News: Rotherham office scheme wins approval

A significant regeneration scheme on remaining land at the Waverley development in Rotherham has been granted planning approval as work continues at the retail scheme nearby.

Rothbiz reported last year on plans by Harworth Group plc, one of the UK's leading land and property regeneration companies, for a landmark office development within their Waverley development.

The listed company is transforming the former Orgreave coal mining site into Yorkshire’s largest ever mixed-use development that also includes the iconic Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Between the AMP and the housing development is an area known as Highfield Commercial. Close to the AMRC Training Centre, it currently includes residential development, a public house, a primary school, the proposed Highwall Park, the under construction new retail led mixed use centre known as Olive Lane, and a hotel which is also under construction - albeit work here has stalled.

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Plans include earthworks that cover 3.89ha to create three serviced development platforms with detailed plans submitted for the fourth plot that shows a 18,500 sq ft, two storey office, complete with 72 car parking spaces and a new landscape proposal that would extend the Highwall Park planned nearby.

The application was approved without the need to go before the planning board.

Planners were impressed with the proposals for the offices, stating: "In design terms the proposed two storey office building is considered to be of a high quality design, which provides a key frontage to the road as well as forming a Landmark corner building.

"The materials are also considered to be of a high quality including stone, Corten steel cladding aluminium framed curtain walling. The high quality design would provide a positive contribution to the visual appearance of the locality."

The design of the building has been centred on the site's past and mining heritage, as well as the local steel and development industries.

At Olive Lane, contractors, Lindum, continue work on the new high street within Waverley which would incorporate retail, leisure, office, community uses, outdoor events and pop-up market stall spaces.

Tesco has signed up for the scheme with an opticians and pharmacy also interested in taking space alongside a medical centre and community building.

Waverley website

Images: Harworth / Stantec / Harris Partnership / Lindum

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News: Historic Rotherham building to be converted into flexible workspace

IWG, the world’s largest provider of hybrid working solutions with brands including Spaces and Regus, is opening a state-of-the-art flexible workspace in Rotherham as the demand for hybrid working rapidly accelerates.

The opening is being delivered in partnership with the owner of the town centre building, who chose the IWG flexible workspace platform and has entered into a management agreement with the HQ brand.

The move is a switch from already approved plans for 13 new apartments on Grove Road. The former council office building has been occupied by Hope Church, a community church, along with being the home of Rotherham Foodbank. Both uses have secured new premises elsewhere.

IWG will add 1,000 new locations over the next year and Rotherham is seen as an important location for the expansion where demand for workspaces in the area has performed strongly and its close proximity to Sheffield making it a key regional business hub.

The building owners invested in the IWG platform to maximise the return on their real estate space by capitalising on the rapidly expanding demand for hybrid working. With an annual investment of around £50m into its technology platform, IWG provides partners with access to all the company’s expertise as well as design and fit-out support and sales and marketing capabilities.

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The new 10,500 sq.ft. Rotherham location will include facilities including private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces. The site forms part of a drive by IWG to meet the sharply rising demand for top class flexible working space in the area, with the new site ideally situated only a short walk into central Rotherham.

The three-storey building will provide space for established firms and start-ups across a range of industries while IWG’s Design Your Own Office service allows companies to tailor their space entirely to their requirements.

Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of IWG, said: “We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in South Yorkshire with this latest opening. As an important business hub for South Yorkshire, Rotherham is a fantastic place for us to boost our network. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal. We are very pleased to work in partnership with the local community to add a cutting-edge workspace to their building.”

“Our opening in Rotherham comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs.”

A planning application for the conversion, submited by agents Urban Planning, states that "the attractive central 1920s façade is not proposed to be altered, with historic features such as the sash windows being retained."

HQ website

Images: WindsorPatania Architects

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News: Rotherham town centre commercial building back up for auction

A prominent commercial building in Rotherham town centre is going back under the hammer next month after failing to sell last year.

1-22 Effingham Square is the large block of offices with retail units underneath that is located alongside Rotherham Interchange and its shopping centre and opposite to the Tesco Extra store.

The property is set to offered to buyers by leading auctioneers, Allsop in its London auction scheduled to take place at The Berkeley on February 5.

Totalling some 20,160 sq ft of lettable space, the property includes an unbroken parade of ten shops with office space above.

Tenants include Wallace Arnold, Cash Converters, Tasty Bite, two dental practices and the Laser Credit Union. Upper floors have the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority as tenants.

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Bringing in a total current rent of £178,000 per annum, the property has been given a guide price of £1.6m - £1.7m.

Following the opening of the £40m Tesco development, Effingham Square was given a modest revamp with a redesign of the taxi rank and new public realm works to the pedestrianised area.

The new town centre masterplan considers that there "is still significant improvement which can be made" in Effingham Square which is described as "a very poor space and a wasted opportunity."

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The masterplan puts forward that Rotherham Council should lead on a project for Effingham Square so that it will become an "attractive densely planted green oasis in the heart of town," complementing the green space at Minster Gardens.

Transforming grey to green, "proposals for Effingham Square will provide a new setting for the Interchange, greening the current expanse of hard space, providing seating and screening through further tree cover. The delineation of space between the taxi ranks and the public space will also help break the expanse of grey space."

Rotherham Interchange itself is undergoing a £12.5m revamp and is due to open in Spring 2019.

Allsop website

Images: Allsop

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News: Council looks to restructure £3m a year office lease

Rotherham Council is in discussions with its landlord over the £3.2m a year lease for its offices at Riverside House.

Landowner and developer, Evans Property Group, built the 172,000 sq ft civic headquarters on the Guest & Chrimes site on the edge of Rotherham town centre in 2011.

Having sold its former civic offices across town to enable the Tesco Extra to be developed, the Council entered into a 35 year lease, a commercial full repairing and insuring lease, with fixed rate five year rent reviews and no break clause.

A report to the authority's cabinet states that, with 28 years remaining, an opportunity has arisen via the landlord to restructure the lease.

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Jonathan Marriott, estates manager at Rotherham Council, said: "The Council approached the landlord [Evans] to discuss potential options for Riverside House. The discussions centred on issues such as permission to sub-let part of the building, potential to purchase the building and revised lease arrangements which would deliver annual revenue savings, along with an option to own the building at the end of the lease.

"The lease restructure will allow the Council more freedoms and flexibilities in the use of the building, along with full flexibility on sub-lease arrangements which would offer future income generation opportunities. The proposal will also deliver annual revenue savings to the Council."

Rothbiz reported last week that Rotherham Council was required to find savings of £15.2m for 2018/19, with further savings of £30m required over the period 2019/20 and 2020/21.

If approved by the Cabinet, discussions would continue over a restructured lease that would be extended by seven years to 35 years, with the Council becoming the owners of the property at the end of the term as opposed to ownership reverting back to the landlord in the current lease.

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An analysis of Council spending shows that it paid £823,497.69 in rent to Evans Regeneration Investments Ltd each quarter for the last year. Financial implications of the proposed restructured lease have not been disclosed.

The authority has already set aside £400,000 from its 2018/19 capital budget for a project called "Riverside House part lease." However, recent reports also show a pressure of £140k on the Regeneration and Environment Directorate's budget in respect of a saving to let office space at Riverside House, caused by the proposed tenant withdrawing.

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham town centre commercial building up for auction

A prominent commercial building in Rotherham town centre has been put up for sale and is set to go under the hammer next month.

1-22 Effingham Square is the large block of offices with retail units underneath and is located alongside Rotherham Interchange and its shopping centre, opposite to the Tesco Extra store.

Leading auctioneers, Savills, has placed the freehold of the property in its London auction scheduled to take place at the Grovesnor on February 13.

Totaling some 20,160 sq ft of lettable space, the property includes an unbroken parade of ten shops, something which the auctioneers highlights as being "rarely available."

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Tenants include Wallace Arnold, Cash Converters, Tasty Bite, two dental practices and the Laser Credit Union. Upper floors have the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority as tenants.

Bringing in a total current rent of £178,000 per annum, the property has been given a guide price of £1.85m+.

The sales brochure adds that "the site may have development potential and the possibility of adding an extra floor subject to the requisite consents."

Following the opening of the £40m Tesco development, Effingham Square was given a modest revamp with a redesign of the taxi rank and new public realm works to the pedestrianised area.

The new town centre masterplan considers that there "is still significant improvement which can be made" in Effingham Square which is described as "a very poor space and a wasted opportunity."

The masterplan puts forward that Rotherham Council should lead on a project for Effingham Square so that it will become an "attractive densely planted green oasis in the heart of town," complementing the green space at Minster Gardens.

Transforming grey to green, "proposals for Effingham Square will provide a new setting for the Interchange, greening the current expanse of hard space, providing seating and screening through further tree cover. The delineation of space between the taxi ranks and the public space will also help break the expanse of grey space."

Rotherham Interchange itself is set for a £12.5m revamp.

Savills website

Images: Savills / RMBC / WYG

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News: New lease of life for Rotherham pubs

Two former pubs on the edge of Rotherham town centre could both be in for a new lease of life, if planning approval can be secured to change the use of the buildings.

Known by many as the The Moulders Rest, the prominent building on Masborough Street has previously been operated as restaurants since the pub's closure in 2009.

Now, CR Civil Engineering Ltd, a firm that is based in the East Midlands and works throughout the UK, is hoping to bring the premises back into use as a new regional office.

CR Civil Engineering Ltd carries out work on large projects such as drainage, earthworks and surfacing. Previous projects in the area include surfacing at Hitachi's Doncaster rail depot, work on Charter Square in Sheffield and £1m worth of works on the Doncaster to Water Orton - Railway Station Platforms Realignment project.

The expanding firm is aplpying to change the use of the building from restaurant to office use. If approved, the bar and restaurant areas would all be converted into office space for 14 staff members. The plans also include a reception area, toilet and kitchen facilities, meeting room, car parking provision for staff and visitors, and external storage space for materials and small, specialist machinery.

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The Masbrough area has been given a mixed use allocation in the latest local plan and Rotherham Council has considered that a sequential test is required in line with national and local planning policies. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.

A report from the Council's planning policy team indicates that they are satisfied that alternative sites in the town centre have been appropriately discounted, and that there are no other appropriate available alternatives.

The 3,900 sq ft property went up for sale last year with agents Knight Frank seeking offers in the region of £300,000 exclusive for the Freehold interest.

At the other end of town, on Wellgate, another set of plans have been submitted for the former Masons Arms. Here plans have been submitted that would convert the pub building into a ground floor retail unit with an eight bedroom HMO (house of multiple occupation) above.

M2 Design & Planning Consultants have been commissioned by Yasir Hussain to develop a plan for the building. Their application states: "The proposal is to convert the existing premises to a more suitable use by the applicant. The former public house ceased trading and was put on the open market, which was then acquired by the new owner with view to developing the site to a more suitable use, taking into account the current needs and demands from the area."

The 7,037 sq ft property has been marketed by CBRE and Everard Cole and was given a guide price of £175,000.

Using the existing building structure, the plans show that 1,550 sq ft of A4 retail space would be created and plans for the upper floors include eight bedrooms, two kitchens, two bathrooms and two toilets.

Pre-application discussions had been requested with the Council earlier this year regarding the potential conversion of the pub into a residential care home facility.

Britain has lost 28,000 pubs since the 1970s, according to the CAMRA's latest Good Beer Guide.

Images: Knight Frank / CBRE

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News: Evans in talks over £70m Rotherham office development

The Evans Property Group is the private sector developer hoping to create 200,000 sq ft of office accommodation on Forge Island in Rotherham town centre.

In 2012, the council's cabinet confirmed the prominent site as the preferred location for a new town centre cinema and theatre and developers and operators were sought. In the short term, the council is operating the former home of the Rotherham Forge & Rolling Mills as a car park now that Tesco has moved across the town.

Council bosses have since confirmed that the Forge Island site is being earmarked for an ambitious plan to create a public sector hub, which could result in thousands of additional jobs in the town centre.

The project involves the construction of offices for the use by government departments vacating London and also includes car parking, pedestrian bridges, public realm, addressing site contamination and flood alleviation works. The work has been given a total investment figure of over £70m with £65m set to come via Evans.

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As part of Tesco's move, the council has an option to buy the Forge Island site for £1.5m by the end of 2015. Arrangements have been progressed for the strategic acquisition of the vacated site, which the council previously admitted could include a purchase and sale to a third party.

Rothbiz understands that a legal agreement has been drafted that would see Evans purchase the site from the Council in a back-to-back transaction following the Council's potential purchase from Tesco.

The development could support 4,400 new jobs of which 2,000 would be new to the city region.

Evans has already commissioned a market intelligence company to engage with potential public sector occupiers, with a target of securing agreement for leases on 75% of the space by the end of 2015.

Work could start on site in September 2016 with an initial target date of August 2018 for the whole development to be completed and occupation of the office building.

The office development on Forge Island is also expected to accelerate development on surrounding sites, many of which, such as the former abattoir site and properties along Corporation Street, are in Council ownership.

The council is proposing to take vacant possession of the Riverside Precinct, currently occupied by a number of retailers, so that it can be demolished in 2016. Tenants are already being assisted to locate elsewhere in the town centre.

Clearing the sites would enable the rebirth of the "deck of cards" proposal that included a 50 space undercroft car park and a significant scheme of environmental works and public realm improvements. The idea was for steps down to the river creating a cascading area of public realm at the upper Market Street level down to the weirside, opening up other council-owned development sites along the river.

Two pedestrian bridges linking Forge Island to both the revamped rail station and the core of the town centre are also included in the proposal and the council and Evans are seeking around £6m of pubic sector funding via the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership's investment fund for strategic infrastructure investment (SCRIF).

Leeds-based Evans was the developer behind Rotherham Council's 250,000 sq ft Riverside House building on the Guest & Chrimes site on the edge of the town centre. Bringing together staff from a number of locations, the £60m investment houses 2,600 employees at only 1,308 desks.

In 2010, Rotherham Council set aside £2m to acquire 10.85 acres at the Guest & Chrimes site from Evans that enabled Rotherham United to construct the £20m New York Stadium.

Evans website

Images: Tom Austen / Evans

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News: Public Sector Hub could bring 5,000 staff into Rotherham

Rotherham Council is interested in the possibility of the creation of a Public Sector Hub, which could result in an additional 5,000 jobs in the town.

The idea would see public sector departments share accommodation on an office campus, helping departments and organisations save money and at the same time bringing a large amount of staff (and potential shoppers) into the town centre.

The idea was mentioned by planning inspector, Richard Hollox, in his report on Rotherham's Local Plan, the important document that includes the Core Strategy - which sets out the broad amount and distribution of future growth - and the Sites and Policies document - which sets out the detailed sites and development management policies to deliver this growth.

Declared "sound," the plan states that 235 hectares of land in Rotherham will be needed over the next 15 years to meet the broad requirements of 12 - 15,000 additional jobs. The figure includes up to five hectares for new office floorspace for 3,000 – 5,000 office jobs.

Planning regulations designed to protect the vitality of town centres include offices as a "main town centre use" and the local plan emphasises that Rotherham town centre will be the main focus for the majority of new retail, office and other town centre uses within Rotherham.

Richard Hollox, planning inspector, said in his report: "One of the objectives of the Economic Plan for Rotherham 2008 – 2020 is to secure a vibrant town centre with a high quality office market. This is a worthy ambition and should result in a greater range of employment opportunities and less commuting to, for example, Sheffield.

"Of note is the Council's interest in the possibility of a Public Sector Hub whereby public sector departments would share accommodation on an office campus. This, the Council considers, could result in an additional 5,000 jobs in the town."

In 2012, Riverside House became Rotherham's new Civic Building on the edge of the town centre on the Guest & Chrimes site. Bringing together staff from a number of locations, the £60m investment houses 2,400 employees at only 1,308 desks.

The Waverley development in Rotherham was all set to create a government office campus on land next to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP). Helical Bar plc, Governetz Ltd and Haworth Estates worked together with the intention to provide high specification offices for government departments in response to a desire to move activities out of central London and into the regions.

Outline plans for a 60,000 sq m development, enough space for 2,000 staff, were approved but changes in government and large scale cuts meant that the plans were shelved. Harworth Estates has had discussions with senior officers at Rotherham Council regarding the potential for the site, known as Highfield Commercial, to come forward for non-employment uses (including housing, retail and hotel uses).

Images: Rotherham Council

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News: Bizspace launch Rotherham development

Bizspace, the leading provider of managed office space, is celebrating a new development of 22 new offices in Rotherham with a launch event on February 3.

The open day at the newly refurbished offices at Silkstone House in Manvers will provide the opportunity for a tour, the chance to listen to local business specialists and take part in business networking.

Guest speakers from the Rotherham and Barnsley Chamber of Commerce and RIDO will be in attendance and there is also the chance to meet experts from Health & Safety, Marketing, recruitment and IT industries.

Informal and speed networking opportunities will take place through out the day.

Bizspace currently manages workspace at 100 sites in the UK including 48,520 sq ft at Bradmarsh Business Park in Templeborough.

event website
Bizspace website
Rotherham

Images: bizspace.co.uk

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News: Sheffield could object to Rotherham office development

Members of Sheffield Council's planning board have been recommended to object to Helical Governetz's application for a proposed 60,000 sq m government office campus at Waverley in Rotherham.

Utilising 38 acres of land between the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and the Waverley Community development, the campus is expected to provide office space for 2,000 employees.

Helical Bar plc, Governetz Ltd and Haworth Estates (UK Coal) are working together with the intention to provide high specification offices for government departments in response to the desire to move activities out of central London and into the regions.

In report by Les Sturch, Director of Development Services at Sheffield Council, he recommends that members of Sheffield's planning board "object to, and call on Rotherham MBC to refuse planning permission for the Helical Governetz's application for 60,000sq m of business development at Highfield Commercial on the grounds that alternative, more sustainable locations exist in Sheffield/Rotherham that better meet Government guidance for significant "town centre" development such as this."

The report states that proposed schemes in Sheffield such as the plans for the River Don District near Meadowhall, and sites in the city centre can meet the need for relocating government departments and that the public sector should be setting an example and supporting its own policy for major in-centre office development.

The report advocates that as the transport interchange for the Waverley site is only proposed, the offices cannot yet be described as edge-of-centre and that the development should be considered speculative as no specific occupier has signed up.

The report also states that the estimate on the number of jobs that would be created is "generous" and that the economic and employment benefits are contrary to planning policies.

Two sites in Sheffield city centre are offered that could house a hotel and states that the proposed 120 room hotel adjacent to the offices is too big to be considered ancillary. It states that "an over supply of hotels may reduce the viability of existing and proposed hotels in the city centre."

The office campus is alongside the larger Waverley Community, described as South Yorkshire's largest ever brownfield development creating a new 4,000 home community across 741 acres, an area bigger than Sheffield city centre.

UK COAL's property arm, Harworth Estates submitted an outline planning application to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in August 2008 for a sustainable, high density, mixed use community, including 3890 houses, community facilities and green areas.

Both outline planning applications for the proposed office campus and the Waverley development are due to be discussed by the planning board of Rotherham Council on January 25.

Waverley Community website
Sheffield Council report
Rotherham

Images: Helical Governetz

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News: Kingspan provides green future in Rotherham

The Kingspan Envirodek structural green roof solution from Kingspan Insulated Panels has been used on a striking new office building in Rotherham. Built by Millstone Building for parent company the Horbury Group and employing architects Race Cottam Associates, the building is now the Horbury Group’s head office. The Crofts has helped to continue the regeneration of the local area. The use of Kingspan Envirodek has allowed the construction of a rooftop plant space to help the project blend with the local environment. Ken Elvin from Millstone said: "We are definitely happy with Envirodek. It gave us a quick, efficient environmentally sustainable solution for the roofing structure and we would certainly consider using the product again." Along with the rooftop garden, the high spec office development has features such as comfort cooling and energy saving controls. The RiDO-run Moorgate Crofts, which stands adjacent, set the standard for environmentaly aware construction. Moorgate Crofts is a mix of traditional and modern materials, and uses innovative, environmentally friendly technologies such as geothermal heating, recycled building materials and also has a roof covered with more than 8,000 plants.
Kingspan Panels website

Horbury website

RiDO website

Rotherham

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News: First class offices for former Rotherham secondary school

Knight Frank has officially unveiled 13,000 sq ft of top specification offices on the site of a former Rotherham school to the commercial property market. Two blocks of grade A offices, built and owned by The Horbury Group in the Moorgate area of Rotherham are being released, with the first unit of 1,000 sq ft quickly being snapped up by A4E, a private sector company providing education, training and employment. South Grove House, designed by Sheffield based Race Cottam Associates, has become a landmark because of its exceptionally stylish yet sustainable green design, which has also received a BREEAM rating of good. Tim Bottrill, agency and development partner at Knight Frank’s Sheffield office said: "South Grove House is some of the finest office space available in South Yorkshire and it is available with flexible floor plates starting at 2,000 sq ft and immediate vacancy." 3,000 sq ft is available on the ground floor of the £5.5m South Grove House development, while the nearby North Grove House offers 10,000 sq ft of prime office space available on flexible terms. The Moorgate site was originally occupied by South Grove Secondary School, which was demolished in 2004, and now houses the prestigious office complex including RiDO's Moorgate Crofts Business Centre.
Knight Frank website
Horbury website
The Business Desk article
Rotherham

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News: VAR move into new headquarters

Another project undertaken by Volker Stevin in Rotherham is the recently completed construction of a state of the art three storey office building for Voluntary Action Rotherham. As well as using sustainable materials and construction methods, Volker Stevin fitted new energy efficient technology for heating, cooling and lighting that adjusts based on the conditions of the external environment throughout the day. "The Spectrum" has five different facades in three different colours and will be used as VAR's new headquarters to support the voluntary and community sector in Rotherham. In addition there are training and conference facilities and around 1200 sq ft of office space to let. Volker Stevin worked with designers Bond Bryan Architects and SKM Anthony Hunt Structural Engineers. VAR's new offices were funded by Yorkshire Forward as part of a three year £4m investment in the voluntary and community sector in Rotherham.

VAR website
Volker Stevin website

Rotherham

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News: Energy Alloys announces opening of new UK Headquarters in Rotherham to meet needs of fast growing business

This week saw the official opening of Energy Alloys UK's new UK headquarters in Rotherham. The 13,000 sq ft office at Advantage House, Catcliffe will allow the company to consolidate the current Rotherham and Chesterfield sales and administrative functions in a central location. “The additional space and highly visible location will facilitate the escalation of our business development in the UK and the Far East, Middle East, and Eastern Europe.” said Nick Jones, VP International and Managing Director of the UK. “We’re also excited to be able to offer a state-of- the-art facility that offers an enhanced working environment for our teams, all while staying in the South Yorkshire area." Jones said the new location is much more than just office space. “It’s the next step in our evolution. We have grown significantly during the past 24 months and this new headquarters site is an important part of our future growth. We are a global leader in our industry and we are upgrading our UK Headquarters to reflect our commitment to the UK and our customers.” Earlier in the year Energy Alloys invested in four new lathes for the Rotherham production facility.
Energy Alloys website
The Star article

Rotherham

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