monday and Friday general market from the street onto the public space around the Rotherham Market Hall.

As part of the works, a new public realm area has been created between the market and Eastwood Lane and the college campus.

It is not yet known if the general outdoor market on a Saturday, Tuesday street market, Wednesday Antiques & bric-a-brac market, or Rotherham Bazaar on a Thursday, will follow.

Rotherham MP, Sarah Champion recently visited stall holders trading temporarily in the new Market Hall to discuss issues impacting their businesses.

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Having raised the issues with Rotherham Council, the authority admitted that traders and visitors had faced "temporary challenges" as the construction work on the new library and indoor market continues around the new Market Hall.

In reply to the MP, John Edwards, chief executive of Rotherham Council, said: "We are aware that traders have raised concerns regarding footfall in recent weeks. A number of factors are likely to have contributed to this, including the summer closure of the College and the exceptionally hot weather experienced during the period. However, we recognise that accessibility issues and ongoing construction activity may also have had an impact. We continue to monitor visitor numbers and work proactively to support traders and increase market activity.

"The Council is actively promoting the market through a programme of marketing, events, wayfinding improvements, and town-centre promotional activity designed to increase visitor numbers and encourage repeat visits. These initiatives have been developed in partnership with traders to ensure they respond to the needs of businesses and help maximise customer engagement and footfall."

On accessibility, Edwards acknowledged that there had been issues with the lift accessed via Henry Street which had experienced "a number of operational issues in recent weeks" that have since been addressed by the contractors.

Edwards added: "To further improve accessibility, a platform lift will also be installed within the public realm area. Unfortunately, manufacturing delays meant that this could not be installed before the market opened, however the Council continues to work closely with the contractor to deliver this improvement as soon as possible."

Work has recently completed on the signalised crossing linking the markets with Drummond Street car park. Temporary traffic lights had been causing traffic issues in the area.

The council is also considering extending its rent free period for traders "in recognition that some temporary challenges remain."

Rothbiz reported in May on the authority's support for traders involved.

Edwards concluded: "We remain confident that, once the remaining accessibility and public realm improvements are complete, the new market will provide a high-quality, accessible, and sustainable destination that supports both traders and visitors. We will continue to work closely with traders to ensure that the market achieves its full potential as a key part of Rotherham town centre's regeneration."

Images: RMBC

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News: Plans emerge for Snail Yard site

Redevelopment plans are finally taking shape for a site on the heritage High Street in Rotherham town centre that was acquired by the local council in 2020.

Proposals involve new offices and residential units replacing a temporary pocket park and a vacant plot.

Rotherham Council purchased the former Primark building in November 2020, using funding from the Towns Fund Accelerator programme after the Government awarded a £1m grant to kick start regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre.

Demolition work took place and the authority had set out to complete a pocket park by September 2021 before targeting the Women's Euros in July 2022. It eventually fully opened in 2026 with project costs of £920,000.

Now plans are being brought forward by Rotherham Council's development partner for the prominent site.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on details of the projects from social impact developer Capital&Centric, who have been awarded a contract to develop five council-owned sites that could reach up to £100m in value.

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Whilst residential-led plans are being progressed for other sites, for Snail Yard, a smaller-scale, mixed-use development is proposed, centred around a courtyard concept.

Early stage planning documents show two new blocks. A new block fronting the High Street, potentially on top of the current pocket park, would contain 2,600 sq ft of commercial space and four residential units. A second block would create 9,500 sq ft of office space and external deck space. The formation of the blocks would also create a hidden courtyard space.

The plans, drawn up by Urbana planning consultants, explain that the development is "principally commercial-led, bringing a substantial amount of new employment-generating floorspace into the heart of Rotherham Town Centre, supplemented by a modest residential component" that would compliment rather than replace commercial use.

The homes are all set to be four bedroom properties adding larger family accommodation to the residential mix in the town centre.

The plans add: "The proposals seek to reinstate the commercial uses which were once occupying the site prior to its temporary use as a pocket park. In this instance, the proposals bring high street uses back to the High Street, restoring an active built frontage and introducing additional activity, employment and footfall."

New housing and increasing the resident population of the town centre is being used as a way to "support the vitality and viability of its existing and emerging commercial, leisure and community offer."

On the design of the development, and given that the site is in the town centre conservation area and close to listed buildings, the developers set out that the proposals "do not seek to replicate historic development, but instead provide a contemporary development which responds to the established scale, rhythm and character of its surroundings and allows the site to make a positive contribution to the evolving character of the Conservation Area.

"Overall, the proposals represent an opportunity to deliver a significant improvement to the character and appearance of this currently fragmented part of Rotherham Town Centre."

A council cabinet report from earlier this year stated that the scheme is not considered viable without some form of public sector funding and the council is working with Capital&Centric to find gap funding.

Capital&Centric website

Images: RMBC

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