Government Gives Rotherham’s £100m Scheme Green Light Today (Thursday 8th December 2005)
THE Government gave Rotherham the green light today (Thursday) to press ahead with a £100m development forecast to create 1,500 jobs.
The major mixed-use scheme, situated in the borough’s Manvers regeneration area, in the Dearne Valley, is being created by Anglo-Dutch company Express Park Developments.
During recent weeks council leaders have been waiting to hear whether the project would be approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) or whether it would be subject to a public inquiry, which would have delayed it by up to two years.
The good news came through today, which confirmed that the Government would not intervene. Planning permission will be granted as soon as Express Park signs the legal agreement and work can then start immediately.
Express Park’s acquisitions and development director, Suzanne Pugh, was “absolutely delighted” when given the news: “It’s a massive, massive, Christmas present! At long last we can press ahead and provide a development much needed by local residents and businesses alike
“An inquiry would have delayed the project by two years. Instead, as soon as we arrange completion with the council work can start, probably in March.”
The company, whose UK base is in London, has worked closely with the council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment & Development Office, and its planning officers. Suzanne Pugh said she greatly appreciated the council’s work and support
Council leader Cllr Roger Stone – born in Wath-upon-Dearne, near the site – said: “This is great news for Rotherham and for South Yorkshire. We are showing that we can take on and deliver even the most ambitious challenges.
“It’s also good news for our neighbouring areas, as we know that, realistically, not all the jobs will be filled by Rotherham people.
“This is another example of us talking things through with our neighbouring authorities and the developers to bring a scheme to life that will benefit us all.”
The work should be completed in 2010. It will create:
471 homes, comprising houses with two, three and four bedrooms and one- and two-bedroom apartments
A business park with a range of units
A leisure park, including extreme sports, health club, family restaurants, bingo, and a crèche
A three-star business hotel
A nine-hole pay-and-play golf course and driving range
A boating club-house
A medical centre
And neighbourhood retail units – small shops, such as a pharmacy and newsagent
The council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Development Services, Cllr Gerald Smith, said: “The implications for regeneration are huge – not just economically, in terms of the investment and jobs, but socially, because this will make a massive difference to people’s lives. You can’t underestimate the effect such developments have on everything from income to health.
That welcome was echoed by the executive director of Economic & Development Services, Adam Wilkinson: “Rotherham is really flying now. This is the place to be for investors – and there’s more good news to come. After working so closely with Express Park since 2003, this is a great boost.
“It’s the final major piece in the Manvers regeneration jigsaw, where we’ve already attracted more than £195m in investment. With this and other projects coming along, that total is expected to pass the half-billion mark.
“This news follows our recent announcement of a start on the £30m Westgate project, part of the £2bn-investment Rotherham Renaissance. And we’ve still got the £300m YES! leisure, sport and entertainment project to come at Rother Valley.”
For head of the Planning & Transportation service, Karl Battersby, it is the end of a long and detailed process: “We’ve reached an important staging post on this road, and it’s a huge relief to know that we don’t have to go through an expensive and time-consuming inquiry. Our planners and our regeneration team at RiDO have put in a massive amount of work to help bring this scheme to reality for the people of Rotherham.”
Express Park made contact through Renaissance South Yorkshire, the partnership of the four local authorities, Yorkshire Forward and Objective 1.
